Training in Screen Prosthetics, Special Make-Up FX

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Training in Screen Prosthetics, Special Make-Up FX & Animatronics
Thank you for requesting a prospectus, all the images shown are of our students’ work!
Gorton Studio is directed by internationally acclaimed prosthetics designer Neill Gorton.
It was the first specialist prosthetics school in Europe, and has led the way in teaching the
subject for 10 years. We have two teaching Studios, Gorton Studio Chesham in Bucks
where Neill’s company is based, and Gorton Studio Falmouth in Cornwall near his
private workshop.
Neill is a high profile industry figure with a 27-year track record, and our courses embody
the outstanding technical standards and focused attitude for which he is renowned and
respected. He is also a long-term employer, so knows exactly what’s expected of the
creative staff in today’s industry, and he translates this into the content of our courses.
Multi-award winning Millennium FX is our sister company, run by Neill and his
co-director Rob Mayor. It’s Europe’s biggest and busiest screen prosthetics
company with hundreds of credits to its name, and its workshops are next door to
Gorton Studio Chesham!
Screen prosthetics is a practical discipline in a fast moving industry. To succeed in it, you need to master the
techniques required by today’s employers, learn how the industry works and know how your role fits into it.
To achieve this standard we bring the industry into the classroom and take the classroom into the industry.
Our courses train beginners for industry careers, help professionals improve their skills, support teachers in
delivering industry-relevant courses and provide specialist modules for Universities and Colleges as part of
wider curricula. We take pride in giving value for money, de-mystifying a subject that’s sometimes
misrepresented in the education arena, and equipping our students to hit the professional ground running.
A word from Neill…..
“When I established Gorton Studio, I chose to focus on teaching the practical skills that get people jobs. I
look to teach students the skills that I, as one of the British Make-up FX industry’s largest employers, look for
myself when I interview freelance artists and technicians. Our primary aim is to help students build that all
important portfolio and provide the correct advice and guidance to set them on their chosen career path. I
hope you find the enclosed information useful and interesting”
The information in this prospectus was correct at time of printing, however short courses may be added. We regularly seek student feedback
and respond to the emergence of new materials and techniques. As a result we may refine course content and update the information on our
website accordingly. If you have booked onto a course please make sure you refer to this live information on www.gortonstudio.co.uk to
ensure you have the latest details. Information is also shared on the Neill Gorton Prosthetics Studio Facebook page
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Contents
PAGE
7-Week Course: Make-Up FX & Prosthetics Creation, Course Outline
2
7-Week Course: Full Curriculum
3&4
7-Week Course: Creative & Character Make-Up
5
7-Week Course: Full Curriculum
6&7
Short Courses
8
Prosthetics Boot Camp
9
Making a Booking
10
Payment Information
11
Training for High Definition
12
Bespoke Courses
13 & 14
Education Sector Work
15
Credits & Awards
16
Tutors
17 & 18
Millennium FX
19
Alumni Achievements
20
Career Case Study
21 & 22
Advice for Beginners
Learn from Home
Locations
23
23 & 24
25
Funding Advice
26 & 27
Student Testimonials:
7-Week Course: Make-Up FX and Prosthetics Creation
Short Courses
Bespoke Courses & Education Sector Work
28
29
30
31
Frequently Asked Questions
32 - 37
Modelling
37
Contact Us
38
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7 Week Course: Make-Up FX & Prosthetics Creation
2014
2015
rd
st
Monday 3 February – Friday 21 March
Monday 28th April – Friday 13th June
Monday 30th June – Friday 15th August
Monday 1st September – Friday 18th October
Venue:
Duration:
Hours:
Designed for:
Cost:
Course size:
Monday 2nd February – Friday 20th March
Monday 29th June – Friday 14th August
Monday 7th September – Friday 23rd October
Gorton Studio Chesham, Bucks
7 weeks
9.30am – 5pm weekdays plus access to facilities until 7pm 2 days a week
Everyone who wants to develop a solid understanding of creating and working with
prosthetics, make-up and creature FX.
£5,500 + VAT
Maximum of 6 students
Outline: This intensive course prepares you for a career in screen
prosthetics. It gives a comprehensive grounding in all practical aspects of
the subject and the industry knowledge to pursue professional jobs as a
junior technician when you leave.
To achieve this we bring the industry into the classroom through our tutors,
who are current, senior film and television freelancers with the best skills in
the business to pass on. We also take the classroom into the industry by
stepping next door into the workshops of Millennium FX, for a first hand
view of how real projects develop and how the creative staff do their jobs.
The course’s main focus is on the fundamental processes involved in the
creation of prosthetics, from basic sculpture techniques to prosthetic
manufacture, mould making and even simple animatronics. These are the
skills used every day in professional prosthetics workshops, and are taught
with the materials most widely used in today’s industry.
The structure of the course is a combination of taught subjects and personal projects; the basic disciplines are
prescriptively taught, and the personal projects allow each participant the freedom to select further content
they would like to incorporate into their studies.
Demonstrations are used to give an insight into some of the more specialist areas. These can include hair
punching, gore fabrication and denture FX for example, and the topics are partly determined by the group.
The course culminates in a final project of your choice; a major silicone gel prosthetic, a dummy body part,
an animatronic mask or a realistic severed head for example. This is planned and developed during the first
three weeks, and worked intensively on for the remaining four, supported throughout by the tutor.
This is your opportunity to apply your new skills, and tackle any additional techniques and materials you
particularly want to learn about. We assist in devising final projects that get the most out of your time, which
means involving the processes that most interest you, whilst also addressing which will be most useful in
your aims as a practicing technician. Your final project will provide a significant piece of work to feature in
your portfolio, which will be your key tool in securing professional work.
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Full Curriculum
This curriculum broadly outlines how the course will be approached, and its
objective is to provide maximum content within the time frame. It is not
definitive however, as flexibility is always maintained to ensure the best
outcome for each group, and accommodate the personal aims of the
individuals within it.
WEEK 1 _______________________________________________________
DAY 1:
DAY 2:
DAY 3:
DAY 4:
DAY 5:
Introduction
Tour of facilities and workshop
Rules, regulations health and safety
What do we hope to achieve in the next 7 weeks?
One day project: creating and applying a simple prosthetic appliance
Sculpture class
Basic anatomy
Sculpture techniques, detailing and texturing
Life-casting demonstration
Conducting a life cast
Continuation of life-casting
Clean up and mounting of life-casts
WEEK 2 _______________________________________________________
DAY 1:
a
DAY 2:
DAY 3:
DAY 4:
DAY 5:
Discussion about final projects
Moulding life-casts in silicone
Setting the casts in a base and preparing to pour a silicone master
Demonstration of a brush on silicone technique and a silicone pour into
jacket mould
Moulding life-casts and producing positives in fibreglass, plaster &
fast cast resin
Sculpting basic appliances – where to put edges and why,
appropriate thicknesses
Sculpting basic appliances
Detailing and texturing, wrinkles
Moulding basic appliances - grounding up, cutting edges, release
agents
WEEK 3 ________________________________________________________
DAY 1:
DAY 2:
DAY 4:
DAY 5:
Casting appliances in foam latex and gelatine
Running foam – mixing and casting gelatine, pouring and injecting
Demonstration of prosthetic application
Studio work: Students apply made appliances
Making small appliances; quick procedures using fast casting techniques
Silicone gel appliances - demonstration of manufacture and application
Discussion of final projects for the following four weeks
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WEEKS 4, 5 & 6__________________________________________________________________________
The format of the next four weeks will be largely determined by the progress and content of the final projects;
some days will be split with demonstrations of techniques and procedures or lectures by visiting specialist
practitioners in the morning, followed by work on final projects in the afternoon.
The following list shows examples of subjects that may be included in morning sessions, according to
students’ requirements. These topics are examples only and may not be relevant to your group, and additions
can be made if necessary:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Prosthetic design with computers
Flocking
Painting techniques
Basic animatronics
Blood FX
Bladder FX
Seaming and patching
Hair punching
Denture FX
Contact lenses
Fur replacement
Gore fabrication
Airbrushing
WEEK 7 ________________________________________________________
DAY 1:
DAY 2:
DAY 3:
DAY 4:
DAY 5:
Finishing final projects
Finishing, applying and photographing final projects
Final show of work and class critique
Photographing finished project
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Please note; we regularly seek
student feedback about our
courses and respond to the
emergence of new materials
and techniques in the industry.
As a result we may refine
course content and update the
relevant information on our
website accordingly. If you
have booked onto a course
please make sure you refer to
the live information on the
site regularly to ensure you
have the latest details.
To see a complete archive of our all our 7-week course students’ work visit the STUDENT GALLERY on our website
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7 Week Course: Creative & Character Make-Up
2014
2015
Monday 8th September – Friday 24th October
Monday 6th July – Friday 21st August
Monday 14th September – Friday 30th October
Venue:
Duration:
Hours:
Designed for:
Cost:
Course size:
Gorton Studio Falmouth, Cornwall
7 weeks
9.30am – 5pm
Everyone who wants to concentrate on make-up design and application and learn new,
developmental skills to set them apart from other make-up artists
£4,850 + VAT
Outline: This course is about pushing the boundaries of what make-up can
do. It will develop your creativity, find your flair and equip you with skills to
set you apart from other make-up artists. It’s developmental, unconventional
and delivers a pragmatic combination of truly contemporary techniques.
Focussing on make-up design and application, it covers a broad and unique
spectrum of techniques that are used to create the finished looks for screen,
fashion, media, theatre, live events and many other platforms within the
creative industries. You will learn flawless application and colouring of
prosthetics, making and applying perfect bald caps, mad airbrushing skills,
stencilling, texturing, hand-laying hair, direct applied FX, casualty FX, body
painting, tattoos, ageing and character techniques amongst many others. The
subjects taught can all be directly applied to industry settings and will
enhance your skills base for future jobs.
In an industry context this course is designed to answer a growing demand in
today’s creative market place. In Neill’s experience as an employer he has seen an increasing need for the
make-up artist who can handle, apply and colour any kind of prosthetic with confidence, who can think
creatively and is knowledgeable about products in a way that enables them to problem solve fast. As a wellknown problem solver in the world of make-up himself, his own work stands testament to this as he’s
frequently asked for non-prosthetic solutions or ones involving new and unusual products.
There is also now a greater need for these skills in other areas of the creative industries. As well as the
traditional fields of film, TV and theatre, Neill has seen an increase in, and been involved with creative
make-up for live performance, arts projects, private commissions, promotional events and many other
interesting and alternative avenues. There is a wealth of opportunity for truly creative make-up artists who
have a repertoire that takes make-up skills to the limit, and adds inventive dimensions to their work.
The images below are of Neill’s work, to illustrate the kind of techniques involved in this course:
Left to right: Massive Attack, The Wombats, Lady Gaga, Lady Gaga dancer. Above image ‘by student Simone Macdonald.
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Full Curriculum
This curriculum provides maximum content within the time frame and is given as a broad outline of the
approach and structure only. Flexibility and personal development of each student are key, and the course
will essentially evolve with each group, particularly in the final week when personal projects are created.
Alongside this core curriculum there will be continuous and cumulative learning, with the resulting research
and design processes supported by the latest materials and equipment.
WEEK 1: APPLICATION, APPLICATION, APPLICATION___________________________________
An intensive week concentrating on the application of a multitude of professionally made prosthetic
pieces. The aim of the week is to have you confident in and proficient at applying any kind of prosthetic
appliance. it will cover the use of silicone, foam and gelatin pieces.
DAY 1:
DAY 2:
DAY 3:
DAY 4:
DAY 5:
Application processes and techniques: an introduction to ways of achieving flawless
application of prosthetic pieces
An introduction to colouring and finishing techniques
Intensive, single piece application continued
Working with prosthetic transfers
Application of multiple pieces in different materials
Application of multiple pieces in same material
Bald cap application
WEEKS 2 & 3: MAKING AND CREATING_________________________________________________
These two weeks will enable you to design and create your own prosthetics. You will produce pieces in
silicone and gelatin, focussing primarily on flat mould techniques and basic two-piece moulds.
DAYS 1 & 2:
DAYs 3 & 4:
DAY 5:
DAYS 6 & 7:
DAYS 8 & 9:
DAY 10:
Modelling prosthetics: an introduction to sculpture and texturing
Creating flat moulds
Lifecasting
Two piece moulds
Creating custom-fitted latex and plastic bald caps
Application of pieces made
WEEK 4: THE PREFECT FINISH_________________________________________________________
From flawless smooth finishes applied with an airbrush to crackled flaking patterns applied by hand,
we’ll use multiple make-up mediums plus a variety of products and application techniques that may
surprise you, to create the perfect finish to your prosthetic or character make-up.
DAYS 1 & 2:
DAY 3:
DAY 4:
DAY 5:
An introduction to a range of finishing products and their capabilities from fashion to
fantasy
Creating a realistic and flawless finish
Brush and sponge techniques
Texturising, blending and contouring
Airbrushing and stencilling
Creating tattoo effects and transfers
An introduction to creating characters with colours
Colour combinations and creating depth
Combining a multitude of learnt techniques when creating a finished look
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WEEK 5: HAIR, WIGS AND CREATIVE STYLING_________________________________________
Sometimes the crowning glory of a character but frequently overlooked. We’ll explore wigs and hair
and the techniques, tips and tricks for creating natural head and facial hair effects, as well as the more
inventive approaches to achieving incredible fantasy and fashion creations.
DAY 1:
DAY 2:
DAY 3:
DAY 4:
DAY 5:
An introduction to hair punching, knotting and other creative techniques used to blend hair
for a flawless finish
Hand laying hair
Beards and facial hair
Laying hair onto cap plastic, preparation and application
Creative hair styling and colouring
Preparing a range of different hair pieces
Use of a range of synthetic and real hair to create original designs
Flocking application
Wig application, fixing, mending and maintenance
Creative ways of using wigs and working with hard and lace fronted wigs
WEEK 6 Part 1: FULL BODY EFFECTS___________________________________________________
Taking the skills you have already developed and applying them to a larger canvas. Starting with basic
bodypainting techniques then expanding them to encompass more advanced processes for altering both
the body’s form, the skin's texture and enhancing and decorating the body.
DAY 1:
DAY 2:
DAY 3:
Body painting: advanced airbrushing, brush and sponge techniques
Application of body Prosthetics with the Integration of flocking, feathers and fur
Students apply body prosthetics with overall finish and design in mind, to incorporate
elements of costume and hair design
WEEK 6 Part 2: PROSTHETICS GUERILLA STYLE________________________________________
DAYS 4 & 5:
This intensive two day section will make you think on your feet, explore unconventional
make-up mediums and examine how you can use everyday objects, products, materials and
equipment to achieve stunning results, or simply get you out of a tight spot when you’re on
location and your only resource is the local supermarket or hardware store
WEEK 7: FINAL PROJECTS_____________________________________________________________
The final week will be a chance for you to create and design a look utilising the skills you have learnt,
to create a specific portfolio piece. During the previous weeks you will have discussed and explored
ideas with the support and guidance of your tutor. You will then spend the final few days designing
and realising this strong finished piece to be applied to a model and professionally photographed.
DAY 1:
DAYS 2 – 4:
DAY 5:
Intensive workshop with a professional photographer: learn how your work will be
captured and how your designs will translate through the lens
Final project planning and preparation
Students will create their final design on a model and work with a professional
photographer to capture the results
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Short Courses
We run short courses from time to time at both our venues and also at the London School of Beauty & MakeUp (see page 10). These cover various subjects and range from one-day masterclasses and weekend
workshops to two-week intensive classes. To date we have offered the following short courses:
•
Prosthetics Boot Camp with Neill Gorton
•
Mask Making and Creature Design Fundamentals
with Jordu Schell
•
Advanced Creature Design with Jordu Schell
•
Prosthetic Application
•
Lifecasting
•
Working with Plat-Gel
•
Mould Making
Short courses currently available are on the following pages. New ones
are announced on the ‘Short Courses’ page of our website and also in
our newsletters. Mailing list information is on the final page of the
prospectus - please sign up to receive details via email!
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Prosthetics Boot Camp with Neill Gorton
Dates:
Venue:
Cost:
Course size:
Usually two courses per year depending on Neill’s
schedule. Please check our website, Facebook page and
newsletters for future dates.
Gorton Studio Falmouth
In the region of £535 + VAT
Outline: Taught by Neill, this is a five day tour-de-force of the processes and
techniques he uses to create his character prosthetic make-ups.
This is a subject Neill is well known for within the industry. He has pioneered
many new techniques over the past 10 years, and won numerous awards for
his prosthetic make-up work, including multiple Royal Television Society
and BAFTA awards.
Teaching will be predominantly demonstration based, but attendees will get
hands-on with the materials and will all have the opportunity to produce, cast,
apply and colour a transfer appliance. In the intimate setting of our Falmouth
Studio you'll be up-close to the action and able to see everything in detail.
Curriculum
Day 1: lifecasting, designing the prosthetic and sculpture
Demonstration of a full head cast in silicone, then casting and correcting positives from this cast
Sculpting the appliances onto the life cast and then dividing and floating the pieces
Day 2: breaking down the pieces and further sculpture
Detailing and texturing the separate pieces and readying them for moulding
Day 3: mould making for prosthetics
The thinking behind mould making techniques and choices of materials; two piece moulds in PU resin, silicone
flat moulds, fibreglass and epoxy demonstrations
Flat moulds and 3D transfer moulding processes
Day 4: casting and painting appliances
Running silicones with super baldies encapsulates in two piece and flat moulds
Scrape overs, injection moulding and gravity fill
Pre painting and finishing appliances
Day 5 - prosthetic application
Traditional application and colouring techniques
Flat mould and 3D transfers techniques
See page 28 for testimonials
about this course
Ideal for
• Students on a prosthetics degree course or similar
• Tutors teaching make-up FX courses
• Professional make-up artists wishing to broaden their skills and increase their knowledge and
awareness of prosthetic make-up techniques
Entry Requirements
Participants must be over 18, have a good understanding of English and refer to the above guidance to ensure
they're at a level to benefit from the course content.
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Making a Booking
General Entry Criteria
Students must be over 18 and understand spoken English well. Course-specific criteria are shown below:
Make-Up FX & Prosthetics Creation
Entry Criteria and How to Apply
In order to really benefit from the Make –Up FX and Prosthetics Creation course you will need some basic
artistic or technical ability, and be able to craft with your hands. Our simple application process allows Neill
to determine whether your skills in these areas are at the right level for the course. Please follow these two
steps to apply:
1: Post or email us 3 or 4 photos of your creative work in any medium: drawings, paintings, models or any 3dimensional crafts such as cabinet making for example. Please send laser copies of photos only in the post
rather than originals, as we’re unable to return them. Please mark envelopes and title emails ‘7-Week Course
Application.’ Alternatively if you have a website or portfolio online, please provide a link to it. If you are
unsure about this or don’t have examples of your work, please refer to the FAQ page for guidance.
2: If Neill is satisfied you’re at the right standard for the course, we’ll invite you to book a place. If you’re
not quite there yet, we’ll suggest further work you can undertake to help develop your skills, all of which can
be done cheaply and in your own time. Please refer to the FAQ page for more information.
Booking Details
Once you have completed the application process and been invited to book a place, please contact us to
check availability. We will send you a booking form or you can download it from the website. Please fill this
in and return with a deposit of £550. When we receive your deposit, your place is booked. You will then
receive further information and an invoice for the remaining fee plus the VAT, which must be cleared in our
account no later than 28 days before the start date of the course.
Creative & Character Make-Up
Entry Criteria
There is no application process for this course, but it will be helpful to have some experience in make-up,
even if only in an amateur context. It is not necessary to have any formal qualification in make-up to
participate, but you must be comfortable working on someone's face and the more practice you have done on
this beforehand, the more you will get out of the course.
Booking Details
Please contact us to check availability. We will then send you a booking form or you can download it from
the website. Please fill this in and return with a deposit of £485. When we receive your deposit, your place is
booked. You will then receive further information and an invoice for the remaining fee plus the VAT, which
must be cleared in our account no later than 28 days before the start date of the course.
Short Courses
Entry Criteria: Please check the course details to make sure you are satisfied that you’re at the right stage to
benefit from the course you wish to attend.
Booking Details: Please make a payment of the full fee + VAT. When this is cleared in our account, your
place is booked.
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Payment Information
You can pay with any major card, cheque, by bank transfer
or international wire.
How to pay
Short courses can be booked online. For 7-week courses please call Martina on 01494 775576 to make card
payments and make cheques payable to: 'Neill Gorton Prosthetics Studio.' For bank transfers and
international wires, our account details are:
Barclays Bank
Chipping Ongar Branch
186 High Street
Chipping Ongar
Essex CM5 9LJ
Account Number:
Sort Code:
Swift Code:
IBAN:
50252972
20-29-86
BARCGB22
BARCGB22 GB40 BARC 2029 8650 2529 72
International Bank Transfers: Take from 1 day to 1 week, depending on whether they’re express or
standard and bank charges are higher than for domestic transfers. Gorton Studio does not take responsibility
for international transfer charges, so you must elect to pay all fees. Please tell your bank this as otherwise our
account may be charged, thank you.
Payment Terms: The payment deadline for all fees to be cleared in our account is 28 calendar days
before the start date of the course. Cheque clearance takes between 3 and 5 working days and bank transfers
(including online) can also take between 3 and 5 working days, so please allow enough time for this when
arranging your payment.
Waiting Lists: As soon as a course is full we open a waiting list for it. If a place becomes available due to
a cancellation, we offer it to those on the waiting list in order, and the payment of a deposit will secure them
the place. If you would like to join a waiting list please ask Martina.
Conditions of Attendance: Health & safety procedures must be strictly adhered to; Gorton Studio
reserves the right to ask any student not following the guidelines to leave the course and refunds will not be
granted in such circumstances. Photographs/video taken during the course may be used for future marketing.
Course Cancellations: In the unlikely event of your course being cancelled due to unforeseen
circumstances, you will be notified immediately and all monies received will be refunded
Cancellation & Refund Policies
7-Week Courses
Cancellations made up to 28 calendar days before the start date: All monies received will be refunded
Cancellations made less than 28 calendar days before the start date: Deposits will not be refunded
Cancellations made up to and on 3rd March: 90% of the fee and VAT will be refunded
Cancellations made on 4th March until and on 16th March: 50% of the fee and VAT will be refunded
Cancellations made on or after 17th March: Regrettably no refunds
12
Training for High Definition
High Def (HD) is a relatively new screen recording format. It produces footage that’s of a far more
impressive standard of realism than the methods of filming which predate it. Many films are already shot in
HD and television is moving rapidly in the same direction. The enhanced standard is achieved by an
increased ‘resolution’ of image. Resolution refers to the quality of the picture which is made up of ‘pixels’small dots of colour arranged in a grid. HD uses far more pixels than other recording formats, which produce
a much higher resolution and thus a fabulously clear image.
The industry is moving towards using HD as its primary mode of filming and this obviously has an impact on
the crafts people who work with it, including prosthetics technicians. Neill and Millennium FX were among
the first prosthetics specialists in the UK to work extensively in HD, so they are well aware of its demands.
There is a lot of hype surrounding this subject, and talk of special training for working in HD, however this is
a misconception. There are no new prosthetics materials or ways of working that you need to learn. The
requirements of HD are simple; you need to work with the same techniques and materials as in any other
shooting format, but at a very high standard. HD exposes more detail
to the viewer, so your work needs to be immaculately presented, but
this is what is normally expected of professionals in the field anyway.
The standard needed for effective HD work is the standard we work to
every day and the standard we have always taught. Our tutors all have
significant experience in HD and the level of teaching they provide
will equip you to perform successfully in it yourself.
Casualty work by a 7-week course student
Bespoke Courses
Our bespoke courses are about meeting your unique training requirements with our expertise.
We’re always happy to discuss how we can provide exactly what your group or organisation needs to learn,
and Neill personally designs each course to make sure it delivers just that. We can teach you at our own
Studios in Chesham and Falmouth or at your premises in the UK or abroad.
The content and duration of these courses are
completely flexible, and the level can be tailored to
suit any ability from beginners to professionals and
teachers. Groups of all sizes can be accommodated,
and courses can feature any materials and techniques
from across the entire spectrum of prosthetics. This
can achieve anything from a one-day workshop in a
specific material for example, through to a module
lasting a whole term as part of a degree. Our bespoke
courses are regularly used to teach teachers, provide
industry contact for higher education students, widen
the skills of make-up artists, train make-up crews and
by industrial companies who use our techniques. If
you’re interested in a course please get in touch!
To date we are delighted to have provided courses for the organizations on the next page amongst others:
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14
Education Sector Work
The main objective of our extensive work with the
education sector is to help strengthen its links with
the industry. In practice this means bringing what
is taught about screen prosthetics in higher
education as close as possible to actual industry
practice, which is ultimately what will help
prepare students to break into the business and
form careers.
Neill and our tutors
work at the cutting
edge of prosthetics,
so they teach from
the forefront of the
industry, and it’s this truly contemporary quality that leads teachers and
students from other educational establishments to study here.
We engage with Colleges and Universities in four ways:
1. Direct contact with students: This ranges from visits to convey the realities of
seeking work in the industry, through staging workshops in specific
techniques to enhance a course, to teaching whole modules in prosthetics and
special make-up FX as part of diplomas and degrees.
2. Teaching teachers: To help them train their own students in the prosthetics
skills required by today’s employers and keep abreast of industry materials
and techniques. During Neill’s long career he’s developed simple prosthetics
systems that are quick and easy to teach in a class environment and require minimal equipment and
materials, but deliver great results. We can also advise on getting the most out of equipment and budgets.
3. Advising on the set-up of new courses: This can encompass guidance on the design of a new curriculum,
how to make the best use of existing facilities and how best to allocate budget when purchasing new
equipment. We can also advise on where to buy the most cost-effective and versatile materials to service a
course, assist on the most efficient ways of delivering certain subjects on a curriculum, and how to get the
best results when teaching within the confines of health and safety issues.
4. Combating health and safety issues: One of the biggest challenges when teaching prosthetics in a HE
environment is producing great results within the confines of the
health and safety requirements surrounding some materials. Neill
has worked extensively on addressing the limitations education
providers can experience due to these issues, and has devised
processes using less hazardous materials and techniques which
don't compromise the effectiveness of the teaching. We work
with HE clients to achieve the maximum course content possible
within the boundaries of health and safety regulations.
This can be treated as a stand-alone subject or an integral part of
a bespoke course, and has already enabled a number of
institutions to implement teaching in this field where it would
otherwise not have been possible.
We always welcome contact from education professionals who wish to pursue collaborations with us.
Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
15
Credits
The best way to learn a job is from someone who’s done it successfully themselves. In the film industry your
credits show your professional achievements, and Neill’s speak for themselves. He has worked on hundreds
of productions, won numerous awards, worked with Directors like Stephen Spielberg and Ridley Scott, on
famous faces such as Johnny Depp and Demi Moore and with theatre impresarios such as Sir Andrew Lloyd
Webber and Sir Cameron Mackintosh. He also owns Millennium FX, one of the industry’s most
accomplished prosthetics companies. To see the full list of Neill’s credits from block busters like Gravity and
The Wolfman to iconic TV shows like Doctor Who and Little Britain, please visit:
www.millenniumfx.co.uk/credits
Awards
Neill and the Millennium FX team have received numerous major industry awards to
date. These include BAFTAs and Royal Television Society awards for their work on
shows such as Doctor Who, Help! The Catherine Tate Show and Being Human. They
were awarded the Royal Television Society’s coveted special award for ‘Design and
Craft Innovation’ in 2006, for their pioneering work on Little Britain and Doctor
Who, and have contributed work to many award winning and nominated productions.
Neill and Millennium FX’s Awards
2012
2009
2008
2008
2007
2007
2007
2006
Nominated for BAFTA
Royal Television Society
BAFTA WALES
BAFTA WALES
Nominated for BAFTA
2006
2006
Also nominated for
BAFTA
BAFTA WALES
Also nominated for
Advertising Craft Award
2006
2006
2005
2003
Nominated for ‘The Girl’ HBO
Special Effects for ‘Being Human; Series 1’ BBC
Special Effects for ‘Being Human; Pilot Episode’ BBC
Make-Up Design for ‘Doctor Who’ Series III BBC Wales
Special Effects for ‘BODIES; Finale Episode’ BBC
Make-Up Design for ‘Doctor Who’ Series II BBC Wales
Nominated for ‘The Catherine Tate Show’ BBC
Design and Craft Innovation for ‘Little Britain & Doctor Who’
BBC& BBC Wales
Make-Up Design for ‘The Catherine Tate Christmas Show’ BBC
Special Effects for ‘BODIES’ BBC
Make-Up Design for ‘Doctor Who’ BBC Wales
Make-Up Design for ‘HELP!’ BBC
Make-up Design for ‘Doctor Who’ BBC Wales
Make-Up for ‘HELP!’ BBC
Make-up design for ‘Doctor Who’ BBC Wales
Wrigley’s ‘FRANKENSTIEN’ commercial, Runner
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Tutors
Our tutors are all current, senior industry practitioners who alternate between teaching and working
professionally. In a constantly changing industry this guarantees that what you're taught are the most relevant
and contemporary skills, by specialists who are regularly active at the forefront of screen prosthetics.
NEILL GORTON
Neill is involved in key aspects of our 7-week courses and also teaches short
courses. He has 11 major awards for his work on shows such as Doctor Who, The
Catherine Tate Show, Bodies and Being Human. Since his career began in 1987 he
has worked on hundreds of productions with performers as diverse as Sir Michael
Caine and Lady Gaga, prolific directors such as Ron Howard and Joe Johnston and
impresarios like Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Sir Cameron Mackintosh.
Neill has taught at many other institutions including Arts University College
Bournemouth where he was made an Honorary Fellow in 2010, ACMUSE
Australia, Leicester College, IADT Dublin, Focal Zurich, ACT Israel, Greasepaint,
Grimsby Institute and the National Film and Television School, where he’s also an
advisor for their Digital FX MA Degree. In 2014 he became a Visiting Professor at
the University of Bolton. Read Neill’s full story in the ‘Advice for Beginners’ section on our website.
DANNY MARIE ELIAS Danny is the Manager of Gorton Studio. She’s a make-up, hair and prosthetics artist
broad experience including film & television, fashion, catwalk, media, editorial and
body painting, as well as being a fully qualified teacher. Danny works with Neill to
devise new courses, develops our work with the education sector, teaches short
courses and will be a tutor on the up-coming ‘Creative and Character Make-Up’
course at Gorton Studio Falmouth. Her recent screen credits include Indian Doctor,
Wizards vs Aliens and Sherlock, the Doctor Who Christmas Special and she
recently designed the make-up for new TV film Devils Vice. In early 2014 she will
be working on the prosthetics for 20th Century Fox movie Frankenstein. Some of
her fashion and editorial make-up work includes publications such as Faceon,
EDGE, The Guardian, Vogue Italia Online, Cellardoor, Urban Mainstream, Fan
the Fire, I Am LDN, T&M, Men’s Health and Los Angeles based digital magazine Cliché.
Danny began teaching in 2010 for College Gwent, where she taught specialist media make-up courses.
Before joining Gorton Studio she was an integral part of ‘It's My Shout Productions’, training young makeup artists in association with BBC Wales, S4C, the UK Film Council, the Arts Council of Wales and ITV.
STEPHEN MCCLURE
Stephen teaches the 7-week ‘Make-Up FX and Prosthetics Creation’ course. He has
been working as a freelance sculptor, model and prop maker in the TV and film
industry since 1993. His portfolio includes films for directors such as Danny Boyle
and Alfonso Cauron, Martin Scorsese’s Hugo, Tim Burton’s Sweeny Todd: The
Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Elizabeth The Golden Age, Your Highness and more
recently Jupiter Ascending for the Wachowskis and Ridley Scott’s Exodus.
For Millennium FX Stephen has worked on films such as Ex Machina and on
numerous episodes of Doctor Who, including taking the role of lead sculptor and
project supervisor on the build of the new Cybermen in 2013.
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DAVE BONNEYWELL Dave teaches the 7-week ‘Make-Up FX and Prosthetics Creation’ course. He started
in the industry in 1992 at Image Animation and was workshop supervisor there until
2002. He has since worked with Neil Courbould, Creature Effects, Spectral Motion,
Tony Gardner and Millennium FX as well as being a freelance designer, writer and
production artist. He does all aspects of prosthetics from mould-making to
application, is a highly skilled sculptor and creature/character designer and
supervised the effects on many of his credits. Dave’s career has seen him work on
many high profile feature films including Event Horizon, Ronin, Dog Soldiers,
Beyond Borders, Troy, Oliver Stone’s Alexander, Seed of Chucky, 28 Weeks Later,
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Hellboy 2. The Golden Army and Clash of
the Titans, and his TV credits include working with Millennium FX on Doctor Who.
GILLES PAILLET
Gilles teaches the 7-week ‘Make-Up FX and Prosthetics Creation’ course. He first
started work in the UK in 2001 for Soft Options, where he was supervisor of the
foam lab. In 2009 he joined Millennium FX to work as a freelance foam latex
technician on Joe Johnston’s The Wolfman. Since then, his UK TV credits include
Doctor Who, Being Human and The Sarah Jane Adventures amongst other shows.
Recently he has worked on big budget movies such as Hercules, Last Days on Mars,
Ridley Scott’s Prometheus and Wrath of the Titans for various companies. Gilles is
also an experienced teacher, and in the past few years has been a visiting tutor at
Bournemouth and Bradford Universities, Metamorphoses FX School in France and
DbFX workshop in Geneva.
LAUGE VOIGT
Lauge teaches the 7-week ‘Make-Up FX and Prosthetics Creation’ course. After
studying at the London College of Fashion, Lauge set up his own company in his
native Denmark in 1998. This saw him work on films such as Anja efter Viktor, At
Kende Sandheden and De Gronne Slagtere, many Danish TV shows, theatre
productions and commercials for companies like Kodak, Kellogs and Adidas. He
returned to the UK in 2004 to work on the film Regeneration and TV shows
including Dragons, Life before Dinosaurs and British Isles: A Natural History.
Lauge's projects for Millennium FX include Doctor Who, Dead Ringers, Titty Bang
Bang, Celebrity Swap, Elizabeth the Virgin Queen and Being Human. His recent
film work includes Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Lesbian Vampire
Killers and Brad Pitt’s World War Z.
JORDU SCHELL
Based in LA, Jordu visits Gorton Studio to teach short courses in creature design.
He has been in the film and TV industry since 1987. His talent as a designer and
sculptor is world renowned, and his credits include: Avatar, The Chronicles of
Narnia: Prince Caspian, 300, Hellboy, Aliens vs. Predator – Requiem, Planet of the
Apes, Men in Black, The Mist, Batman Returns, Edward Scissorhands, Alien:
Resurrection, The X-Files Movie, Predator II, Galaxy Quest, Evolution, Babylon 5The Series (on which he designed an Emmy award-winning creature make-up and
the first fully digital creature for a TV series), and many more. As well as running
his own training facility Schell Sculpture Studio in the USA, Jordu has also taught
at many other places including Tippett Studios, WETA, Blizzard Entertainment,
The Monster Makers, Moby Games, Creature Effects, Specter Studios, Vancouver
Design, Joe Blasco and Empire Academy of Makeup Specter Studios.
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Images on this page are of
Millennium FX’s work
One of Gorton Studio’s unique and invaluable qualities is its
close association with Millennium FX. Millennium is
Europe’s leading supplier of cutting edge screen
prosthetics, animatronics and special make-up FX, and is
one of the busiest FX houses in the world.
Neill founded the company in 1999 and was joined by codirector Rob Mayor in 2006. Both are multi-award winning
artists, with numerous BAFTA and Royal Television Society
awards across make-up and special effects categories. They
lead a team of the industry's best technicians who have worked
with them on countless productions; from major studio features
including Saving Private Ryan and The Wolfman and acclaimed
television shows such as the new Doctor Who and Being
Human, to iconic theatre for the likes of Sir Cameron
Mackintosh’s current tour of The Phantom of the Opera.
Millennium has dynamic, vibrant workshops full of highly
skilled professionals covering every discipline of screen
prosthetics, and part of the package of studying the ‘Make-Up FX
and Prosthetics Creation’ 7-week course at Gorton Studio Chesham is access to this
workplace and its crew. You will be taught in the same building as one of
Millennium’s workshops and be next door to the other. You will have regular contact
with them to gain insight into the company and the industry it serves. This gives
you a live industry context to study in that will show you the realities of working in
film and television, how a professional FX workshop functions and what is
expected of its technical and creative staff.
Members of the Millennium FX crew often get involved in discussions with
students, offer guidance on final projects if their areas of expertise are involved, and
show their portfolios to illustrate how to promote your work when pitching for jobs.
This involvement with the Millennium workshops and crew means the education
you receive here is grounded
in the industry you want to
work in. That along with the
high level of technical training
provided, Neill’s input and
the rubber stamp of his name
and reputation combine to
offer the best screen
prosthetics training
available in Europe and
beyond.
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Alumni Achievements
The achievements of our past students speak for themselves. Graduates have gone on to start exciting careers
or enhance existing ones with their new rafts of skills. Their work can be seen in films, television shows,
commercials and theatre productions all over the world. We’re extremely proud of their accomplishments
and are always happy to give advice along the way if they need our help.
The titles below show a very small selection of our alumni’s screen credits to date, please visit the website
for a more comprehensive collection....
Feature Films
Television
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Career Case Studies
Our website contains some case studies that show the realities of what’s possible after studying here; some
are of relative beginners breaking into the industry and others of established make-up artists using courses to
broaden their careers. Here’s an example.....
Name: Salla Yli-Luopa
From: Helsinki, Finland
Salla completed the 7-week course in 2008
Salla what was your background before doing the course?
I was working as a hairstylist in London 2000 - 2006. I did a make-up
course in 2004 and worked on a few movies since. I'd been make-up
designer for one film, a Finnish horror film called Sauna, and I really
wished I'd been able to do the prosthetic pieces for it myself. I'd always
been interested in horror and sci-fi films.
What was the final project you chose to do?
A large silicone fish lady that was inspired by a deep-sea ‘Angler’
fish. At first I really wanted to do a remake of one of the goblins from
Labyrinth, but Neill asked me why I wanted to re-do something that was done 20 years ago? So I
thought again and ended up creating a humanised ladyfish.
What did you get out of the course and how did it help your career?
The course was a real crash course into the world of prosthetic make-up and creature making. I loved the fact
that we were creating things right from the beginning of first day. The course was absolutely full of
information and practice. It was exactly what I needed to get to work with prosthetic make up like I had
dreamed for years by then!
What have you worked on since leaving?
I got my first prosthetic job soon after the course making a fat wrap for an Internet comedy show. Another
make-up artist was asked if they knew anyone to do
it and she knew I'd just finished my course so they
called me. I was very excited about it! I did all the
moulds and everything on my living room table.
What a mess! It turned out pretty good. Another
make- up artist spotted the comedian with a fat wrap
at the studios where we were filming and
recommended me for a film production that was
coming up. Then I got hired to do 2 full-face silicone
old age make-ups for a film. Was super thrilled
again, but didn't realise 3 weeks was not very long
time to do them in! Ended up working around the
clock, but definitely learned a lot. Never take a job
when there's not enough time to do it in peace!
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Movies with prosthetic work:
If You Love, 2009:
2 silicone old age make up's
Rare Exports, 2009:
Make up designer, lightweight replica axes in polyurethane/large silicone wounds
Light weight replica knife in polyurethane with a silicone piece for a throat stabbing
Purge, 2012:
Swollen eyelids, bed sores, bullet wounds, scars in silicone
Delirium Diary, 2012
Make up designer, making swollen eyelids and scars and wounds in silicone
Rölli, 2012:
Silicone pixie ears
Leijonasydän, 2012:
A fake chest in silicone
Also a silicone superhero mask for ‘Joker’ character of the Finnish lottery, a fat wrap for a main character in
TV-movie, prosthetic make up for art movies and dance performances.
What have your career highlights been so far?
Designing make-up for Rare Exports feature film and creating all prosthetics and replicas myself.
What advice would you give anyone trying to break into the industry?
Your attitude is what counts the most! Work hard, keep learning and finding new information about stuff, and
be nice to people!
Update Jan 2014: Salla has just
finished as Make-Up Designer on
Samuel L. Jackson’s thriller
‘Big Game’
Work by Salla Yli-Luopa
Right: Polyurethane axe
prosthetic from the movie
Rare Exports, 2009
Far right: Geisha created for
a make-up competition in
Helsinki, 2011
Advice for Beginners
If you’re not ready for a course yet there’s a lot you can learn on
your own. The world of screen prosthetics isn’t always easy to break
into, and its successful practitioners come into it via different routes
- particularly the more seasoned ones like Neill, who learnt their
trade long before any courses like the ones here existed. The picture
on the left shows him sculpting in his parents’ shed as a teenager!
Our website has a whole section of advice for beginners, about how
the business works and how to start preparing for training and
ultimately a career in prosthetics. Read how Neill’s career began,
learn about getting to know the industry and defining what you want
to do within it. It takes you through the basics of how technology
features in the working life of a prosthetics technician, what your chances are of getting a job when you’ve
trained and how to go about approaching employers for work. There are tips about gaining valuable
experience while you’re learning the techniques you’ll need, and pointers towards the kind of school exam
subjects that could help you on your way. The ‘Learn from Home’ pages later in this prospectus also provide
you with resources to help you discover about screen prosthetics, and start learning some of its techniques.
22
Learn From Home
DVDs
Neill has produced a whole series of ‘How to’ DVDs that cover all the major
prosthetics techniques in step-by-step detail. In each 60-minute tutorial he clearly
demonstrates every technique himself, and shares many of his tips and tricks.
These are ‘no frills’ study aids with no product placement, no time wasting and no
distracting background music! They contain a huge amount of information for
anyone keen to learn the subject or improve their skills, and are widely used by individuals, colleges and
companies. Buy them at www.mfxwarehouse.co.uk
Here’s what some of our customers have said about them:
"I consider Neill Gorton's DVDs my video bible"
“This series should be required viewing for students of this field. I’ve learned a great deal from them......Books are a
fine source of info, but to see how the techniques are applied along with a commentary is priceless, thank you...”
“….it’s just a blast! Thanks Neill for all the little tips and tricks you give us and I can’t wait to get the next chapter!”
“I found the DVD’s to contain a wealth of information which is extremely relevant to the area I work in, namely mask,
prop and costume building. I’ve learned more in two hours watching the DVD’s than I have in 7 months at College,
Thanks Neil!!”
“….it really is an excellent tutorial....I’ve been confused by text based explanations.....but I feel confident that I could
create a mould after watching this DVD. Clear unobstructed footage of the process and constant narrative describing
every action. “
The Internet
https://www.facebook.com/groups/362423150462990/: Neill’s Facebook group ‘Neill Gorton’s Make-Up
FX 911.’ This is dedicated to helping established artists and newcomers to the business. Many industry
professionals post helpful responses to people of all skill levels looking for advice. The ‘files’ section has a
lot of terrific technical information and there’s a great photo album section showing many behind the scenes
processes. It’s a closed group simply to prevent spamming. Just ask to join!
www.the effectslab.com: There is a fabulous forum here that’s used internationally by anyone and everyone
interested in effects. There is a lot of good technical information as well as gossip, and a wealth of
enthusiasm and knowledge for anyone to share.
www.themakeupgallery.info: A great picture and information resource/archive, covering every type of
prosthetic make-up imaginable. It will introduce you to all sorts of interesting and famous names in the field.
www.makeup-fx.com: This site is run by a great make-up FX artist in Sweden called Lars Carlsson – its
fun, very informative and gets a massive amount of hits!
www.therpf.com: This is a huge forum for replica prop builders to swap technical and creative ideas plus
advice on building ‘props’. This encompasses a large range of work including things like replicas of the
Doctor Who props made by Millennium FX, armour helmets and alien heads! This type of site is fantastic for
learning as well as promoting a great hobby and hooking up with people who have the same passion.
Another, more specific prop builders’ site is the Doctor Who Prop Builders Club, which is an MSN group.
This is full of Doctor Who enthusiasts who produce some great copies of the creatures and props from the
show past and present – again invaluable information sharing for people who want to better their skills.
www.nasmah.co.uk: The UK association for make-up artists working in film, TV, theatre and fashion
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Books
There are an enormous amount of books out there! For that reason we won’t write a
huge list here, but just advise you to follow your nose around the book shop and see
what interests you – a few of Neill’s personal favourites include:
‘No Strings Attached - The Inside Story of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop’ Matt Bacon,
Virgin 1997
‘Making a Monster – The Creation of Screen Characters’ Al Taylor and Sue Roy, Crown 1980
‘Making Faces Playing God – Identity and the Art of Transformational Makeup’ Thomas
Morawetz, University of Texas Press 2001
‘Special Effects – An Oral History’ Pascal Pinteau, published by Abrams 2003
‘Sculpting a Galaxy – Inside the Star Wars Model Shop’ Lorne Peterson, Insight Editions 2006
‘Special Make-up Effects’ Todd Debreceni. A great instructional book that uses a lot of Neill’s
material in its ‘how to’ features. Neill also wrote the introduction.
Make-up Manual.’ Mike Spatolla. Covers common prosthetic make-up processes in a step-by-step format
‘The Monstrous
The Make-Up Artist Magazine bookstore had a great selection of character and special make-up FX books
Magazines
There are many magazines on the market the choice of which is down to personal preference, but the main
player in the screen make-up world is US publication Make-Up Artist Magazine www.makeupmag.com
For horror fans, no FX workshop is ever short of a copy of US gore-fest Fangoria! Not for the faint hearted!
Sci-Fi & Fantasy Modeller is produced in a book format and well worth the £12.95 price. A must if you’re
interested in building anything in the Sci-Fi genre; informative and visually superb, Neill often writes for it.
Trade Shows
Make-Up Artist Magazine stages several annual international make-up trade shows, the main ones being in
LA and London’s Olympia. IMATS is the place to
catch up on what’s new in make-up products and
education. All the great and the good of the screen
make-up world go to these events, and the London
one is a unique opportunity to meet like-minded
people, watch demonstrations, attend lectures by
leading practitioners and get a taste for the business.
Entry is around £30 per day and is well worth it. Neill
is usually there so say hello and ask him your
questions! Details at www.makeup,ag.com
Materials
Mouldlife
ScreenFace
Precious about Make-up
Charles Fox
www.mouldlife.co.uk Prosthetics, mould making and casting materials supplier
www.screenface.co.uk Make-up and materials shops/supplier
www.preciousaboutmakeup.com aka ‘PAM’ Make-up materials shop/supplier
www.charlesfox.co.uk Make-up materials shop/supplier
Ready Made Appliances
Millennium FX’s retail site www.mfxwarehouse.co.uk sells cost-effective, off-the-shelf professionally made
silicone pieces to use for application practice or professional jobs. Single use and re-usable pieces available
in a selection of colours.
24
Locations
Our two teaching Studios are both linked to Neill's work. The first in Chesham,
Bucks is in the building next to his industry company Millennium FX. The
second in Falmouth, Cornwall is near where he lives and has a private workshop.
These two locations are significant to the 7-week courses they host; Make-Up FX
and Prosthetics Creation in Chesham benefits from access to the Millennium FX
workshops, where students can observe the technical processes they're learning in
a live industry context, and Creative and Character Make-Up in Falmouth
nurtures students' creativity amidst the artistic heritage of Cornwall, where Neill
focuses on his character design work and develops new, innovative techniques.
Both venues run short courses in various subjects.
Chesham
Unit 9, Springfield Works, Springfield Road, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1PW
Chesham is 28 miles northwest of central London, 7 miles from J18 on the M25
and 9 miles from J8 on the M1. It is conveniently located for all the major
airports: 22 miles from Luton, 24 miles from Heathrow, 58 miles from Gatwick,
and 54 miles from Stansted.
Road and rail links into London are very good. Chesham is at the end of the
Metropolitan line linking it to the tube network, and the journey to Baker Street
takes roughly 45 minutes. The nearby stations of Amersham and Chalfont &
Latimer have a Chiltern Railways service to Marylebone, which takes about
half an hour. Both services stop at stations throughout northwest London.
Falmouth
59 – 61 Killigrew St, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 3PF
Cornwall is the extreme south-western peninsula of Great Britain, 250 miles from
London. Falmouth is on its south coast, boasting 4 beautiful beaches, the world's
third largest deep-water harbour and is the country's first and last port. It is
straightforward to get to Cornwall via road and rail, and Newquay Cornwall
Airport has daily flights from London Gatwick and other destinations in the UK
and Europe. Please see our detailed information on how to get to Falmouth on
our website.
The Studio sits among galleries, craft boutiques and a thriving arts community.
A University town, Falmouth’s campuses have strong film, art, design and
media faculties. For generations artists have retreated to Cornwall to be
inspired by the sea, landscape and history.
25
Funding Advice
Here are some pointers to help you begin your funding search if you’re UK-based. We can’t guarantee
accuracy however so it shouldn’t be substituted for your own research.
Professional and Career Development Loans
Professional and Career Development Loans are bank loans that can be used to help pay for work related
learning. You can borrow between £300 and £10,000 to help support the cost of up to two years of learning
(or three years if it includes one year’s relevant unpaid practical work). The Government will pay the interest
on the loan while you are learning and for one month afterwards. The loan can be used to pay course fees or
other costs such as travel and living expenses. You can also use the loan to supplement other forms of
support such as grants or bursaries.
As the Professional and Career Development Loan is a commercial loan product, you should make sure you
have investigated all the funding options that may be open to you to ensure you take an informed decision
about whether the Loan is right for you. For further information on financial assistance to support your
learning, visit the National Careers Service website at: www.gov.uk/career-development-loans/overview
or contact the National Careers Service on 0800 100 900.
Our learning provider registration number is: 11710.
Skillset
The Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries (broadcast, film, video, interactive media and
photo imaging). Jointly funded by industry and government, their job is to make sure that the UK audiovisual industries thrive, part of which means managing a range of training funds that sometimes include
individual ‘Training Bursaries’ for courses. Skillset is concerned with 'continuing professional development'
and thus only funds people who are already working in the industry and wish to improve their skills. This and
the amounts of funding available usually mean their bursaries are most appropriate for our short courses.
For current information on available funding see www.creativeskillset.org There are different funds available
at different times and the information changes according to 'priority areas' for the funds to be spent on.
Trusts and Foundations
Private trusts and foundations are grant-giving bodies that offer funding in their own areas of interest, and
within their own criteria. This information is usually published and can be used to determine whether they
may consider granting money to you. UK trusts and foundations prefer to fund those areas that government
funding cannot fully cover and there are a few who give grants to individuals to further their studies.
Trusts tend to list their giving priorities by subject matter and/or geographical area, and some have particular
interests in certain countries and religions.
Applications to these bodies tends to be via written proposals, sometimes on forms provided but more often
of your own devising, particularly in the case of smaller trusts. Some trusts do not accept ‘unsolicited
applications’ which will be stated in their ‘exclusions’ list and means that any uninvited applications will not
be considered, so don’t apply to these!
Here are some tips for applying to trusts and foundations:
• Always read the list of each trust’s ‘exclusions’ first i.e. things they will not fund – this will give you an
immediate indication of whether they give to individuals in the way you’re hoping, and will save you time
• Pay careful attention to the trust’s criteria and don’t apply to any that you don’t fit into, even if you think
you almost do. It won’t get a positive response and will waste your time
• If you are compiling your own application from scratch, don’t make it too long – most trusts receive lots
26
of applications and won’t appreciate it, so stay focused and to the point
• Always include very clear financial information about exactly what you require the funding for and why
• Keep to deadlines; some trusts accept applications at any time, but if they have deadlines stick to them
• Always include a covering letter and clearly state your contact details
There are a huge number of trusts and foundations out there and here are some ways to find out about them:
The Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF) www.acf.org.uk Promotes good practice among trusts and
foundations and seeks to educate the public about their work. ACF's website gives tips on how to apply for
funds and a list of charitable organisations.
The Directory of Social Change www.dsc.org.uk The Directory of Social Change has a fantastic collection of
resources on this type of funding. They have a whole website dedicated to grants for individuals as well as
one on trust funding. These require pretty expensive annual subscriptions to use them (this includes email
updates), but they are the definitive place to find out if there is any funding available for you through this
channel, and they sometimes have offers for shorter use periods such as a one week subscription for £99.
DSC also publish a selection of books available on their website, along with relevant publications by the
CAF. These are expensive however and many libraries have copies which you can use free of charge.
Contact Details: The Directory of Social Change (Publications), 24 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2DP
Telephone: (020) 7209 5151 | Fax: (020) 7209 5049 E-mail: info@d-s-c.demon.co.uk
Turn2us www.turn2us.org.uk: Has a free grant search facility that includes educational grants for individuals
Funding Central www.fundingcentral.org.uk General information and free funding searches. Remember to
specify that you’re looking for grants for an individual, as this website is more geared towards companies
and organistaions, but there is information there about funding for individuals.
Other Routes
Here are a few sources that will be able to offer you tips and in some cases money!
The Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund www.ctbf.co.uk: A welfare charity that can offer grants to
individuals with a minimum of 2 years’ professional industry work who are facing hardship. They have given
grants for training and re-training in the past if you’ve been away from the industry for a while (through
illness or starting a family for example) and need help returning to work.
Educational Grants Advisory Service www.egas-online.org: Information and funding advice through their
directory, helpline and website. Also distribute ‘Family Action’ grants to unlock post-16 educational
opportunities for under-represented & disadvantaged groups.
Money Saving Expert www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/grants-education:
Advice from Martin Lewis
Grants and Bursaries for Adult Learners www.gov.uk/grant-bursary-adultlearners: The government’s guide to financial support for adult education
Narrowing the Search
These well-known grant givers currently don't fund arts and crafts
training for individuals. Criteria may change however:
Arts Council England, Lottery Funds, EU Funds, The Paul
Hamlyn Foundation, The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, The
Clore Duffield Foundation, The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation,
The Foyle Foundation, The Baring Foundation, The Jerwood
Charitable Foundation, The Eranda Foundation.
27
Student Testimonials
7-Week Course: Make-Up FX & Prosthetics Creation
“The 7 week course was the most enjoyable
and helpful experience I had in my
professional life, never learnt so much in such
a short period of time, time flies when you are
doing what you really love doing and being in
such a wonderful workshop, I wish it didn’t
end ...ever!! Thank you to my amazing tutors,
especially David Bonneywell, you gave me so
much, it was the most well spent money of my
life! Also thank you to all Millennium FX
team I had contact with, you are amazing and
tireless, thank you for everything, I’m really
grateful to have had this experience.”
Rita Anjos, Portugal
Gorton Studio Summer 2011 graduates with tutor Dave Bonneywell
“I came onto the course without any previous experience in the industry, having just a degree in illustration
under my belt. I thought I might be a little out of my depth, but our course tutor, Dave, was amazing at
showing us the ropes and giving us all the help and advice we needed to make a start in the prosthetics
industry. Everything that we needed was provided for, and I made some excellent friends during the 7 weeks
in the studio; I only wish I could have stayed longer! I’d recommend the course to anyone who wants a
career in make up and prosthetics.”
Lucy Youngman, UK
“Neill Gorton’s prosthetics and animatronics was one of the best learning experiences of my life: jam packed
full of creative work. I guess I’d say I think I was probably in a position to take advantage, and made the
most out of the course in the respect to having already experimented with materials like fibreglass, silicone
and urethanes for mould making and for special effects type work on short films, as well as having practiced
my sculpting as much as time permitted over the last two years. “
Muhittin Kavuncu, Turkey
"Thank you for the seven weeks at Gorton Studio, it was a brilliant experience and nice to see a professional
FX workshop for the first time. The course was great, I was really impressed with what I achieved there and
the level of productivity maintained throughout...I hope to stay in touch and look forward to what lies ahead."
Rob Gurney, UK
“I enrolled on the course to re-visit prosthetic techniques that I had not used for a while in order to improve
my confidence with the subject as I was preparing to teach small aspects of prosthetics in the upcoming
academic year. As the only teacher in the group I did require a slightly different set of skills in comparison
with the rest of the group. However the course was well tailored to each of our individual needs by the
fantastic tutor and the facilities were more than adequate to accommodate this. I am very satisfied with the
course and feel confident to pass knowledge I learnt in the studio onto my students.”
Sarah Jordan, UK
28
Short Courses
Prosthetics Boot Camp taught by Neill
"...Prosthetics Boot Camp was amazing.... I have never learnt so much in such a short time and it to actually
sink into my brain. I am currently at University studying SFX Make-Up so this course was very useful to me.
Neill's teaching skills are second to none and I can now confidently go on my own and make silicone
prosthetic pieces.....I felt really cared for....and Neill usually gave us an extra hour training each day, which
he didn’t have to do, you could tell he enjoyed teaching. I wish Neill was my tutor at University and I will
definitely book on another course if it suits. Thank you so much."
Jenna Hacking, UK
"My attendance of the Prosthetics Boot Camp course
was the most rewarding experience I could have wished
for. As a past student of Neill’s 7-week prosthetics
course this was the perfect follow up to cover some
processes and materials that I felt needed to be refreshed
for myself, specifically learning how to break down a
sculpture and to float the individual pieces in order to
create a multi piece prosthetic. I could not recommend
this course highly enough to anyone who is seriously
into sculpture and make-up FX.......there is no other
make-up school or course you need to look for, you
have already found the perfect one…"
Jonathan Stewart-Wood, UK
"Firstly I’d like to say how much I enjoyed attending Neill’s Prosthetic Boot Camp, June 2013. I found it
enormously informative and found Neill to be an inspiring tutor who imparted a huge amount of knowledge
clearly and concisely and managed to get through an impressive amount in the time available, making the
course extremely good value for money.
...the course clearly broke down the processes covering traditional and alternative methods in head-casting,
mould-making, modelling, casting and make-up application. It was invaluable to me to see the whole process
refined and polished and this is where I personally gained most value from this course......For me, the course
was excellent and I would recommend it to anyone wishing to finesse existing skills and I think that
beginners with the capability to keep up with the pace will gain a huge amount of knowledge and enjoy an
exciting introduction to the industry."
Leigh Cranston, UK
"Neill’s Prosthetics Boot Camp was a valuable and hugely rewarding experience. The course structure was
perfect, covering in detail a lot of subject matter in such a relatively short space of time....Neill’s session
delivery was excellent and he demonstrated teaching skills that “qualified” teachers and lecturers often fail to
utilise, such as relating the course material to professional or personal experience to reinforce learning...Neill
also demonstrated excellent differentiated learning, effectively linking his explanations of techniques or
materials to individual student’s abilities and areas of interest or experience.
....I loved every minute of the course and would whole heartedly recommend it to anyone with an interest in
special effects make up and prosthetics."
Ray Phillips, UK
29
Prosthetic Application Workshops, taught by Neill
“The course was exactly what I needed to improve my techniques and
learn new ones. Also, the course did improve my confidence a lot.....and
the teaching was great, thank you!”
Sif Gudmundsdottir, Iceland
“This course has vastly improved my confidence working with
prosthetics. Fantastic and perfectly paced.”
Cerina Knott, UK
“Fantastic! Feel much more confident going into a job knowing I can
apply a piece...... thank you so much!”
Lulu Hall, UK
“Have enjoyed the weekend very much, learnt many new things. I have learnt a
lot about my strengths and weaknesses in application and painting and I know now what I have to
concentrate my training on. I would like to return for another weekend workshop”
Andreas Moravec, Austria
Lifecasting Workshops, taught by Neill
“Very informative…had an excellent time. Highly recommend the course even if you have some experience”
Robert Whitehead, UK
“The workshop was very informative and I loved the hands on opportunity. I particularly liked the fact that it
was a small group and the openness and genuine insight into the film industry. Loved every minute of it!”
Chantell Roy, UK
Fundamental Mould Making Techniques Masterclass, taught by Neill
“Neill did an outstanding job of engaging all who took part and was very good at relating the course content
to the specific areas of interest of the individual students. As well as having the expertise in the subject area
Neill is a natural teacher with an effective delivery style and excellent session management skills. This was
evident in that we covered in depth, so many essential aspects of the subject in such a short space of time.”
Ray Phillips, UK
Mask Making & Creature Design Fundamentals (1 week), taught by Jordu Schell
“The week I spent on Jordu's course was one I won’t forget in a
hurry. His passion for his craft is so infectious that I couldn't help
but learn from him. He’s such an energetic, generous teacher with a
wealth of experience to impart. Not only did I learn an awful lot I
also had a great time meeting new like-minded friends in such a
creative environment. It has given me confidence and a whole new
set of skills as well as an improved way of thinking when
approaching a creature design. The surroundings of the course
couldn't have been more appropriate either. It was such a privilege
to be able to sculpt creatures at the world famous Millennium FX.
Jordu's course was an absolute pleasure and given the opportunity
to attend again I wouldn't hesitate!!”
Peter Tindall, UK
30
Bespoke Courses & Education Sector Work
4-Day Course for ACT; Israel Association of Cinema and Television Professionals
“The course in Tel Aviv was very valuable and we have been using the flat-mould technique Neill taught us
constantly ever since. It is a brilliant method that produces very good results and is also cost-effective.
We worked intensively after the course to make a selection of generic flat-mould appliances that fit most
male and female faces; necks, double chins, cheeks, foreheads, eyebrow coverings, eye bags etc. We now use
this selection of pieces on a mix-and-match basis to build many different character looks on actors.
Ours is the only studio in Israel using this method, and the appliances are popular with all the make-up artists
in the area. They are very good for jobs where the budget can’t run to bespoke appliances and you can create
an entire new character in a very short time. With the pieces pre-made, you can produce an ageing make-up
overnight for example! The course also taught our make-up artists to apply and colour the prosthetics, which
they can now do with confidence.”
Rinat Alony, ACT Member/Studio r FX
Annual Prosthetics Module for the National Film and Television School
“The National Film & Television School and Gorton Studio have been in partnership since 2006. Initially
Neill Gorton and his amazing team came up with a Prosthetics Module for the NFTS SFX/VFX Diploma,
developing and growing into the current 5-week module that is part of the NFTS Digital Effects MA course.
Every Gorton Studio tutor has the experience to deliver the learning at the highest level. The NFTS students
always engage with every aspect of the course and year-on-year find new ways of creating prosthetic effects
that shock and entertain in equal measure. NFTS SFX/VFX 2011 graduate Maria Aburn sums it up:
"It was good, because they showed us different techniques and the Tutor was really, really helpful in showing
what does and doesn't work for creatures."
Gorton Studio instills the highest technical, creative and professional standards and the Prosthetics Module
remains essential to the success of the NFTS Digital Effects MA course.”
John Rowe, Head of Digital Effects, NFTS
Workshop for University Centre, Grimsby
"SFX pioneers don't come more experienced or diverse
than Neill Gorton. When I was involved with the setting
up and running of the Special Effects Make-up Design
for Film, TV and Theatre BA Hons at University Centre
Grimsby, Neill was THE first call I made to collaborate
with us.
Not only is his experience in the SFX industry as
comprehensive as it gets, but his clear passion for
sharing his experience, talent and common sense
approach is a rare and gracious one. Neill opened our
purpose built SFX studios Millennium named in his
honor and ran an amazing prosthetic workshop with
learners. The buzz and positive air Neill bought along is still with us and we can't wait to see him again"
Tee Webb, Programme Leader BA Hons Special Effects Make-Up Design for Film, TV and Theatre
University Centre Grimsby
31
Frequently Asked Questions
Prosthetics Education General
1. There are a lot of courses that do prosthetics now, how do I choose the right one for me?
There are now many places you can study prosthetics either as an individual subject or as part of a wider
course, all of which are designed to teach you to work in film or media. Choosing what kind of course is
right for you will depend on your personal career objectives, but here are some basic pointers:
Subject range: Make sure this is relevant to the job you want to do after studying. If you want to be a makeup artist you’ll probably only need a basic knowledge of prosthetics and this may be taught in one module. If
you want to be a prosthetics technician however, you’ll need a course that focuses solely on that rather than
diluting it with a lot of related subjects you don’t need. If you’re unsure then a general course in media makeup may suit you and introduce you to all the facets involved before you choose what to specialise in.
Environment: It’s important you feel comfortable at the place you’ll be studying in, especially if it involves
a stint away from home for the first time. Go and visit it beforehand to make sure it’s right for you.
Tutors: You need to be sure your money is being spent on tutors who really know their subject. Check out
their credentials and experience – are you confident they have the right skills themselves to pass on to you?
Credits: If a tutor claims to have or have had a career in the industry, what are their professional credits? Do
they reflect an adequate level of experience to properly teach the subject?
Promises of work: Be wary of courses that say you’re guaranteed work at the end of them - they are likely
to be deceiving you. What courses can give you are the relevant practical skills to equip you for work,
however getting that work will be down to your talent, dedication and determination alone.
Alumni achievements: Is there evidence of past students being successful once they’ve graduated?
Qualifications: The most valuable thing you leave a course with in terms of starting a career in screen
prosthetics is a portfolio that shows photographs of your work. Certificates and letters after your name have
their place, however it’s the visual examples of your skills that will really mean something to prospective
employers, so choose a course on the merit of its practical content and quality of teaching first and foremost.
2. What is industry-linked training and why is it advantageous?
An essential part of learning your trade is to acquire the necessary knowledge about the industry itself, rather
than just the practical skills the job requires. The most effective way to do this is on a course that has direct
contact with the industry, so you learn about it first-hand. This can be through tutors who also work
32
professionally or who keep up to date with the industry through their own studies, or through access to a
professional working environment. This type of experience will be crucial in helping you translate what
you’ve learnt in the classroom, into a professional FX workshop or film set.
The film industry constantly changes as new techniques, materials and technologies emerge. It’s important
that as you prepare to break into such a competitive business, you’re equipped with the latest skills and
information. Again the most effective way to do this is through contact with the industry itself, which is the
key ingredient to a properly comprehensive training that will leave you ready to look for work.
Gorton Studio General
1. Can I visit the Studios to view the facilities?
Yes, please do come and look around but it’s essential that you book an appointment in advance.
To visit the Falmouth Studio please call +44 (0)1494 313212
To visit the Chesham Studio please call +44 (0)1494 785028
2. Why do I have to be over 18 to attend a course?
We have to set a limit somewhere, and feel this is sensible particularly as it may require staying away from
home. If you’re under 18 though please don’t give up! We are more than happy to offer guidance and advice
to you in the meantime, and you can book yourself onto a course for when you are actually 18.
3. Will I get a certificate or some sort of recognition that I’ve completed a course?
Yes we give certificates upon completion of all our courses. For 7-week courses we also provide a letter that
states you’ve successfully participated on the course and outlines the key aspects covered. Please remember
however the most valuable thing students leave our longer courses with however are the photographs of their
work, as these are what will really mean something to prospective employers.
4. How do you choose your tutors?
The tutors have been chosen because they are well rounded and highly accomplished technicians. They have
all worked frequently with Neill and Millennium FX, so Neill has first-hand experience of working with
them and has selected them personally. Visiting specialists are also people Neill works a great deal with, and
employs to collaborate with Millennium on various projects.
5. Is there any funding available for the 7-week course?
There is some funding out there for courses like ours. The ‘Funding advice’ at the start of this document
gives some suggestions as to possible sources.
6. Do you award different grades to graduates of your 7-week course?
No, there is no ‘grading’ and students are absolutely not in competition with each other. Marking a course
like this in that way is irrelevant as it bears no relation to how the industry works.
7. How can I find out about accommodation near the Studios?
Use the ‘Places to stay’ page on our website for some suggestions, but please note these are not
recommendations as we have not tested them, we are just passing on what we hope will be helpful
information. This section also includes website addresses via which to find further accommodation listings.
8. I want to visit from another country to study at Gorton Studio, how do I go about this?
We welcome international students and will be pleased to issue a confirmation letter for immigration
applications upon receipt of your deposit. There is a huge amount of information about short-term student
visas on the Internet. A good place to start for basic immigration advice is www.migrationexpert.com
33
9. Are courses ever cancelled?
To date a course has never been cancelled. However we do always say that very occasionally circumstances
out of our control may arise which will prevent a course from happening. In this case if you’ve booked a
place, we will notify you and refund everything you have paid immediately.
10. If I cancel my booking will I get a refund?
Gorton Studio has cancellation and refund policies for all its courses. These are clearly stated within the
booking information in this prospectus, on the website and in the paperwork you receive when you book a
place on a course.
11. Why do you have a cancellation and refund policy?
If a place is cancelled at relatively short notice, a lot of work will have already been done on the assumption
that it will be filled; the materials will have been purchased, the tutor booked and the pre-course admin done.
It can be difficult or impossible to secure a replacement student in the weeks leading up to the course, as
even if people are on a waiting list, it’s often not possible for them to alter their schedules or find the funding
to take up the place at the last minute. The cancellation and refund policy is there to make this as manageable
as possible for us, and cover the administration costs that will have already been spent on the cancelled place.
7-Week Course: Make-Up FX and Prosthetics Creation
1. Why are there entry criteria for this course?
So that students can get the most out of the course. If you don’t have the basic skills to work with, you won’t
gain from it and as you’re paying to learn with us, we want to ensure you get value for money. The basic
skills required can be learnt for free in your own time, so you don’t want to be paying to learn them here.
2. What skills are you looking for in applications?
It’s down to showing an artistic or technical ability, and basically being able to craft with your hands. This
can be shown through drawings, paintings, models or even skills such as cabinet making or other 3D craft
forms. As long as you have the potential there, we can help develop it. In the past we have assessed students
based on pictures of their water colour paintings, clay models and home-made prosthetics for example.
3. What if I don’t have any work that’s suitable to apply with?
Please give us a call or email us so we can find out a bit about your creative interests, and suggest a piece of
work to undertake on which Neill can assess you.
4. What if I don’t meet the necessary standard?
If we don’t think you’re quite there yet, we’ll send you a guidance letter. This will include information and
ideas of projects you can do simply and cheaply to develop your skills to the standard we require.
5. Can you guarantee that doing this course will get me a job?
No, and any course that says it will is likely to be misleading you. What we can guarantee is the best standard
of education of its kind available, the most relevant to the industry and in the most contemporary techniques.
Because we are affiliated to Millennium FX which is an employer, we fully understand what employers are
looking for, and can therefore equip you with exactly the right information to point you in the right direction
to get a job. Actually getting work will be down to your talent, dedication and determination.
6. How much is Neill involved in the day-to-day teaching of this course?
Neill gets involved in key aspects of the course, giving demonstrations and advice. The general studio work
and specialist areas will be led by the other tutors and visiting practitioners.
34
7. How much contact will I have with Millennium FX?
There will be regular visits to see ongoing professional projects and students can to access Millennium’s
archive of moulds, prosthetics and make-up FX to help with their projects. Members of the Millennium team
will also be available at certain times to advise individual students on their projects, show their portfolios and
share their industry experience. There won’t be unlimited access however as Millennium is a busy workshop.
8. Is there any preparatory work I can do before my course?
It isn’t absolutely necessary, but the more knowledge you have before you arrive the better as the course is
intensive, and hitting the ground running will ensure you make the most of your time here. Keeping abreast
of trade publications is a good way to start.
9. What do I need to bring with me?
General: A packed lunch is a good idea, but you can drive into Chesham or to the nearby garages and buy
something to eat during the lunch break. There is also a fish and chip shop and a pub at the end of the road,
and a sandwich van visits every day at mid-morning.
Technical: We will provide all the make-up and modeling tools you’ll need to complete the course, however
if you wish to bring any craft tools and equipment with you please do. All the necessary power tools will also
be available, but you’re welcome to bring your own which will be checked by a tutor to ensure they meet
health and safety standards prior to use.
The basic modeling tools supplied are yours to take away at the end of the course.
10. What will I take away with me from the Make-Up FX and Prosthetics Creation course?
Throughout your course we keep a photographic record of your work both in process and finished. These
photos will be supplied for you on CD and for final projects that are appropriate to be filmed, a DVD will be
made to help build your portfolio. You will also leave with all your moulds, casts and finished pieces of
work, and notes from classes forming a technical journal of your studies.
11. How many people will there be on my Make-Up FX and Prosthetics Creation course?
No more than 6. These courses are fully participatory on the part of the students and therefore require space
and a very small student/teacher ratio to ensure maximum attention and guidance for each individual.
12. What is the student-teacher ratio on the Make-Up FX and Prosthetics Creation course?
1: 6. We never exceed this as it’s the level at which students get the necessary individual attention for this
curriculum. Sometimes there are also other professionals around in addition to the tutor.
7-Week Course: Creative and Character Make-Up
1. Are there any entry criteria for this course?
Nothing formal. There is no application process but it will be helpful to have some experience in make-up,
even if only in an amateur context. It is not necessary to have any qualifications in make-up to participate,
but you must be comfortable working on someone's face and the more practice you have done on this
beforehand, the more you will get out of the course.
2. Can you guarantee that doing this course will get me a job?
No, and any course that says it will is likely to be misleading you. What we can guarantee is the best standard
of education of its kind available, the most relevant to the industry and in the most contemporary techniques.
Because we are affiliated to Millennium FX which is an employer, we fully understand what employers are
looking for, and can therefore equip you with exactly the right information to point you in the right direction
35
to get a job. Actually getting work will be down to your talent, dedication and determination.
3. How much is Neill involved in the day-to-day teaching of this course?
Neill gets involved in key aspects of the course, giving demonstrations and advice. The general studio work
and specialist areas will be led by the other tutors and visiting practitioners.
4. How much contact will I have with Millennium FX?
There will be regular visits to see ongoing professional projects and students can to access Millennium’s
archive of moulds, prosthetics and make-up FX to help with their projects. Members of the Millennium team
will also be available at certain times to advise individual students on their projects, show their portfolios and
share their industry experience. There won’t be unlimited access however as Millennium is a busy workshop.
5. Is there any preparatory work I can do before my course?
It isn’t absolutely necessary, but the more you exercise your artistic skills beforehand the more you will get
out of the course. Painting, sketching and any fine art practices are excellent for this and some research into
colour theory will also be helpful.
General: A packed lunch is a good idea, but there are a large amount of shops within easy walking distance
where you can buy something to eat during the lunch break, as well as a plentiful selection of pubs and
restaurants.
Technical: We will provide a basic kit with which to complete the course comprising brushes, scissors and
modelling tools, however if you wish to bring your own make-up kit that you're familiar with please do. All
the necessary power tools will also be available at the Studio, but you’re welcome to bring your own which
will be checked by a tutor to ensure they meet health and safety standards prior to use.
The basic make-up and modelling kit supplied is yours to take away at the end of the course.
7. What will I take away with me from this course?
Throughout your course we keep a photographic record of your work both in process and finished. These
photos will be supplied for you on CD and for final projects that are appropriate to be filmed, a DVD will be
made to help build your portfolio.
You will also leave with all your moulds, casts, finished pieces of work, notes from classes forming a
technical journal of your studies and basic make-up kit.
8. How many people will there be on my Creative & Character Make-Up course?
No more than 10. These courses are fully participatory on the part of the students and therefore require space
and a small student/teacher ratio to ensure maximum attention and guidance for each individual.
9. What is the student-teacher ratio on the Make-Up FX and Prosthetics Creation course?
1: 10. We never exceed this as it’s the level at which students get the necessary individual attention for this
curriculum. Sometimes there are also other professionals around in addition to the tutor.
Short Courses
1. Are there any entry criteria attached to your short courses?
Each course is different but there are rarely any formal entry criteria, unless the course is part-funded by an
external grant giving organisation such as Skillset for example. Other than that we clearly state in the course
description who it is suitable for and what level you need to be at in order to benefit from attending. It is then
36
up to you to decide whether the course in question is appropriate for you.
General: A packed lunch is a good idea, but you can drive into Chesham or walk a few doors down the road
in Falmouth to the shops, pubs and restaurants to buy something to eat during the lunch break. In Chesham
there is also a sandwich van that visits every day at mid-morning.
Technical: Each course is different and if you need to bring anything this wil be stated in the information
you receive after making a booking. There is rarely any need to bring anything for a short course other than
something to take notes with if you wish to.
3. What will I take away from a short course?
Anything you have personally made during it if it's a participatory course. You are also welcome to take as
many photographs and notes as you wish.
4. How many people will there be on my short course?
Each course is different and it will vary according to the curriculum. If a course is demonstration based it is
likely to be designed for larger numbers than if it's more hands-on for the attendees, and some fully
participatory courses such as lifecasting for example are designed for very small groups. The maximum
number of students the course will comprise is always stated above the course outline on this website and in
the prospectus.
5. What is the student-teacher ratio on a short course?
This will vary according to the curriculum. If the course is demonstration based it will be a higher ratio than
if it's more hands-on for the attendees, and if it's a fully participatory subject such as lifecasting for example
it will usually have a very small student-teacher ratio. If the course has one principal tutor they will often
have an assistant with them for all or part of the time.
Modelling
Some of our classes require models whose job it is to patiently let
students practice their techniques on them!
As well as being fun modelling is an opportunity for anyone interested
in prosthetics to gain an insight into the subject, pick up valuable tips,
watch professional tutors in action and meet like-minded people. Our
models come from all walks of life, from students and amateur
enthusiasts to business people with a fascination for FX.
Modelling involves having facial prosthetics applied
or in some cases having a life cast done. This could
be of an arm for example, and sometimes a full head
cast is required - we’ll let you know beforehand if
that’s the case though, as not everyone is
comfortable having a head cast done . We offer
basic hourly pay to help with expenses, plus tea,
coffee and biscuits! On our website you can get
to know some of our regular models and see if
you’d like to join them.
37
Contact us
Join our Free Mailing List
Subscribe to receive email newsletters with exclusive news about the Studio, the work of
Millennium FX and other industry news and views approximately 3 times a year.
There will be some offers and competitions you’ll only hear about here, so don’t miss out!
To sign up please visit the homepage on the website, call 01494 785028 or e-mail
info@gortonstudio.co.uk
Addresses
Places to Stay
Gorton Studio Chesham
Our website has a section listing a selection of the
different types of accommodation available in Chesham
and Falmouth, arranged in order of distance from the
studio.
Unit 9, Springfield Works
Springfield Road
Chesham
Buckinghamshire, HP5 1PW
Please note we are not recommending any of the places
listed as we have not tried them, we are just passing on
what we hope will be helpful information.
Tel: +44 (0)1494 785028
Gorton Studio Falmouth
59-61 Killigrew Street
Falmouth
Cornwall, TR11 3PF
Tel: +44 (0)1326 313212
Keep up with our News
Check out the RECENT NEWS page on
the website.
Email:
info@gortonstudio.co.uk
Website: www.gortonstudio.co.uk
Find us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/Gortonstudio
We look forward to hearing from you!

Training in Screen Prosthetics, Special Make-Up FX

Transcription

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