Hollywood, CA – Three-time Emmy Award-winning Character FX Artist Todd Masters received the 2022 “Fright-Time” Award for Lifetime Achievement — as one of Hollywood’s premiere Monster Makers – during an evening ceremony on June 4th at the Monsterpalooza Convention in Pasadena, CA.
Masters is the Founder, President – and “Chief Monster-Maker” – behind MastersFX, one of the entertainment industry’s top Character & Special FX studios. MFX is currently celebrating its 35th Anniversary this year.
Masters’ film career spans more than 43 years – he started working as a young teenager in the FX industry making monsters on genre blockbusters such as Big Trouble in Little China, Night of The Creeps, Looks Who’s Talking, and the original Predator.
During the early part of his career in the 1980s, Masters spent many years working in So. California’s creature shops. During this era, he began developing his artform before expanding it into what the renowned MastersFX Studio has become today. “Those of us in this field all stand on the shoulders of the FX giants that came before us: people like Ray Harryhausen, Jim Danforth, Dick Smith, Rick Baker, Lon Chaney, Stan Winston, Tom Burman, Craig Reardon, Chris Walas, and many, many others who taught us this unique art. Many of the artists I’ve worked with over the years have exceedingly evolved this art, all while remaining good friends of mine. We’ve all spent decades developing this truly unique entertainment industry artform.”
In addition to his three Emmy Award wins, Masters has also won: a Cable Ace Award, a Saturn Award, eight Leo Awards, a Gemini Award, a Screamfest Award, and most recently, a Fangoria Magazine 2022 Chainsaw Award, as well as several other accolades over the years in his role as a director and producer.
Regarding his 2022 award from Monsterpalooza, Masters says, “It’s a true honor to receive this Lifetime Achieve Award – especially since many of our MastersFX teammates and alumni — as well as numerous of my Monster-Maker colleagues, fellow FX Studio owners and good friends – will be in attendance. I like to consider the people in the Special/Character/Makeup FX industry my extended family. In the sincerest sense, we’re ALL ‘Masters’ of our craft!”
“Monsterpalooza is the pre-eminent monster fan convention on the planet,” Masters declares, “while also serving as the creative center of the professional Monster-Maker universe.”
