FX Legend Rick Baker Announces His Plans To Retire
Kristen Ashly
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FX artist Rick Baker has announced his plans to retire on the eve of a massive Prop Store auction, which will be selling his personal makeup. The artist behind Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” announced his plans to 89.3 KPCC, stating he wants to take it easy, completing his craft on his own time.
Baker made it clear that his retirement is partially due to the overwhelming choice by movie studios to use VFX and CGI instead of traditional FX methods. That choice was seen when producers of 2010’s The Wolfman decided to cut his special effects in favor of digital ones.
“First of all, the CG stuff definitely took away the animatronics part of what I do. It’s also starting to take away the makeup part. The time is right, I am 64 years old, and the business is crazy right now. I like to do things right, and they wanted cheap and fast. That is not what I want to do, so I just decided it is basically time to get out. I would consider designing and consulting on something, but I don’t think I will have a huge working studio anymore.”
Baker won the very first Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling for his work on An American Werewolf in London. His work can also be seen in a wide variety of films, including Hellboy, King Kong, Harry and the Hendersons, and The Ring.
Mr. Baker will be sorely missed.
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