Girls Like Gore Too

Eryn Krueger 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: What is your favorite special effects scene from a movie? (it doesn’t have to be from one of your movies)

EKM: The scene in “The Thing” when the head slides off the table and pulls itself under the desk by its tongue and then the crab legs pop out and it crawls away-then I think Macready sets it on fire with a blow torch and says something like, “You gotta be fuckin’ kidding me.” Good times.

GM: Who is your favorite special effects person?

EKM: My brother-in-law, Christien Tinsley. He does all my effects for the films and television I work on. He’s brilliant. He was nominated at 30 years old for his first makeup Oscar for “The Passion of the Christ” and 2 years ago he received an Oscar for Scientific Achievement for his invention of the transfer method of prosthetics. Everyone has copied him, but nobody does it better. His creativity astounds me. We’ve collaborated on projects for about 8 years.

Justin Timberlake covered in Tinsley Transfer Tatts for Alpha Dog

GM: How did you get started working in the Special Effects industry?

EKM: I went door-to-door on my summer break between my freshmen and sophomore year of college, and loads of cold calls. I had gone to Sandra Burman’s makeup effects school, and took my little book of makeups around to about 5 effects houses around Los Angeles-I just wanted to sweep up the shops, be a runner, make coffee. I went back to college that fall and at the end of September of 1986, John Buechlerfrom MMI called me and offered me a job on “Ghoulies 2”. I was 18. I had such hutzpah!

GM: Whose current work do you admire?

EKM: Besides, Christien’s work, I am a big fan of Vivian Baker. Her work on “Grey Gardens” was amazing and she does all aspects of makeup, which sometimes seems rare these days. She also did Hilary Swank for “Amelia” and “Betty Ann Waters”. Beautiful work. I like the Mike Elizalde/Thom Floutz combo. Their work makes me want to slow down and enjoy the details.

GM: How have you gotten work in the industry?

EKM: I think its mostly repeat business. For the past 15 years, I’ve consistently worked for a few directors over and over again. I second occasionally for my girlfriend Tania McComas who does all of Clint Eastwood’s films. I’ve never been at a loss for work. My friends and I all trade seconds and second for each other. Its all about enjoying your long hours together-you have to love the people you work with-I learned very early on that if you are unhappy at your job, you get a bad attitude and that affects everyone. I feel fortunate that right now I am in a position to pick and choose what I work on, so the likelihood of a bad attitude is slim to none. Hopefully!

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