OZWizards
of
JASON BAIRD
SPECIAL MAKEUP EFFECTS SUPERVISOR
Day one on The Island of Dr Moreau … there were no floors in the makeup tent. A tropical downpour meant we were working in a muddy creek, a foot deep at 3am. Good times.
LAST FIVE INTERNATIONAL CREDITS
Thor: Ragnarok; Kong: Skull Island; Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales; The Shallows; The Water Diviner.
DESCRIBE YOUR JOB
It’s the art of 3D makeup involving anything that happens to the actor’s body. It is the art of sculpting, moulding, casting and painting. We use all of the arts disciplines to create special makeup, prosthetics, creature suits and specialty costumes.
TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE MORE MEMORABLE PROJECTS YOU’VE BEEN INVOLVED IN
If you’re having fun, have a great crew, whether it’s a blockbuster or an indie film, you have the same kind of attitude. Are you spending time with people whose company you enjoy? Aquamarine was one of those and Star Wars: Episode II was an amazing time. And the Emmy Award for The Pacific; it was one of those pinnacle moments. I was contacted by the producer, saying, “I’ve heard of you and want you to do the series.” From then, to budgeting, putting my team together, production and then a year on we get an Emmy nomination. That would have been enough but then we won! It was an amazing time.
MOST CHALLENGING REQUEST ON AN INTERNATIONAL FILM SHOOT
Sometimes it’s just the working conditions. Day one of The Island of Dr Moreau in tropical North Queensland there were no floors in the makeup tent. A tropical downpour meant we were working in a muddy creek a foot deep at 3 am. Good times…
CRAZIEST MOMENT ON SET
House of Wax; we’d made a head that explodes after a shot gun firing at it and a 1000 cockroaches flew out of the head. In film, crazy becomes normal. You can’t say no if a director or producer asks you something, you just have to get in there and get it done.
FAVOURITE ACTIVITY IN AUSTRALIA
Scuba diving in North Queensland, I love the tropical rainforest up there, otherwise, hanging with my daughter and the rest falls into place.
WHEN I’M NOT WORKING I…
People who do what we do are obsessed with it. When I’m not paying the bills, I’m working on my own creatures. I’ve got my own film project that I’ve been developing for four years with vampires, werewolves and demons.
I’m always pushing myself especially if the work doesn’t give you the ability to use new techniques or technologies.
I’D LOVE TO WORK WITH…
Clint Eastwood. As a man, a director, on every level he impresses me … lots of industry artists, too many to mention, Steve Johnson would be a stand out. Both of the Scott brothers as directors have amazing looks to their films.
I KNEW I WANTED TO WORK IN FILM AND TELEVISION WHEN…
I was 11 and saw An American Werewolf in London and Dark Crystal. I’d always loved vampires and monsters and thought, “someone has to make this stuff, that’s what I’m doing”. After graduating from high school I started contacting everyone I could here in Australia and then, at 19, I made my way to New York and LA to make connections there.
WHAT IS YOUR WORK MOTTO OR PHILOSOPHY?
Say yes to everything because we’ll get it done.
