In Memoriam: Robert Green Hall (1973-2021)
Josh Millican
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*Editor’s Note: Shaun Blayer and Nick Principe are the primary authors of this Robert Green Hall piece.
Robert Green Hall, one of the industry’s top special effects artists, passed away on May 24th, 2021. He was found around 1 pm in his hotel in Los Angeles, California. The cause of death is unknown. He will definitely be missed by his family and friends in and out of the film industry. We know some people don’t know him by name but can guarantee you have seen his work on your favorite television shows and films. Robert was the owner of PostHumanFX.
In just over 25 years Robert Hall has become one of the most prolific special effects and makeup artists in Hollywood. As a prolific filmmaker, he launched his own horror franchise, Laid to Rest, and directed hit TV shows like Teen Wolf.
Related: R.I.P. Robert Hall: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER/PARANORMAL ACTIVITY Special Effects Makeup Artist Has Passed Away at 47
Hall and his FX studios, Almost Human and Now PostHuman FX, have created some of the most horrifying and photorealistic FX work in film and television with over 150 shows under his belt. Hall created FX for films like, Super Bad, Prom Night, Pineapple Express, Quarantine, The Burrowers, Paranormal Activity 2 and 3, Vacancy, and the HBO film Lackawanna Blues (which was nominated for a makeup Emmy in 2005).
The independent film Los Bastardos garnered Hall a nomination for an Ariel (the Mexican Equivalent of an Academy Award). His most recent credits are the supernatural Gary Oldman thriller Mary (2018) and Hell on The Border with Ron Peralman (2019). Hall created all of the prosthetics, makeup FX, and robots for the hit Fox show Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles as well as classic television series including all of Joss Whedon’s TV shows: Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, and Dollhouse.
Originally born in Detroit, Michigan Hall went to school in Alabama. That’s where took time off from his job deboning chickens at the Tyson Chicken plant to work on the Selma-lensed film Able Ferrara’s Body Snatchers at age 18. He moved to Hollywood a year later where he perfected his craft working for such legends as Stan Winston, Steve Johnson, and ADI.
He opened his own company at 23 and went on to be a graduate of the Roger Corman School of Film responsible for effects and creatures for over 30 Roger Corman films and TV Series. He began to direct 2nd Unit and VFX unit for Corman films such as The Doorway with Roy Scheider.
In 2005 Hall made his writing and directorial feature film debut with Lightning Bug starring Laura Prepon (Orange Is the New Black, That 70’s Show), Hal Sparks (Queer As Folk), and Kevin Gage (Heat). Hall’s eye for talent led to the discovery of a young 12-year-old actor called Lucas Till (credited as Introducing Lucas Till) who is now the star of (MacGyver) and hit movies like X-Men First Class and Walk the Line.
The semi-autobiographical drama won several top awards at film festivals including “Best Of Show” at the Trenton Film Festival and The George Lindsay Film Festival. It was also a “Festival Favorite” at the prestigious Philadelphia Film Fest where it broke the attendance records as the most attended film in the festival’s thirteen-year history. The film was distributed courtesy of Starz/Anchor Bay Entertainment and has amassed an impressive cult following. It was re-released and remastered for Blu-Ray by Image Entertainment in 2013 and available on Amazon.
Robert wrote and directed his slasher series Laid To Rest, starring Lena Headey (Game of Thrones), Thomas Dekker (A Nightmare On Elm Street 2010), and Kevin Gage (Heat, Blow). The unexpected worldwide success earned a sequel Chromeskull: Laid to Rest 2 starring Brian Austin Green. Both films enjoyed a limited theatrical release, a Fangoria magazine cover, and are now available to stream on Shudder as well as Blu Ray/DVD. We have it on very good authority that you haven’t seen the last of his legacy.
Robert created and directed the FearNet series Fear Clinic with Robert Englund (winning a Streamy for Best Visual Effects) and served as writer/director for the 2014 feature film version of Fear Clinic, distributed by Starz. In 2014 Hall directed a block of episodes for Season 3 of the Hit MTV show Teen Wolf.
He combined his love of rock music and filmmaking and began directing music videos for bands like Garbage, Drivin N’ Cryin, Buckcherry, Manntis, Suicidal Tendencies, Powerman 5000, Infectious Grooves, Stone Sour, and In This Moment. Hall lived in Los Angeles and Atlanta, where his new company PostHuman FX is still servicing the bustling southeast with seamlessly integrated Makeup and Visual effects under one roof.
Robert Green Hall‘s brother Jason has started a Go Fund Me page for funeral expenses. If you are able to contribute, please stop by HERE.
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