Joe Nazzaro Q&A on Behind the Mask

Joe Nazzaro discusses his new book, Behind the Mask: The Secrets of Hollywood’s Leading Creature Suit Performers.

How did this project come about?

I’ve been fascinated by makeup/creature FX my entire life. I watched tons of bad horror movies on our local NY stations, and at some point, I began to realize there were actually ‘actors’ in those suits. I put the word in quotes, because some of those films just required a performer to crash through a wall or carry off the heroine in his arms, which didn’t take all that much acting ability; in fact, a lot of those early performers were actually stuntmen. But as I started covering the genre as a journalist and interviewing some of these suit performers, I soon discovered what a difficult and complex job they had. From there, it was just a matter of time before it was time to write a book about them.

But can’t any actor put on a suit and play a monster?

Absolutely not, it requires a huge amount of stamina and concentration. It often takes a long time to glue you into that suit, and you’re often in it for the day. You’re limited in terms of what you can eat or drink, not to mention trips to the bathroom. Your eyesight is often limited, and it’s incredibly hot, so it’s easy to lose several pounds a day in perspiration. As the old saying goes, it’s a job better done by experts.

What constitutes a suit, as opposed to a makeup?

That’s something I discuss in chapter one, in which we set down a few ground rules. Ask ten professionals, and they’ll give you ten different answers. Some of them I can understand- a lot of people point to Tim Curry’s Darkness as a favorite suit performance, but it’s actually a complex prosthetic makeup, verified by the artists who applied that makeup every day.

Are you just covering performers?

No, I’m also covering the creature FX wizards as well, from Stuart Freeborn, who designed and built the apes for 2001, to Pierre Olivier Persin the most recent Oscar winner for The Substance.

Any notable productions come to mind?

A million of them; well, maybe not a million, but a lot. This book offers a detailed look at three Hellboy films, the latest Swamp Thing TV series, the Alien and Predator films, Pan’s Labyrinth, X-Men and Star Wars, Buffy, Angel, Westworld, The Shape of Water; okay, maybe I did cover  million of them.

Are there embarrassing stories from any of the creature suit performers?

Well, a few that come to mine, but maybe best to keep them under wraps for now. Except maybe, the one who grabbed Ron (Hellboy) Perlman’s ass- accidentally of course!

How is today’s digital technology affecting practical suit work?

That’s something I discuss in the book, including the increasing use of motion-capture, but there are some filmmakers, notably Guillermo del Toro who still advocate practical effects.

Are those projects becoming fewer in number?

I suppose so, but they’re not going away. Just look at the aforementioned film The Substance, which won the most recent Oscar for best makeup.

Do you have your own personal favorite suit performance?

It’s very hard to choose, but the fish man from The Shape of Water remains a high-water mark, no pun intended. And speaking of fish men, I found an old interview with Ben (The Creature from the Black Lagoon) Chapman that I’ve included in the book as well.

And a favorite performer?

Hands down, Doug Jones. Not only is he universally recognized as the best, he’s also one of the nicest guys in the business. That’s why this book is dedicated to him.

What do you hope people take from this book?

Hopefully it will shed a much-needed light on an art form that rarely gets the attention it deserves. And hopefully we’ll have a little fun exploring that art form along the way!