Category Archives: R.I.P.

Dennis Hopper has passed away – "Now it’s dark…"

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I’m shocked and saddened by the news that actor-writer-director Dennis Hopper died yesterday. He was best known for his roles in films like Apocalypse Now, Easy Rider, Blue Velvet and Hoosiers, but Dennis was also an accomplished painter and photographer. He was truly an inspiring artist. I loved many of his films and his artwork interested me, too.

Dennis Hopper in 1969 during the filming of Easy Rider. Image source: Wikipedia.com

You will be missed, Dennis.

His Wikipedia entry, including his extensive filmography, spanning over 50 years: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Hopper

“Now it’s dark…” – Dennis Hopper as Frank Booth in the film Blue Velvet.

Jack Pierce, make up artist on Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, and others

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The excellent radio show Cinephobia, broadcast out of CKLN in Toronto,  just ran a contest to give away some tickets to a screening of a 35mm print of  the 1931 FRANKENSTEIN! I didn’t win the contest, but in answering their contest question, I was reminded of the incredible work of Jack Pierce who did the make up for Boris Karloff in Frankenstein, and Lon Chaney, Jr. in The Wolf Man, among other films. There’s an interesting read about Pierce at Wikipedia.

I directed a short film/commercial a little while back which featured our own “Frankenstein” and you can watch it below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1Yn2LwmFp8
See the credits for the film here: http://www.vimeo.com/8430163

That make up is not easy! We could have used his help on the set! Jack Pierce, RIP.

Viddy well!