Event Review

Untethered by reality, Son of Monsterpalooza plunges attendees into a creative world where flesh becomes the canvas for fantasy, as top Hollywood make-up artists, monster makers and visual artists celebrate their craft.

Below are some reflections on a monsterously good time.

A different kind of make-up – If you have ever seen the TV show FACE OFF on the SYFY network (or any Blu-Ray extras about creature effects or film make-up) this is the show for you. Monsterpalooza is the place where the Hollywood film set “make-up trailer” is put on a stage and treated like a rock concert, as fans of make-up artists thrill to every trick of the trade. Legends like Lois Burwell are working magic right in front of your eyes, transforming conventionally attractive models into gloriously bizarre visions of fantasy and horror.

Panels give fans quality time with folks like multiple Oscar winner Rick Baker, Walking Dead maestro Greg Nicotero and more. These pros are generous with advice and encouragement.

Once inspired, schools and supply companies are happy to help usher eager novices into the the realm of the professionals (or, at least, accomplished hobbiest).

Monsters in three dimensions – Monsters are born in the imagination. The skills to transform those visions into the real world include drawing, sculpting – either in clay or in a program like Z-Brush or MAYA, making molds, casting the molds, then painting the resulting sculpture or maquette. That chain of events can take a lifetime to master. The skills and technical processes involved demand a level of finesse and precision that terrifies newbies, while the materials required are expensive, potentially toxic and unforgiving. Wait to long, mix too much of this and too little of that and hundreds of dollars worth of resin transforms into useless, foul-smelling sludge. Here, again, different vendors provide education (including video classes, in-person classes and “starter kits”) to head-off rookie mistakes.

Art / Decor / Collectibles – Monsterously talented visual artists account for about half of the hundred of vendors, offering original prints, sculptures and pins. Their aesthetics range from the intense to the whimsical. A few delightfully mix both tonalities.

Special Events / Celebrity Signings / Screenings / Product Vendors are are part of ever convention, and Son of Monsterpalooza did not disappoint, even if this aspect is not the focus of the show (which is precisely why this show is so necessary and distinct from other pop culture conventions). Still, cast reunions of Phantasm, previews of the upcoming Creepshow and salutes to important female horror icons Julie Adams (THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON) and Vampira (LA horror host, PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE) make the show memorable.

The Audience helps make this show special. By focusing on themes of transformation, the show attracts creative thinkers eager to explore aspects of their identities – from posh vintage chic to wild cosplay to amazing make-up “looks”, this is a place where LGBT and non-binary people, disabled people and those embracing body positivity are out to turn heads. While there are still examples of tasteless exploitation-era horror films in evidence (and some vendors lean in to such material), the overall vibe of the show feels celebratory of uniqueness, differences and empowering expressions of identity.

“Son of Conjoined” COPRO GALLERY slideshow