Viniello, Mark (Chupacabra: Dark Seas)
Dread Central Staff
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This weekend on the Sci-Fi Channel is the premiere of the new rampaging goatsucker on a boat flick Chupacabra: Dark Seas.
“Cryptozoologist Doctor Pena (Homicide: Life on the Streets’ Giancarlo Esposito) traps the legendary Chupacabra on a remote Caribbean Island to make his name in the scientific community. When he smuggles it aboard the cruise ship Regent Queen, commanded by Captain Randolph, (Lord of the Rings John Rhys-Davies), the monster breaks out of the cargo hold and makes a smorgasbord out of the passengers and crew. Navy SEALs are called in to evacuate the ship and battle the monster, but it ultimately comes down to Captain Randolph, his daughter Jenny (Snakehead Terror’s Chelan Simmons), and Federal Marshall Lance Thompson (Babylon 5’s Neal) to save the day.”
In the tradition of the great monster movies of old, the Chupacabra will be brought to life via the tried and true technique of a man in a rubber suit. Inside the Chupacabra costume is F/X guy Mark Viniello, who has amassed quite an impressive string of credits having worked on many a Hollywood blockbuster including The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, Galaxy Quest, A.I., Jurassic Park III, Hollow Man, and the Spider-Man flicks, just to name a few. He’s currently working behind the scenes on Underworld: Evolution. Chupacabra: Dark Seas isn’t the first time he’s stepped in front of the camera to play an otherworldly creature. He’s previously portrayed one of the surreal freaks in Monkeybone and even donned the costume of bad movie icon Robot Monster for Looney Tunes: Back in Action.
I recently had the pleasure to speak with Mr. Viniello about working on Chupacabra: Dark Seas and so I present to you:
The Foywonder: What is your all time favorite movie monster?
Mark Viniello: That is difficult because there are so many movies that have had a tremendous impact on me, and I like different ones for different reasons. My favorites in no particular order are: Abbott & Costello meet Frankenstein, King Kong (1933), An American Werewolf in London, and The Thing (1982).
TF: You’ve worked behind the scenes in the f/x departments for a number of big budget blockbusters, which was the most rewarding to work on?
MV: The most rewarding film I have worked on was The Lord of the Rings. Everything about those films blew me away.
TF: How did you get involved with Chupacabra: Dark Seas?
MV: Well, My colleague Ken Niederbaumer called me asking if I wanted to work on film with him. Ken and I had worked together in the past on such films as Alien 4, Starship Troopers, and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. We met with the director and line producer to get more info on the job. The script was written by John Shepphird (the director) and Steve Jankowski (the 2nd unit director). The description of the Chupacabra was vague, but there were specific design elements we had to incorporate due to plot points. We wanted to do something different than what’s been done before. There were two obstacles: budget and time. The entire build, which was 2 Chupa suits, 3 pairs of Hands, 4 pairs of feet, 2 heads and 7 faces, misc wounds, gashes, and body parts…15 days. Not a lot of time by any standard, but compound that with EVERYTHING was done from scratch. In other words, there was nothing pre-existing that we re-furbished. It was all original.
SF: What materials was the Chupacabra costume made of?
MV: The costume was made of pretty standard materials…foam latex over an under suit, dental acrylic for the teeth…it was broken down to pants, body, gloves, hood, hands, and face.
TF: How long did it take you to get in and out of the costume?
MV: It took about 2 hours to get me in the Chupacabra costume. The mask was partly mechanical and partly make-up. Ken Niederbaumer and Rich Redlefsen were the artists responsible for the Chupa.
TF: What was the longest period of time you had to stay in it?
MV: The longest day was our last day on the island of Provo. I was in the suit for 14 hours. I could only drink small amounts of Gatorade and didn’t go to the bathroom.
TF: Which was more comfortable: wearing the Chupacabra costume or being inside the Robot Monster suit for Looney Tunes: Back in Action?
MV: Both suits were uncomfortable for different reasons. The robot monster suit was extremely hot and the skull cap which affixed the helmet to my head was not made for me, so after a couple of hours my head began to throb. Chupa was difficult because I couldn’t get in and out of the thing fast. There was a palette that clipped over my own teeth, which made speaking difficult and eating impossible, but the production was the most sympathetic and concerned group I have worked with to date. That in turn helped save my energy so I could stay in the suit longer.
TF: Had you heard of the Chupacabra prior to getting the gig to work on this movie and if so, do you believe it might actually exist or is nothing more than an urban legend?
MV: In the past 3 years I have been involved with a couple of Chupacabra productions that didn’t get off the ground so by the time this one rolled around I had already done some research. Ken and I had gone online and looked at what people thought the Chupacabra looked like. There were also specific descriptions in the script that dictated some of our design elements so in the end we created a completely original beast. As for what do I think about the Chupa? By nature I am a very skeptical person. There are examples of animals being discovered that were thought to be extinct or didn’t exist…but based on the existing evidence I am doubtful. I think SOMETHING is going on, but is it an alien or mythological creature? I doubt it.
TF: How does one get into the mindset to play a bloodthirsty monster such as the Chupacabra?
MV: The great thing about this costume is it really does the acting for you. I tried to give it distinct movements and personality. Since our Chupa is somewhat humanoid in form, I tried to incorporate some chimpanzee movements. John Shepphird (the director) was also instrumental in helping form the Chupa’s personality. Ken Niederbaumer helped also because he was at the monitor and after each take would come over and tell me what worked and what didn’t. So all in all it was a team effort.
TF: Seeing as how “VS.” movies are quite popular these days, who do you think would come out victorious in a Chupacabra vs. Leprechaun flick?
MV: The Chupacabra would floss with the Leprechaun.
Chupacabra: Dark Seas premieres on the Sci-Fi Channel this Saturday night at 9 PM EST and repeats four hours later.
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