Robert Kurtzman

Robert Kurtzman
Kurtzman at GalaxyCon Columbus in 2023
Born (1964-11-25) November 25, 1964 (age 60)
Crestline, Ohio, United States
Occupation(s)Film director
Film producer
Screenwriter
Special make-up effects creator
SpouseMarcia "Marcy" King
ChildrenLouie Kurtzman
Sadie Kurtzman
Websitewww.robertkurtzmanmufx.com

Robert Kurtzman (born November 25, 1964) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and special effects makeup artist. During his time at KNB EFX Group, which he co-founded, it would win a 2001 Emmy Award. [1] He would then start his own production company Precinct 13 Entertainment in 2003. [2]

Career

Kurtzman began his career in 1984 when he moved from his hometown of Crestline, Ohio, to Hollywood, California, to pursue his interest in prosthetic makeup, better known as special makeup effects. In 1988, along with Gregory Nicotero and Howard Berger, he formed K.N.B. EFX Group, a special makeup effects studio which has gone on to work on over 400 film and television projects. K.N.B. has won numerous awards, including an Emmy Award in 2001 for their work on the 2000 Sci Fi Channel miniseries Frank Herbert's Dune.[1] They were awarded an Academy Award in 2006 for achievement in makeup for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.[3]

After establishing himself in the special effects arena, Kurtzman turned to directing and producing. His first project was From Dusk till Dawn, for which he wrote the original story, served as co-producer, and created the special effects. The Demolitionist marked Kurtzman's directorial debut. He went on to direct Wishmaster, in which he had an uncredited cameo as "piano wire guy". In 2002, Kurtzman left K.N.B. EFX Group. Kurtzman moved his family to Crestline, Ohio, and started his own production company, Precinct 13 Entertainment.[2] Founded in 2003, Precinct 13 is described as a Film/Television and Radio Commercial/Visual Effects production facility. The Rage was the first in-house, fully financed, independent feature film. Kurtzman and P13 have, also, co-produced the supernatural film The Dead Matter, featuring Andrew Divoff, Tom Savini, and Jim O'Rear.[4] Kurtzman also directed the action-thriller film Deadly Impact, which was written by Alexander Vesha.[5] In 2017, Kurtzman took on the Makeup/ MUFX Co-Department Head position for the series The Haunting of Hill House directed by Mike Flanagan. Kurtzman moved his studio to Atlanta and formed Robert Kurtzman MUFX, LLC. His new company has worked on films such as Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, Ma and Doctor Sleep.[6]

Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1994 Makeup for Body Bags - shared with Rick Baker, Greg LaCava, Gregory Nicotero, Howard Berger CableACE Awards Nominated
1995 Makeup for State of Emergency - shared with Howard Berger, Gregory Nicotero, Ashlee Petersen, Heidi Seeholzer CableACE Awards Nominated
1997 Best Film for Wishmaster Catalan International Film Festival Nominated
1999 Best Makeup for Vampires - shared with Howard Berger and Gregory Nicotero Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films Saturn Award Won
2002 Best Makeup for Cabin Fever - shared with Howard Berger and Gregory Nicotero Sitges - Catalan International Film Festival Won

Filmography

1980s

Year Film Role Notes
1986 From Beyond Effects Technician
Night of the Creeps Special makeup effects
1987 A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors Freddy's creature forms
Predator Creature effects crew
Evil Dead II Special makeup effects unit crew
1988 Phantasm II Special makeup effects constructor
976-EVIL On-set makeup applicator Kevin Yagher Production, Inc.
1989 Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers On-set makeup applicator
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers On-set makeup applicator
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child Supervisor: Freddy's head de-merge effects, special makeup effects artist
The Horror Show Special effects
DeepStar Six Creature guy
Night Angel Additional makeup effects supervisor K.N.B. EFX Group
Nightwish Special effects
Intruder Special makeup effects artist

1990s

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Dances with Wolves Buffalo effects supervisor
Bride of Re-Animator Special makeup effects and bride effects creator K.N.B. EFX Group
Tremors Creature effects: art crew
The Exorcist III Demon effects makeup
Darkman Special effects makeup artist
Misery Special makeup effects artist
Sibling Rivalry Special makeup effects
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie Special makeup effects supervisor
Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III Makeup artist
1991 The People Under the Stairs Special makeup effects supervisor
1992 Dr. Giggles Special makeup effects supervisor
Army of Darkness Special makeup effects supervisor K.N.B. EFX Group
The Nutt House Special makeup effects
1993 Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday Special makeup effects artist K.N.B. EFX Group
Body Bags Special makeup effects
Doppelganger Special makeup effects
Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence Special makeup effects supervisor
Ed and His Dead Mother Special makeup effects
1994 Wes Craven's New Nightmare Special makeup effects
Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings Special makeup effects supervisor
John Carpenter's In the Mouth of Madness Special makeup effects
1995 The Demolitionist Director, screenwriter
Lord of Illusions Special makeup effects supervisor K.N.B. EFX Group
Skinner Special makeup effects artist, special effects supervisor
Wes Craven's Vampire in Brooklyn On-set special makeup effects application, special makeup effects: puppeteer
Galaxis Special makeup effects supervisor
1996 Scream Special makeup effects supervisor
From Dusk till Dawn Co-producer, story, makeup effects supervisor
1997 The Night Flier Special makeup effects supervisor
Double Tap Special makeup effects supervisor
Spawn Animatronic creature effects, special makeup effects
Wishmaster Director, special makeup effects
1998 The Faculty Special makeup and creature effects
A Simple Plan Special makeup effects supervisor/puppeteer
John Carpenter's Vampires Special makeup effects
Dean Koontz's Phantoms Makeup effects supervisor K.N.B. EFX Group
1999 House On Haunted Hill Special makeup effects

2000s

Year Title Role Notes
2000 The Crow: Salvation Special makeup effects artist
Frank Herbert's Dune Animatronic creature effects supervisor/puppeteer
Little Nicky Special makeup and creature effects supervisor
Spiders Special makeup and creature effects supervisor
2001 My First Mister Co-executive producer, special makeup effects artist
Vanilla Sky Special makeup effects supervisor K.N.B. EFX Group Inc.
Thir13en Ghosts Special makeup effects artist, special makeup effects supervisor
John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars Special makeup effects artist
Soulkeeper Special makeup and creature effects
Evolution Creature effects
John Carpenter's Vampires: Los Muertos Special makeup effects supervisor
2002 Bubba Ho-tep Special makeup effects supervisor
Cabin Fever Special makeup effects supervisor
Ghost Ship Additional prosthetic special makeup effects supervisor artist/hairstylist
2003 Bad Boys II Special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
Identity Special makeup effects supervisor
2004 Tremors 4: The Legend Begins Special effects supervisor
2005 Cursed Special makeup effects
Hostel Visual effects supervisor
Jolly Roger: Massacre at Cutter's Cove Visual effects supervisor
2001 Maniacs Visual effects supervisor
The Devil's Rejects Visual effects supervisor
2006 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning Special effects makeup
2007 The Rage Producer, director, writer, cinematographer, visual effects producer, special makeup effects producer
Buried Alive Director, visual effects producer, special makeup effects producer, special effects director
Wanted: Undead or Alive Special Makeup FX Producer/Visual effects producer
The Living Hell Visual effects producer, special makeup effects producer
2009 Deadly Impact Director, special makeup producer, visual effects producer, actor (character: Homeowner)

2010s

Year Title Role
2010 The Dead Matter Producer
2013 Jug Face Special makeup effects producer
2014 Tusk Special effects makeup
2016 Lake Eerie Special makeup effects artist, special effects supervisor
The Funhouse Massacre Special makeup effects producer
The Neighbor Special makeup effects supervisor
2017 The Bye Bye Man Special makeup effects producer
The Haunting of Hill House Co-Makeup/Makeup Effects Department Head
Gerald's Game Makeup Effects Department Head
2019 Doctor Sleep Makeup Effects Department Head

2020s

Year Title Role
2021 Rise of The Living Dead Special makeup effects artist
Cherry Makeup/Makeup Effects Department Head
The Underground Railroad Makeup artist (1 episode)
Black Friday Makeup and Special Effects Department Head
Fear Street Part Two: 1978 Makeup Effects Artist
2022 First Kill Makeup Effects Department Head
Secret Headquarters Makeup Effects Department Head
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey Makeup Effects Department Head
KillRoy Was Here Special makeup effects artist

References

  1. ^ a b "Quentin Tarantino Presents Eli Roth's Hostel" (PDF). Lion's Gate Films. 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  2. ^ a b TRINITY OF TERRORS Guest Profile: Robert Kurtzman
  3. ^ Nominees and Winners of 78th Annual Academy Awards
  4. ^ "Robert Kurtzman's Creature Corps Launches New Costume Line". DreadCentral. 24 August 2012.
  5. ^ "Deadly Impact Trailer from MGM Home Entertainment". 25 August 2012.
  6. ^ "Robert Kurtzman". IMDb. Retrieved 2021-10-08.