Interview with Special F/X guru Shane Saucedo Part 3
This morning I conclude my interview with Shane Saucedo from Hellbent Studios.
Dave: Have you seen an increase in smaller, independent films since the advent of easily accessed editing and filming resources?
Shane: Yes!!! And better quality.
Dave: Very cool. What tips would you have for someone looking to produce an independent horror short and looking to get some inexpensive special effects going?
Shane: Plan it out carefully and to the point of being call anal, then find someone with experience and willingness to answer questions for the how to parts. Then do a film on the fly, quick shooting and so on. Try to equal the quality. Above all, have fun with it and let people do their respective jobs. Keep an open mind and keep it simple.
Dave: Words to live by in any occupation. If someone were interested in getting into special effects, what would be the best thing to start with?
Shane: Hmmm…I am self taught, but there are some excellent schools out there to get you started in makeup. The thing I would suggest is to get involved with your local film scene, find someone open to mentoring you and be willing to do the thankless work for a while. All the greats have done this and it seems to help put it all into perspective. As well as finding out if you are apt and willing to do the work. It’s not for everyone and takes a certain type of personality as well.
Dave: What projects are you working on currently? Anything exciting you can give us a hint about that will be coming out soon?
Shane: Two features I can’t even say the names of (sorry, contractual) and a lot of smaller stuff for WWII re-enactors and some Star Wars prosthetics, as well as we are developing the Halloween props, masks, makeup, and products line for our company. We are always interested in working on Indy films or just answering questions on how to stuff as well. We do a lot of fan props and commission type work for small business and the haunt industry. We are doing a test market on etsy.com/hellbentlabs to see response to the different props we are starting out with and a couple appliances.
Dave: How can readers follow or contact you?
Shane: Feel free to contact us @: facebook.com/Hellbent Fx. Our website is under construction and going to be updated as soon as our tech is free. 
Www.hbsfx.com but its not much to look. (LOL)
(Facebook image courtesy of the horror movie t shirts)
Dave: Thanks Shane. This was awesome.
Shane: I want to give a special thanks to Dave here at Nerd Kung fu, it was a pleasure to meet you and we most definitely look forward to the next one!
Dave: Thanks for your time, Shane. I hope to see more stuff from you guys soon.
That’s it. I found Shane to be a very chill guy, and the masks and props they were selling at the show were of extremely high quality, so if you have a project you want some help with, be sure to contact him.
Next post I’ll be back on budget dating, but I am working on an interview that I think will be extremely cool, so keep checking back for that.
Interview with Special F/X guru Shane Saucedo Part 2
Today we continue with my interview with Shane Saucedo from Hellbent Studios.
Dave: Do you feel you can handle pretty much any special effect you might be called upon to perform, or are there things you would have to farm out to a different studio? Like, for example, if I wanted a scene where 18 walking people’s heads all exploded simultaneously while the villain is throwing Molotov cocktails and burning doves off a bridge, could you pull it off?
Shane: Most definitely! LOL!!! That’s right up the studios alley. I think the only thing I would farm out would be huge pyro work like in the movie 
Demolition Man, when they blew up the building and then it collapsed. I don’t know anything about imploding a building.
(8 bit Molotov cocktail image courtesy of the video game t shirt category)
Dave: Maybe one day. I’d love to blow up a building. What changes have you seen over the last years in physical special effects techniques? Is there a newsletter or special effects site you check to see what the newest innovations are?
Shane: I would say the only changes I have seen would be the overuse of digital effects. It is understandable, it seems like a lot of new directors just want to pass it of to the CGI studios and then cut it together. I have no clue of a newsletter or a site. Lemme know you know of one.
Dave: What are your thoughts on CGI verses physical special effects?
Shane: I like both and feel the both have their place. Very few can balance the two and use them to enhance each other. When they pull that off it is truly art.
Dave: Are there specific situations where physical effects can actually generate a better look than CGI?
Shane: I would have to say time, budget and crew skill have the most factor in quality. You rarely have the time needed or budget and so you have to do the best you can.
Dave: Do you see CGI affecting your business?
Shane: Yeah, but I think its okay. Sometimes its cost prohibitive to pull an effect off, or it’s a question of safety. Again I think visual and practical should work hand in hand to provide the best product possible.
Dave: Is the use or overuse of CGI specific to larger studios than smaller studios or vice versa?
Shane: I have seen the smaller productions doing a lot of CGI, almost to much. A lot of it has to do with certain skill levels available to the filmmaker. Myself, I have a cinematographer, editor, and director a phone call away. So when we go to make a film on a budget, if its cheaper I would most definitely would call a CGI guy in and hopefully be able to increase production value for a better price.
(conclusion tomorrow)
