Girls Like Gore Too
Eryn Kreuger Mekash
By J. Jekyll
May 2009
Goremaster.com
Makeup artist Eryn Krueger Mekash took some time out of her hectic film and television schedule to graciously answer some questions for GoreMaster. Some of Eryn's impressive list of credits include: Flags of Our Fathers (2006), Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996-2003), Letters From Iwo Jima (2006), Alpha dog (2006), Nip/Tuck TV series, and Prom Night (2008). She shares her story and how much the"old school" makeup effects influenced her decision to become a "killer" makeup artist. |
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GM: When did you make your decision to enter the field?
EKM: When I was young, I was always doing makeups at home and was very big on starting my Halloween costumes in July. When I was 14, I saw a drive-in double feature of “American Werewolf In London” and “The Thing”. I wish there were still drive-ins! That summer, they showed behind-the-scenes on tv with Rick Baker and I realized that doing makeup was an actual job and not just a hobby. I took tons of art classes from junior high through college, did makeup for high school performances and eventually stumbled onto makeup effects classes that Sandra Burman was organizing in my hometown. My big break! I went to Hollywood Film School and learned how to do headcasting, sculpting, moldmaking, and foam running. I knew then and there that was what I wanted to do. I still love it after 23 years.
Eryn Krueger Mekash carrying supplies
GM: What or who inspired you to start? Who was your influence?
EKM: I think originally it was my brother, Brady, and my parents. He loved Fangoria and we made a bunch of Super 8 horror films. We saved our money for blood capsules and fake blood. My parents were totally into Halloween and encouraged me to get crazy with costumes and makeup, buying me little makeup kits and letting me cut up old wigs and clothes to make werewolves and zombies. They bought me “Monster Maker’s Handbook” and I made all of the makeups-loved the creature makeup made with oatmeal and eggshells.
Eventually my inspiration was Rick Baker and Rob Bottin. “Thriller” was making a big statement when I was in high school and I recorded on our VCR and would watch it over and over again. Years later, I would get to work for Rick. Very cool.
GM: Favorite early special effects memory – movie scene – book – TV show?
EKM: It’s a toss up; “Jaws” in its entirety.-just like everyone else, I barely went in a swimming pool that summer and probably “The Wizard of Oz”. Also, my mom would occasionally go do something on Saturdays, and my dad would let us watch whatever to keep us busy. “War of the Gargantuans” ,” Frankenstein”, “The Werewolf”, “House on a Haunted Hill” and cried my eyes out over “King Kong” , “Gamera” and baby Godzilla before my dad caught on and told us to get outside and go ride our skateboards.
GM: What are your top five special effects movies?
EKM: Holy cow- that’s a tough order! “American Werewolf In London”, “The Exorcist”-these were all so innovative and made everyone wonder how the effects were achieved. I saw “Raider Of The Lost Ark” 11 times in the theater-could NOT get enough of ChrisWalas’s melting heads!!! “Aliens” was so great with the physically large makeup effects. I loved “Hellboy 2”-such brilliant work-also “Pan’s Labyrinth”. I just saw “30 Days of Night”! That is some crazy realistic gore! Yuck! I could barely watch it! Fantastic!
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