Frank Ippolito
Frank Ippolito (born April 18, 1978) grew up in Highland Heights, in the suburb of Cleveland Ohio.[1], with his late parents, Linda and Frank, and his two younger sisters. Early in his life his grandparents would always make sure he had access to supplies for making his monster masks[2], and his paternal grandfather, also named Frank, is still his hero. His favorite food is whiskey and his favorite color is clear. In his down time he rides dirt bikes[3] and enjoys movies and video games.
Career[edit]
Frank worked at McFarlane Toys, in the late 90s, as a mold maker[4], before following his career goals and moving to Los Angeles, California. Once transplanted in 2000, he launched his now 19+ year career working in the special effects industry in Hollywood. He began making creations for movies, tv shows, live performances, theme parks, museums, and video game companies. During this time he was also behind and in front of the camera in many different aspects; directing, producing, acting, and costume performing.
His earliest projects included work with Film Illusions in 2001/2002 working on Scary Movie 2, Shallow Hal, Friends, and Star Trek: Nemesis[5]. Towards the end of 2002 he also worked with Harlow FX (now Morphology FX owned by Joel Harlow) as a fabricator[6] and on set technician on shows such as Star Trek: Enterprise and Buffy the Vampire Slayer[7]. He was also helped bringing the Lensor's (the “bloodhounds” of the Necromonger's) to life in Chronicles of Riddick[8] by creating their signature lens faced look[9], and sculpted the iconic scar that adorned all of the Necromonger's necks.
Between 2003 and 2005 Frank’s work varied from creating fake breakable babies for Marilyn Manson’s Music Video “Personal Jesus”, to working with the The Chiodo Brothers[9] on props for Arrested Development. Meanwhile, his worked progressed with The Chiodo Brothers, after creating puppets for the Stargate SG1 “200” episode. The likenesses of each main characters were sculpted to be recreated into marionette style puppets for the quintessential episode.
Frank spent months in the Caribbean Isles in 2005 and 2006 working on Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man’s Chest and At World's End for Disney’s Pirates movie franchise. He was part of the team that created the beating heart of Davy Jones that laid inside the “dead man’s chest” and helped create dozens of Cannibals’ makeup from At World's End. In 2006 he continued working on Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest as Head Laboratory Technician and Makeup Artist/Makeup Lab Tech[10]. Frank also sculpted the “P” scar prosthetic that adorned Jack Sparrow’s wrists for both At Worlds End and Dead Man's Chest[9].
In 2008 and 2009 Frank began producing and directing several short films with Ezekiel Zabrowski at their company Ghostworks LLC, a film and production company that specialized in the horror genre[11]. Frank and Ezekiel included a third director on their first short: Teller[12] of the magic duo Penn & Teller. Sans Penn, this new venture was titled from the usually silent sleight-of-hand-er: & Teller[13]. The short film was crafted within the rules of George A. Romero's Diary of the Dead filmmaking contest, which landed them a prize spot in the competition. They duo continued work on & Teller 2, and & Teller 3.[14]
The reception given to these short, comedic creep-fests emboldened the storytellers to take on a thicker story, with even more top talent in the forms of Dean Cameron (Rockula and Summer School) in The Growth[15], and none other than Doogie Howser himself, Neil Patrick Harris, in Dracula's Daughters vs. the Space Brains.
Teller's involvement in the directing pair's first four films led up to his performing partner Penn Jillette (Penn Jillette, Penn & Teller: Bullshit!) taking a starring role in Night of the Little Dead. The cast also included horror favorite Bill Moseley, Martin Klebba (Pirates of the Caribbean 1, 2, and 3), and Adam Savage (Mythbusters/Tested.com).
After appearing as a contestant[16] on SyFy’s Face Off Season 1 [17]in 2010, Frank began working for Danny DeVito creating prosthetics and makeup for DeVito's short film "Skin Deep" that appears on his website "The Blood Factory"[18]. Frank also began forming the concept of his company, Thingergy Inc[19]. Between 2012 and 2013 he grew his workspace, that he shared with FX artist Mike Hill, from 300 sq ft to 2,400sq ft[20]. His work continued with projects like Beast Wishes (Associate Producer/Camera Operator) and 8 episodes of Zombie Family (Zombie and Gore Effects/ Associate Producer)[5]. Frank also made a second appearance on Face Off Season 5 as a returning veteran of the show[21].
Adam Savage started tapping Frank’s skills[22] to help create his Admiral Ackbar Cosplay[23][24] for his incognito entrance to San Diego Comic-Con in 2013[25][26] and Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia. Frank continued to collaborate with Adam Savage and the Tested.com team on other projects such as an animatronic Zoidberg[27], real life Professor Farnsworth[28][29] from Futurama, Star Wars Rancor[30][31] costume, EA Sports: Star Wars Battlefront II Sentinel Messenger Droid[32], Creepy Lego Head Figure[33][34], and a Han Solo in Carbonite refrigerator[35][36]. In 2017 Frank separated from Tested.com to focus on the growth of his company[37], Thingergy, but projects like the space suites from the movie The Martian are still being collaborated on by both Adam and Frank to this day.
The pop culture and gaming scene also picked up on Frank and Thingergy’s talents. The Gore Magala from Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate by Capcom was a project that took up most of Frank’s then smaller shop, standing at 8 feet tall, 14 feet wide, and 12 feet long[38][39]. Another video game company, Riot Games, commissioned Frank to reproduce the League of Legends Summoner’s Cup in 2014[40]. This trend continued with the Super Gamer Build of Destiny: The Taken King, Titan Armor for Sony Playstation[41] and the Lawbreakers armor[42] for the live action trailer[43] used in the debut of the Lawbreaker video game in 2015 by Nexon.
Between 2016 and 2018 Frank worked extensively with video game developers like Ubisoft, EA Sports, Riot Games and Blizzard Entertainment bringing Thingergy into the spotlight for special fx and specialty costumes[44]. His work included Murloc costumes used in the promotion of Hearthstone expansions - Mean Streets of Gadgetzan[45] and Kobolds and Catacombs which debuted at Blizzcon 2017[46] in Anaheim, California. That same year the Lich King costume[47] used for the promotion of the Hearthstone: The Frozen Throne expansion was debuted at San Diego Comic Con[48]. His latest project included his production company Ghostworks LLC. Thingergy Inc and Ghostworks LLC were tasked to produce, create, direct, and film a live action trailer promoting the Kobold's and Catacomb’s expansion for Hearthstone[49]. This also included the creation of all props, scenery, and costumes for the short film.
Franks love of dirt bikes, motocross, and his history with making trophies lead him into the world of racing. He paired up with Mechanix Wear to create the Brian Lunniss Lifetime Achievement Award trophy along with the MVP (Most Valuable Pit Crew) award for NASCAR[50]. In 2018 he worked with Fasthouse and Redbull to create over 410 trophies to be used in the Day in the Dirt racing competition that happens yearly at Glenn Helen Raceway in Santa Clarita, California[51].
As Head Puppet Fabricator[5], Frank worked with Tippet studio[4] on Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2016. Frank spoke about his experience in advanced mold making and painting skills at Dragon Con 2016 in Atlanta Georgia and how they were advantageous in resurrecting the dilapidated stop motion creatures originally used in Star Wars: A New Hope’s Dejarik Holochess scene[52]. The creatures were re-created and used the traditional method of stop motion in the film[53]
He has been a past contributing columnist for Makeup Artist Magazine[4] and continues to host a podcast with Len Peralta, Creature Geeks - A Special FX Makeup Podcast from the Fan and Pro Perspective. He is currently working on a series of books on mold making and lab techniques and continues to grow his company's Thingergy Inc, and Ghostworks LLC.
Recent clients include EA Sports, Blizzard Entertainment, Capcom, Ubisoft, Riot Games,YG, Adobe, Timberland, Tyler the Creator, The Orville, A Wrinkle in Time, West World, and Disney.
He has also appeared on the 2018 Season of BattleBots as a guest judge[54] for 3 episodes.
Thingergy Inc[edit]
Thingergy Inc was formed in 2015. Based out of Burbank, California, it is a full service special FX and production shop. The 10,100 sq. ft. shop includes the following areas and machines:
- Private makeup application rooms
- Full woodworking shop (Dust Factory) including a CNC Router Parts 4x8 table
- Mill and CNC: Tormach PCNC 1100, Bridgeport Mill
- Full technical suite for 3D modeling, printing and digital design: Wacom Mobile Studio Pro, 22’ Wacom Drawing Display, 44in Epson Stylus Pro 9900 Printer
- Dedicated areas for clean fabrication
- Mold Making and Fabrication Area
- Other Equipment: Universal Laser PLS 6150 Laser Engraving System, V- Former Vacuum Forming System
- Employee break room, display room, and offices
Project Lineup[edit]
- 2014 - Capcom: Gore Magala Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
- 2014 - Riot Games: League of Legends Summoner's Cup
- 2015 - Sony Playstation: Destiny The Taken King Titan Armor: Super Gamer Build
- 2015 - Nexon: Lawbreaker Armor
- 2015 - Tyler the Creator Cherry Bomb Mask
- 2016 - Roots TV Mini Series (Headpiece)
- 2016 - Runic Games: Hob Statue
- 2016 - Blizzard Entertainment/Hearthstone: Murlocs
- 2016 - Mechanix Wear: Brian Lunniss Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2016 - Riot Games: League of Legends: Mid Season Invitational Trophy
- 2016 - Ubisoft: For Honor Armor
- 2016- Red Bull: Day in the Dirt 19 (trophies)
- 2016 - Hearthstone Championship Trophy
- 2017 - Blizzard Entertainment/ Hearthstone: Lich King Armor
- 2017 - Red Bull: Day in the Dirt 20 (Trophies)
- 2017 - Timberland: Two Below Zero Boot Display
- 2017 - Blizzard Entertainment/Hearthstone - Kobolds and Catacombs Live action Trailer
- 2018 - YG: The Boogie Statue
Filmography[4][12][19][edit]
| What | Who | Job | Duration | |
| 1998-2000 | McFarlane Toys | Molding and casting Supervisor for Prototypes. Fabrication of Accessories | 1998-2000 | |
| 1998-2002 | Six Flags | Makeup supervisor for various parks “Fright Fest” events | intermittently | |
| 2000 | ||||
| 2001 | Scary Movie 2 | Film Illusions | Animatronic Assembly | |
| Shallow Hal | Film Illusions | Fabrication Assistant (Tail Gag) | ||
| Primetime Glick | Kevin Haney | Makeup Lab | 2001-2003 | |
| 2002 | Archangel (short) | Sandy Collora | Makeup Artist | |
| Reign of Fire | Film Illusions | Molded, Cast and Assembled Dragon Maquettes | ||
| Star Trek: Nemesis | Film Illusions | Animatronic Machining and Assembly | ||
| Star Trek: Enterprise | Harlow FX | Dog Fabrication, Silicone Gel Filled Nose and Ears, On Set Tech | ||
| Friends | Film Illusions | Co-Built and Machined parts for remote control baby "Emma"[11] | ||
| Strung Out “Cemetery” Music Video | Derek Dale | Makeup | ||
| Buffy The Vampire (Season 6) | Harlow FX | Fabrication and Assembly, On Set Tech | ||
| 2003 | Primetime Glick | Kevin Haney | Makeup Lab | |
| One Bad Trip (Pilot and First Season) | Brad Kuhlman Productions/MTV | Prosthetic Makeup/Department Head | ||
| Chronicles of Riddick | Ve Neill | Makeup Artist/Makeup Lab Work | ||
| Operation: Nazi Zombies (Mapewoods) | Dave Stewart | Makeup Department Head/ Special Effects Foreman | ||
| 11:14 | Harlow FX | Special Makeup and Prosthetics Effects Crew | ||
| Batman: Dead End (Short) | Special Effects Crew -fabrication (uncredited)/ Still Photographer/ Videographer | |||
| The Rundown | Film Illusions | Animatronic Machining and Assembly | ||
| Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt | Harlow FX | Makeup Lab | ||
| Miller Lite Commercial: "Evander Holyfield" | Film Illusions | Life Casting, Mold Making, Casting, On Set Tech | ||
| Junkie XL " featuring Solomon Burke" Music Video | Vincent Guastini | Prosthetic Makeup | ||
| Himsa "Rain to the sound of Panic" Music Video | Derek Dale | Makeup Department Head | ||
| 2004 | Marilyn Manson "Personal Jesus" Video | Nathan Cox/Marilyn Manson | Fabricated Realistic babies filled with money that shatter when dropped. | |
| Casanova | Matthew Mungle | Sculpted, Molded, Ran Foam and Painted 2 Fat Suites | ||
| Tears | Special Makeup Effects Artist | |||
| Jonah (short) | American Film Institute | Makeup Artist: Linda Hamilton | ||
| In Enemy Hands | Special Makeup Effects Artist | |||
| Corn | Film Illusions | Animatronic Machining and Assembly | ||
| Twisted | Ve Neill/ Harlow FX | Special Makeup Effects Artist | ||
| Jiminy Glick in Lalawood | Kevin Haney | Makeup Lab | ||
| Miracle | Kevin Haney | Makeup Lab | ||
| XY Murders | Vincent Guastini | Makeup Lab | ||
| 2005 | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest/ At World's End | Disney/ Ve Neill | Makeup Artist Head Makeup Lab Tech | 2005-2006 |
| Arrested Development | Chiodo Brothers | Orthotic Glove and Prop Hand Fabrication | ||
| Penelope | Scott Stoddard | Lifecast Assistant | ||
| Alien Express (TV Movie) | Atlantic West/Film Illusions | Animatronics | ||
| Rottweiler | VGP | Mold Maker | ||
| Drawing Restraint 9 | Atlantic West/Film Illusions | Animatronics | ||
| 2006 | Penn & Teller | Penn & Teller | Consultant | 2006-Present |
| Gnarls Barkley "Go-Go Gadget Gospel" | Chiodo Brothers | Fabricator, Puppeteer | ||
| Stargate SG1 (Episode 200) | Chiodo Brothers | Sculpture, Molds, Foam Skins, Accessory Fabrication for Puppets | ||
| DHL Shipping Company - "Greatest Baseball Player" | Film Illusions/Tool | Sculptor - Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner Makeup, Makeup - Babe Ruth and Ozzie Smith | ||
| Zombie Prom | Prosthetic Makeup Supervisor/ Special makeup Effects Artist | |||
| Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest | Head Laboratory Technician/ Make up Artist/ Makeup Laboratory Tech: Caribbean) | |||
| Zoom | Film Illusions | Specialty Costume Fabricator: Silicone and Paint Tech | ||
| Cingular Wireless Statue Of Liberty Commercial | Harlow FX | Fabricated Statue of Liberty Torch, Tablet and Crown | ||
| Altoids "Side Show" Commercial | Harlow FX | Makeup Lab | ||
| 2007 | Simple Life | Bunham Murray Productions | Special Effects Makeup - Paris Hilton | |
| Pig Hunt | Kerner Optical | Prosthetic Fabrication | ||
| Last Stand of the 300 | Makeup Artist | |||
| Orion SLave Girls Must Die!!! | Makeup Artist | |||
| Trail of the Screaming Forehead | Chiodo Brothers/Lary Blamire | Prosthetic Makeup Supervisor | ||
| Gay Zombie | Special Makeup Effects Artist | |||
| 2008 | Lost Skeleton Returns Again | Larry Blamire | Makeup Department Head, Creature Suit Fabrication, Suit Performer/ Behind-the-Scenes Videographer | |
| In the A.M. of Dec. 26th at Mickey's (on the Corner of Cunningham & Kongosak in Barrow) | Special Makeup Effects Artist | |||
| & Teller | Director/Producer / Makeup Artist | |||
| & Teller 2 | Director/Producer | |||
| Cheerbleeders | Special Makeup Effects Artist | |||
| The 7th Claus | Makeup Artist | |||
| 2009 | Makeup Artist Magazine | Makeup Artist Magazine | Contributing Writer | 2009 |
| Dracula's Daughters VS the Space Brains | Ghostworks LLC | Director/Producer/FX Supervisor | ||
| Dinner for Schmucks | Chiodo Brothers | Molding and Casting | ||
| The Middle | Tyson Fontaine | Prosthetic Braces (Teeth) | ||
| Open House | Master FX | Prosthetic Makeup | ||
| The Growth | Ghostworks LLC | Director/Co-Producer/Makeup Artist/ Special Makeup Effects Artist | ||
| Pawn (Short) | Special Makeup Effects Artist | |||
| Goodbye Canarsie | Special Makeup Effects Artist | |||
| 2010 | Night of the Little Dead | Ghostworks LLC | Director/Producer/Creature Suit Creator (Sculptor, molds, painter) | |
| Danny DeVito's Blood Factory | Danny DeVito | FX Makeup for Various Short Films | 2010-Present | |
| "Surfing Elephant" | Anatomorphex | Painted 2 Elephant Legs | ||
| Face Off season 1 | SyFy | Contestant | ||
| Super | Masters FX/James Gunn | Prosthetic Makeup | ||
| Murder Baby | Special Makeup Effects Artist | |||
| 2011 | Nest of Vipers | Special Effects Makeup | ||
| Spider Mountain: No Way Down (Video Short) | Director/Producer | |||
| CollegeHumor Originals (TV Series): Sorority Pillow Fight | Special Effects Makeup | |||
| 2012 | Sushi Girl | Assistant Makeup Artist | ||
| Zombie Family (TV Series) | Zombie and Gore Effects/ Associate Producer (8 Episodes) | |||
| Beast Wishes (Documentary) | Associate Producer/Camera Operator | |||
| 2013 | M is for Mormon Missionaries | Special Makeup Effects Artist | ||
| St. Bernard | Gabe Bartalos | Andrew Jackson Likeness Makeup | ||
| 2014 | Muffin Top: A love Story | Special Makeup Effects Artist | ||
| Open House (Short) | Special Makeup Effects Artist | |||
| Chaotic Awesome (TV Series): Ep. #1.14 | Actor | |||
| Heroes of Cosplay (TV Series): Stan Lee's Comikaze | Judge | |||
| 2015 | ||||
| 2016 | Submerged | Special Makeup Effects Artist | ||
| Star Wars: The Force Awakens | Tippet Studios | Head Puppet Fabricator | ||
| Long Live the King | Camera Operator | |||
| 2017 | Devil's Night | Special Effects Supervisor | ||
| Shallow Water (Short) | Special Effects Supervisor |
References[edit]
- ↑ "Syfy reality series 'Face Off' welcomes back Cleveland's Frank Ippolito for fifth season". cleveland.com. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
- ↑ "Creature Geek Podcast Episode 53".
- ↑ "THE MONSTER MAN OF MOTOCROSS: ?FACE OFF'S? FRANK IPPOLITO|Motocross Action Magazine". Motocross Action Magazine. 2013-10-24. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Linkedin".
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "IMdb".
- ↑ "Linked In Profile".
- ↑ "IMdb".
- ↑ "Horro Society - Before and After Faceoff".
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Frank Ippolito (Frank FX / Chiodo Bros Studio) | HNN". horrornews.net. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
- ↑ "IMDb".
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Frank Ippolito (Frank FX / Chiodo Bros Studio) | HNN". horrornews.net. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Tested.com".
- ↑ "Ghostworks LLC & Teller Series".
- ↑ "Ghostworks LLC Projects".
- ↑ "Ghostworks LLC The Growth".
- ↑ "Frank Ippolito". Syfy. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
- ↑ "SyFy Season 1 Cast List".
- ↑ "Exclusive: Set Visit to Danny DeVito's Skin Deep; Frank Ippolito Talks FX and Addresses Syfy's Face Off".
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Linkedin Bio".
- ↑ "Tested.com Shop Tour".
- ↑ "Make-Up Artists Magazine - Veterans, Newbies Clash on 'Face Off' Season Five".
- ↑ "US Magazine - Face Off Celebrates 100th Episode: Where Are Its Crazy Talented Makeup Artists Now?".
- ↑ "Making of Admiral Akbar - Tested.com".
- ↑ "Adam Saves Admiral Ackbar Cosplay Costume".
- ↑ "Tested.com San Diego Comic Con Ackbar Cosplay".
- ↑ "The Verge - The Story Behind Adam Savages's Comic-Con 'Star Wars' Costume".
- ↑ "Zoidberg Project - Tested.com".
- ↑ "Professor Farnsworth Build on Tested.com".
- ↑ "FIND OUT WHAT FUTURAMA'S PROFESSOR FARNSWORTH WOULD LOOK LIKE IN REAL LIFE".
- ↑ "Rancor Project - Tested.com".
- ↑ "Dragon Con 2015: Interview with Makeup Artist Frank Ippolito".
- ↑ "Messenger Droid Project - Tested.com".
- ↑ "Creepy Lego Head Figure - Tested.com".
- ↑ Molloy, Mark (2016-07-28). "This terrifying Lego cosplayer is freaking out the internet". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
- ↑ "Han Solo in Carbonite Refrigerator - Tested.com".
- ↑ "Tested Enlists Movie Effects Artists to Create a Star Wars Han Solo Frozen in Carbonite Refrigerator". Laughing Squid. 2016-08-11. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
- ↑ "Tested.com Video Announcement".
- ↑ "Gore Magala Project - Tested.com".
- ↑ "Smooth-On Making a Life Size Dragon".
- ↑ "League of Legends Summoner's Cup Project".
- ↑ "Super Gamer Build: Destiny The Taken King Titan Armor".
- ↑ "Lawbreakers Armor Project - Tested.com".
- ↑ "Lawbreakers Video Game Live Action Trailor".
- ↑ "Project Descriptions and Dates - Thingergy Inc".
- ↑ "Frank Ippolito and Tested Create World Of Warcraft Murlocs for Blizzcon - Reynolds Advanced Materials". Reynolds Advanced Materials. 2016-11-14. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
- ↑ "Blizz Con Murlocs - Tested.com".
- ↑ "Lich King Armor Build for Blizzard Entertainment - Tested.com".
- ↑ "Lich King at San Diego Comic Con".
- ↑ "Kobolds and Catacombs Live Action Trailer - Blizzard Entertainment".
- ↑ "Most Valuable Pit Crew Award - Mechanix".
- ↑ "Day in the Dirt Project Details".
- ↑ "Fabricating the Stop-Motion Puppets in Star Wars: The Force Awakens".
- ↑ "Behind the Scenes of The Force Awakens' Holochess Scene with Frank Ippolito at Dragon Con". FANgirl Blog. 2016-09-11. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
- ↑ "BattleBots: The cast – BattleBots". battlebots.com. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
Frank Ippolito (Special FX Makeup Artist, Producer, Director)[edit]
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