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Interview: Bill Terezakis
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By Steve Fronczek
23 May 2008
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How long does a latex prosthetic typically last under a hard day of shooting, and does it require a lot of retouching and fixing during the shoot to keep it looking fresh?
Latex prosthetics lasts quite long, as much as fourteen hours, if applied to somebody that doesn’t sweat. Gelatin prosthetics are the most difficult to work with. Being an organic material, it tends to "become one" with its wearer. As the body heats up, so does the gelatin and we all know what happens to gelatin when it heats up. Silicone, the same type you find in breast implants today, is the all around best material to use for prosthetics and presents the least amount of "chasing" thru a long shooting day.
What does a typical day in the makeup effects trailer entail for you and your crew?
Unless the "gag" or makeup is extremely difficult to execute, I don’t typically go to set to establish the look. Upon completing the build of the makeup effect in my studio, I package and ship each in a way that allows Patricia the least amount of guess work on the day of execution.
How much effects blood have you gone through in the series? It seems like it gets used a lot especially in this last season.
For Gaeta’s leg wound alone, I think I sent a gallon of blood to set. Adama’s surgery went thru about two gallons. Season 4 is an absolute blood bath. They do go thru a lot of the red stuff.
I know some effects people like to keep their formula for stage blood a proprietary secret. Do you have secret blood formula?
Nothing beats good ol’ reliable pig’s blood. (laughs) Just kidding. There are so many choices for blood mixes. A good old recipe that you can put in the mouth is water clear corn syrup, equal parts red and yellow food coloring and a slight bit of green food coloring for opacity. The opacity changes based on where the blood is coming from. Lung blood is a bright red, blood spurting from a gaping wound in your neck is darker.
Each episode seems to have a certain degree of special make-up effects in them which I'm sure keeps you quite busy. How far in advance do you get to prepare for and execute makeup ideas for Battlestar?
For the most part, I get about two weeks from design to delivery. Sometimes longer depending on the availability of the script. Battlestar is great for getting storylines way in advance. I had almost a month to build some heavy duty stuff for Gaeta.
Have you ever received any requests for a certain makeup design from the director that you thought was going to be impossible to do, but which you were able to pull-off anyway?
Yeah, but thanks to Alesandro Juliani we pulled it off quite successfully.
Can you point to any time-saving features you use to make your job easier when applying effects make-up?
Yeah as mentioned earlier. The strap-on prosthetic devices completely eliminate the need for adhesives and are applied in minutes and removed in seconds. The actor’s and production really appreciate the use of these types of makeups when ever possible.
Do you reference real life photos of wounds and injuries to design a convincing make-up effect?
As much as I am grossed out by some of the stuff I come across, the research is indeed a must. The internet has any and all reference for most any wound or injury.
As a Makeup designer you have to work closely with the director. Do you have a lot of personal input when it comes to choosing which effects to use?
Actually the only director I’ve worked closely with on Battlestar has been Michael Rymer who always has terrific input. Generally I’ll design the makeup and or effect in Photoshop, and then present it to the production. I’ve been very fortunate to have a lot of creative freedom with the way the makeup effects look on the show.
You have worked on some of my favorite TV shows and movies like X-Files, Tin Man, I, Robot and the list goes on. Is there a movie genre you like working on the most?
I enjoy working in all genres of film and television. Most would think that horror or sci fi would be my choice, but all genres can potentially require makeup effects.
Do you prefer working on TV series or on bigger movies?
Both have their advantages and disadvantages.
What has been the most rewarding special effects design in the series for you to date?
Adama’s operation in Season 2, the baby hybrid, Robo Grace’s arm gag, and a bunch of stuff you’ll see in season 4.
What can we expect from you in the future?
With regards to Season 4? You sly guy you. You know I can’t divulge anything about Season 4 or the webisodes. I’ll give you a hint though. "The blood will flow in rivers."
Any current or future projects you want to share with us?
I just completed the X-Files movie I want to Believe. And, going onto Season 2 of Reaper and Season 8 of Smallville as well as a couple other film projects.
Is there anything about your work on Battlestar that you would like to comment on that I haven't asked about?
It’s been a blast working on the series and thanks to the amazing talent we have working in my studio I felt we’ve contributed some pretty memorable moments in the series.
Thank you Bill, it has been an a pleasure talking with you today.
Thanks for the interview.
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