What does a Special Effects Artist do?
Special effects (or SFX) artists draw from disciplines including mechanics, pyrotechnics, chemistry, sculpture, makeup, and puppetry to create astonishing effects and convincing illusions for stage productions, films, music concerts, and live events. Special effects artists can control the weather, build and bring to life gruesome monsters, construct stunning pyrotechnic displays, create convincing wounds, or even manipulate the audience's perception in more fundamental ways—making them believe something small is large, for example. The art of special effects spans multiple industries and a world of approaches, from the practical effects artists of Hollywood to the theatrical effects artists of the stage, the pyrotechnics specialists who commonly work on music tours and concerts, and the many shades of grey between.
Theatrical special effects artists are an integral part of the Broadway and West End ecosystems, and active participants in the collaborative process that is core to these high-profile, big-budget shows. Their work typically begins very early in the production process, when the show's director, technical director, and lead designers meet to discuss the production design, address any major interdepartmental concerns, and coordinate the timeline. From there, special effects artists begin the iterative process of designing, prototyping, and testing effects. Throughout, they liaise with the other design departments to ensure that everyone's on the same page: using pyrotechnics may require fireproofed costumes, for example, while the placement of a rain rig might impact set or lighting design. Finally, special effects artists take into account the particulars of the performance space to create an ultimate version of the effect, test it to ensure a high degree of safety and consistency, and educate crew members on its use.
There are a few differences between special effects for the stage and those used in film, although many SFX companies work on both. For one thing, the medium of film allows practical effects artists to take full advantage of skills like modeling, sculpting, makeup, and facial prosthetics, which really shine in a medium capable of close-ups and perspective manipulation. In addition, contemporary practical effects are almost always used in tandem with copious post-production visual effects, meaning they rarely carry the full weight of the illusion. For example, a recent Jurassic Park film commissioned practical effects artists to build a large mechanical model of a dinosaur's head, which was used for positioning and visualization during shooting, but ultimately replaced with CGI in post-production. Similarly, esteemed practical effects artist Rick Baker made silicone heads for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which were then scanned to create the CGI models.
At a Glance
Because special effects requires such a diversity of knowledge, and because dedicated educational and training programs are scarce, special effects artists come from a tremendous variety of backgrounds. A special effects artist might study or train in any number of core fields, including mechanical engineering, carpentry, architecture, drafting, mathematics, and physics. In addition, there's an equally large number of complementary subjects which might come in handy, such as sculpture, puppetry, makeup, chemistry, electrical engineering, and even computer science. With such broad requirements, almost everyone in this field creates their own path, and the skills they acquire over the course of their work become their professional specializations.
One thing that almost all special effects artists have in common is a love of performance and illusion, a factor which draws many to study stage magic or work as magicians early in their career. It is also common for SFX artists to start out in the theater, as members of carpentry, lighting, or even costume crews. One might become a special effects technician or crew member, responsible for building effects in the warehouse or caring for and running them during shows, or apprentice to an established SFX designer. There are also those who work as makeup artists before acquiring additional skills including prosthetics, as well as sculpture artists who find work in and around Hollywood. Other specific varieties of SFX artist include stage automation engineers, who create moving sets; explosives or pyrotechnics artists; and puppet artists. Whatever path one follows, it typically takes many years in the field before artists have the opportunity to create their own designs. Afterwards, they might go on to found their own companies, become technical directors in the theater industry, or work as special effects supervisors in film and TV, planning and coordinating all of the effects for a production.
Special effects artists are employed by special effects companies, scene shops, and theater companies. Some artists are freelancers, although the need for warehouse or studio space and equipment makes it difficult to go completely solo in this business. Most SFX companies have a specialty of some kind, and may cater to either stage or filmed productions. Still, it's common to take clients from both industries, and some companies even perform contract work for non-performing businesses—creating models for an architecture firm, for example, or lifelike animals for a natural history museum.
Aspiring special effects artists should assemble a portfolio of their work, including a detailed resumé, photos of completed projects, and a video reel of their effects in action. Additionally, completion of a federal or state-certified training course might be required before working with pyrotechnics and explosives.
Essential skills:
- Mechanical engineering
- Pyrotechnics
- Drafting (AKA technical drawing)
- Prototyping
- Prop and set design
- Sculpture/modeling
- Casting/molding
- Broad knowledge of state and federal safety regulations (esp. concerning pyrotechnics)
- Collaboration
- Time management
Additional or complementary skills:
- Makeup design
- Lighting design
- Costume design
- Puppetry
- Carpentry
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Electrical engineering
- Multimedia
Special effects artists are innovative experimentalists, inventors and problem-solvers who are self-motivated and curious about everything under the sun. While some effects have tried-and-true methods, on the whole, it's not a paint-by-numbers career; effects designers tend to be people who would rather figure something out on their own than follow an instruction manual. In order to avoid potentially dangerous miscalculations, they must be fastidiously detail-oriented, with safety as a primary concern. Finally, communication and collaboration skills are critical, particularly in a theatrical setting.
Special effects artists generally work out of an office, which is often located in or near a workshop or warehouse. Although they typically set their own hours, they are beholden to the general production timeline and the needs of the other design departments. Additionally, this is a results-oriented profession, meaning that those who lack the foresight and experience to plan ahead may have to crunch in order to meet deadlines; this can lead to 12-hour days and 7-day work weeks. Once a show has opened, theatrical effects designers can breathe a sigh of relief, as maintaining effects is less time-consuming than building them and may be delegated to a special effects technician or other crew member. Downtime between projects might be spent expanding one's knowledge or experimenting to create new effects.
