Featured in BLICK Fall Catalog & Blood on the Plain!

Recently, my work was featured in the Blick Fall printed catalog, encouraging artists to "Try Something New" ... and in this case, they are talking about molding and casting.  Featured is the work I did in 2011 on the short film Blood on the Plain by Watercooler Productions where I created the indigenous creatures that slaughter the students at a High School dance.  Check out the feature online HERE and see some of the process of creating these monsters, as well as what materials you can use to create your own!! 

Blick has always been a big supporter of my work, thanks to my friend and fellow artist Kevin Sandstrom!  I used to work at the Blick in Wheaton during college when I would never take home a paycheck (I was buying art supplies to experiment and perfect my craft)!  I have been fortunate to be invited to do demos and appearances at the Blick store and the Blick booth at Wizard Comic Con and C2E2 over the years.  Blick is also one of the sponsors of my FX Classes and Workshops I teach at my studio.  So, I can definitely confirm what their slogan says, "Artists pick Blick!"

For those of you interested, you can watch BLOOD ON THE PLAIN on YouTube HERE
 

And see more pictures of the Making of the

BLOOD ON THE PLAIN Monsters on my website HERE

Sculpt & Process Pictures © J. Anthony Kosar.

Blood on the Plain © Watercooler Productions.

Blick Website image courtesy of Blick Art Materials.

Live-Sculpting at WildClaw Theatre Gala Benefit!

Be sure to reserve your ticket for WildClaw Theatre's First Annual MASQUE of the RED DEATH Gala Benefit THIS Monday, October 10th!!  Come see me sculpting live during the evening!!  Also featured is their special guest Doug Jones, creature actor for Pan's Labrynth, Hellboy, Adaptation, and more!  There will also be artwork on display from Clive Barker, Dave Dorman, Tony Akins, Ray Frenden, and More.

Here is all the info:

Monday, October 10, 2011
Mars Gallery † 1139 W. Fulton Market, Chicago
6:30pm until the sounding of midnight upon the clock

PURCHASE TICKETS

WildClaw Theatre cordially invites you to our voluptuous scene, the First Annual Masque of the Red Death Gala Benefit. Come revel amidst members of Chicago’s own Horror Theatre. There will be buffoons, beauty, bounty and drink; amazing artists; musicians; and our special guest, actor Doug Jones (Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy, Adaptation and more).  Food will be presented by Sazon Chicago!

Witness grotesque delights and dark spectacles, including: music; silent auctions; live horror sculpting by J. Anthony Kosar; and original art from Clive Barker (courtesy of Packer Schopf Gallery), Dave Dorman, Tony Akins, Ray Frenden and more. Commence your Halloween season with a grand fete featuring drinking, eating, dark art, tricks, treats and horror in support of WildClaw Theatre’s mission to bring the world of Horror to the Chicago stage.

• Dark attire is welcome, but not required.

• All art will be available for sale or auction.

TICKET OPTIONS:

Advance Tickets: $100 ($120 at the Door)

VIP Advance Tickets: $125 - Also includes:
• Ticket to WildClaw Theatre’s Fourth Annual DEATHSCRIBE: Festival of Radio Horror Plays on December 5, 2011 at the Mayne Stage.
• Ticket to the World Premiere of Scott T. Barsotti's KILL ME, opening February 13, 2012 at the Athenaeum Theatre.

More Information and

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

 
Images & Artwork © WildClaw Theatre and/or the respective artists.

LEX TALIONIS Premieres at TEMECULA INT'L FILM FEST This Weekend!

Hey California friends.... Be sure to go to the 17th Annual Temecula Valley International Film and Music Festival this weekend to see the premiere of my sister, Melissa Kosar's film LEX TALIONIS that she wrote and directed!!

Here are the showtimes:

Fri. Sept. 16th @ 9pm
Sat. Sept. 17th @ 5pm
At TEMECULA!

LEX TALIONIS is also the Officail Selection of the 2011 CENFLO Central Florida Film Festival and Officail Selection of the 2011 LA FEMME Film Festival in Los Angeles!!

I did some minor FX make-up for the short film as well as the poster and advertisements.

See the Teaser:

"Lex Talionis" Teaser and Poster © 2011 Melissa Kosar / Kos For Three Productions.
All Rights Reserved.

My Sister On Happily Divorced - Premieres Tonight 6-15-11 10:30/9:30c

Be sure to tune in to the premiere of the new TV Land sitcom Happily Divorced tonight, Wednesday, June 15th 10:30/9:30c. The show stars Fran Drescher (The Nanny) and is based off her life with her real ex-husband. My sister Melissa Kosar has been working on this show as a director-in-training since the pilot episode WHICH AIRS TONIGHT on TV Land!! Plus, she will be in front of the camera in tonight's pilot episode as a background actor at the concert scene sitting just two seats away from Fran!

Here is Melissa with Fran Drescher, and Melissa's mentor Lee Shallat Chemel who directs this sitcom, among many others:(picture taken by G. Lurssen)

Read more of Melissa's Experience on her blog HERE and check out some of Melissa's filmwork on her WEBSITE and BLOG

Happily Divorced Photo copyrighted to respective owners at Happily Divorced/TV Land.

Life-Casting for BLOOD ON THE PLAIN

For the past few weeks, I have been working on a short film Blood on the Plain directed by Mac Eldridge of Watercooler Productions, which is soon to be a feature. I designed the creatures for the film and am currently sculpting the monsters.

Synopsis:
Part western. Part horror. Blood on the Plain is a self-aware pulp exploration of a town in the wake of tragedy. Following a savage massacre at the Wadsworth High School Homecoming Dance, the townspeople take up arms and—under the guidance of four seasoned trackers—set out in search of justice. It's the marriage of fear and anger which fuels these efforts and ultimately signals their failure. Those who remain will be forced to square off with the assailants; a breed of man never before seen and born of a previous generation's offense.

I have a make-up / screen test on May 15th, and the creature FX scenes shoot on May 21st and 22nd. Though I cannot yet share the creature concepts for the film, below are some pictures from the life-casting session of actor Kevin Lucero Less. Working with me are my FX assistants Eric Berson and Joseph Kosar.

Having some fun with a sharpie (unknown to the actor):

My assistant Eric and I with the actor Lucero and Director Mac:

Here is the Kosart Effects Studios team with
the actor Luce (Eric, my dad Joseph, and I):

Here are the lifecasts...
3 Rigid Urethane Foam, one ShellShock, and one Ultracal-30:

Keep posted for pictures of the Creature FX designs, appliance sculpture, and applications!

Blood on the Plains © Watercooler Productions.
Life-casting Pictures © 2011 Kosart Effects Studios, LLC.

Lex Talionis

Last summer, I flew out to California to work on a short film Lex Talionis written and directed by my sister Melissa Kosar. It is an intense psychological drama, and was just included in the official selection of the 2011 Central Florida Film Festival. I did some minor FX make-up for the project, and also designed the poster and title logo. You can find more information on Lex Talionis on its page HERE

Also, check out my sister's blog HERE for updates on her work, including working on films, music videos, and network television, most recently an NBC pilot with Christopher Lloyd.

Lex Talionis Synopsis:

"With every year that passes, the loss of Julia's father becomes more and more unbearable. It is a destructive cliche to say time heals all pain, and for years she has been fighting herself to get passed his death. Julia is finally ready to let her wound heal."

See the teaser here:

Soon, I'll have some pictures to post of my FX make-up work on the film once it has its first screenings. But for now, here are a couple behind-the-scenes shots from the film:

"Lex Talionis" Teaser and Poster © 2011 Melissa Kosar / Kos For Three Productions.
Photos by Melanie Augustyn and John MacDonald.
All Rights Reserved.

My Sister's TV debut --- be sure to tune in!

(Photo copyrighted to The Middle/abc)

Be sure to tune in to The Middle Wednesday, January 12th as my sister Melissa Kosar will be making her television debut as a background shopper in a GAP store!

The episode is called "The Big Chill" and airs tonight 8|7c on ABC.

Check out some of Melissa's filmwork on her WEBSITE and BLOG

AVATAR: The A.M.P. SUIT

This is the picture I have waited for since 2007, and now, after the successful worldwide release of the film AVATAR, I am so excited and proud to post it!! Click image to see larger (I'm wearing an olive green t-shirt, located just right of center in the 3rd row from the front, between the 2 gentlemen wearing black t-shirts). This is the crew from Stan Winston Studio (now Legacy Effects after the passing of Legendary FX Artist Stan Winston). There was a large team working on the A.M.P. Suit, and everyone had their specific jobs to do. During my summer 2007 internship, I had the honor to help build this baby, molding and casting the large pieces of the A.M.P. Suit. It was such a great time! Congratulations to the entire Stan Winston Studio crew and thank you for letting me be a part of it!! Below is a small featurette on the A.M.P. Suit...

Here are a few pics of the A.M.P. Suit in action!!!

If anyone has not seen AVATAR yet, you NEED to go! See it 3D on IMAX to get the most out of the experience. It is a beautiful film, and one of the best I have ever seen! I can't tell you enough how proud I am to have worked on it, even if what I did is so small in scale of how big the film is,... I'm just glad to have been there. This is one of those films that will forever change the film industry!

HERE IS THE TRAILER:

Here's the other picture (below) I'm so proud to have:
Stan Winston and me


AMP Suit Crew Picture and Full AMP Suit Photo courtesy and © 2007 Stan Winston Studio / Legacy Effects.
AVATAR Stills, Poster, Trailer, and AMP Featurette © their respective owners.
Picture of J. Anthony Kosar and Stan Winston courtesy of Joe Pepe and Stan Winston Studio / Legacy Effects.

CONTAGIOUS - Book Trailer...

About a year ago, I did Make-up FX for a promotional trailer for CONTAGIOUS, a novel by best-selling author Scott Sigler.

The trailer, by Curious Three Film Production, was artistically shot as frame by frame photography, then edited together like a stop-motion animation. There was no time for pre-planning or making any prosthetics before the shoot, so some of the make-up was an on-skin silicone buildup application where necessary.

WATCH THE TRAILER BELOW!!

SEE THE MAKE-UP PROCESS ON MY WEBSITE HERE

Contagious Book © Scott Sigler.
Contagious Trailer @ Curious Three Film Production.
Contagious Make-Up © 2009 J. Anthony Kosar & Kosart Effects Studios, LLC.
All Rights Reserved.

Z.E.O.: Zombie Executive Officer...

Back towards the beginning of summer 2009, I did Make-up FX for a trailer for the book Z.E.O.: Zombie Executive Officer, "A Zombie's Guide to Getting A(Head) in Business" by self-help author Scott Kenemore. You can purchase the book HERE. The trailer, by Axiom Megamedia, was shot purposely on low quality to give the effect like it was an old lost 70's infomercial. Therefore, I wanted to make sure the eyes and eyebrows were expressive enough to be read on the final cut. There was no time for pre-planning or making any prosthetics before the shoot, so the make-up was an on-skin silicone buildup application.

Watch the trailer below!!

SEE THE MAKE-UP PROCESS ON MY WEBSITE HERE

Z.E.O. Zombie Make-Up © 2009 J. Anthony Kosar.
Z.E.O. Book © Scott Kenemore.
Z.E.O. Trailer @ Axiom Megamedia.
All Rights Reserved.

SATANIC PANIC Creature Posted...

After joining the project in 2006 designing the creature and creating FX props (Satanic Ritual Sacrificed Animals and a Satanic Ritual Dagger), and after the SATANIC PANIC's worldwide DVD and Blu-Ray release on October 13, 2009, I was finally able to post my creature on my website HERE. Now is when I finally had some time to do so! For those that don't know, this was my biggest undertaking to date: the props mentioned earlier AND a full silicone creature suit with human hair. This was the first time I had done anything to this scale on my own. Luckily I had my Father Joseph Kosar to help. He was my right hand man on the entire project. Other help I had on the creature suit was Chris Hernandez as my onset application assistant, and my Mother Lynda Kosar and my Sister Melissa Kosar as my hair application assistants. Overall, this was a HUGE learning experience on many levels. Anyway, here are a couple pictures...

THE MAQUETTE IS ALSO POSTED ON MY WEBSITE HERE

SEE MORE SATANIC PANIC CREATURE CONCEPTS HERE

SEE THE CREATURE SUIT
PROCESS ON MY WEBSITE HERE

Satanic Panic Sculpts and Art © 2006-2008 J. Anthony Kosar.
Satanic Panic © 2008 Marc Selz Productions, LLC.
All Rights Reserved.

FANGORIA Issue #287 - SATANIC PANIC MASK

CLICK ABOVE IMAGE THUMBNAIL TO READ ARTICLE

This is so cool!! Though I have been in a few articles on Fangoria.com, this is my first time ever in the actual magazine!! Pictured is my Satanic Panic Halloween mask I designed and sculpted for Zagone Studios based of the silicone creature suit I designed and created (pictures coming soon) for the independent Horror film of the same title. The part where I am mentioned is highlighted. If anyone in interested in purchasing a signed Satanic Panic Halloween mask, send me an email!! The mask is pictured below:

MORE PRESS ON THE MASK:

"The mask, which you can see in all its badass glory . . .

was sculpted by J. Anthony Kosar, a young kid who's got
a helluva lot of promise if his website’s any indication."
~ Johnny Butane (DreadCentral.com)

Read the entire article from DreadCentral.com - HERE
Read the Dec 13, 2008 article from Fangoria.com - HERE
Read the July 2, 2009 article from Fangoria.com - HERE
Read another article from TheHMA.net - HERE

Click HERE to see the Mask Making Process.

It was also cool this Halloween season to see my mask hanging up in Halloween USA seasonal stores (BELOW)!! What can I say, I got geeked-out when I saw my mask on the rack!

Also, on October 13, 2009, SATANIC PANIC the movie was released worldwide on DVD and Blu-Ray. There is Making of the Satanic Panic Monster featurette in the special features section featuring the work of Kosart Effects Studios for the film with a cameo by Tony Zagone of Zagone Studios. The featurette was done by my sister, Melissa Kosar of Kos for Three Productions (check out her website and blog). This Creature FX featurette will be posted soon online so all who don't have the film can see. And separate from this feature is a slide show featuring my designs and drawings for the Toby creature.

If you are in the mood for a real independent, low-budget horror movie, order yours today on Amazon.com HERE

Fangoria #287 Cover & Article © 2009 Fangoria Entertainment. Zombieland © its respective owners.
Satanic Panic Mask © 2008 J. Anthony Kosar & Zagone Studios, LLC.
Satanic Panic Poster © 2008 Marc Selz Productions, LLC.
All Rights Reserved.

2009 Sedona International Film Festival...

From February 24 through March 1, 2009, my sister Melissa Kosar and I were at the Sedona International Film Festival in Sedona, Arizona. Her film The Doll Hospital was one of 140 films for the 2009 Official Selection. The film showed twice, once on Friday and once on Sunday, and it was very well recieved by all who viewed the film.

In 2008, The Doll Hospital won 2nd Place in Lifetime Movie Network's Every Woman's Film Competition, and received Fan Favorite in the same competition on MyLifetime.com thanks to all your votes and support!

Due to our schedule with the Film Festival, we were not able to go on any hikes or jeep excursions, however, we did make it to several of Sedona's renowned art galleries, and most importantly, we met some amazing filmmakers, talented actors, saw 28 wonderful films, and made many new friends. Overall it was a great time!!

Here are some pictures from the week...

(Above) Now Showing: The Doll Hospital by Melissa Kosar.

(Above) There was a question and answer following the films. Melissa's short film preceeded the feature Nothing Really Matters, an amazing film by Jean-Marc Piché (pictured above on the left).

(Above) Melissa and I had the priveledge of meeting Doris Roberts (Everybody Loves Raymond) who was there with a film she acted in Play The Game.

Melissa and I with Jim Colletti (Chair, Board of Directors for Sedona International Film Festival) at one of the afterparties for filmmakers.

(Above) Melissa and I with Actor/Director Giancarlo Esposito (Gospel Hill).

(Above) Melissa and I with Director Marc Kess (Mildred Richards).
(click image to enlarge)

(Above) Melissa and I with Filmmaker Dan Merchant (Lord Save Us From Your Followers).

(Above) Melissa and I withe the same Orson Welles' camera he used for Citizen Kane. (click image to enlarge)

* * * * * *

Here are a couple panaramic photos I took of the scenery, . . . what a backdrop!
(click images to enlarge)


* * * * * *

Also, if you get the chance, watch the following films...

The Doll Hospital, Sebastian's Voodoo, Nothing Really Matters, The Great Buck Howard, The Baker, Play the Game, An Unlikely Weapon, Gospel Hill, Mildred Richards, Lord Save Us From Your Followers, Daniel Finds his Walking Stick, Sunshine Cleaning, Bending Space: Georges Rousse and The Durham Project, and The Suicide Tourist.

These films (listed in no special order) are a great mix from light hearted and funny to dark and depressing. There were so many others we wanted to see but were unable to.

The Doll Hospital image @ Melissa Kosar