We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Oliver Poser. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Oliver below.
Oliver, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
My love to film developed very early on . Watching all the movies I still love today . Growing up in the peek of the 80s, my special interest was in all the effects of the horror and Sci-fi movies and how they got made . Growing up in Germany I didn’t peruse a movie career in the first place because all the movies I loved so much are from the US . But the fire still burned inside of me . By coincidence I got a role as an extra in a zombie movie . I did a few more jobs as extra in a few German low budget horror movies and got in touch with some SFX make up artists . That’s exactly what I wanna do in life . So I applied at a make up school and got started a few months later . Now being on the other side of the camera but still doing some acting parts here and there . With luck I relocated to LA in 2015 . Starting from scratch again because I didn’t know anyone here . Over the years I made myself a good reputation and being busier every year doing what I love the most .
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
The job as a Special effects make up artist is widely diversified. I do love monsters and stuff but I focused more in gore effects. I make prosthetics to apply on actors , I make life casts to reproduce a dummy of someone . Body parts or completely. I do practical effects like someone gets decapitated or bitten by a zombie . Also prop making is one of my services . Rebuild or cast things that could hurt someone so I make a dull fake knife that still looks like a real one . Or a rock out of foam Someone gets hit with . The best thing about my job , it’s never boring , never the same . I work with amazing people on great locations all over the country. I’m getting very close to get my own shop . That’s my goal and my dream so I can do even bigger things on bigger shows . I used to work for big effect shops, working on some big shows everybody knows but I prefer to be a free lancer . I can’t handle a multi million dollar show , I primarily work on Independent productions but I love the creativity to do my own thing . I read the script , break down the effects and make ups , discuss it with director and producer and than go to work . In my movies , everything you see I developed and shot on set . All my creation . In my opinion nothing is more satisfying than watching the cast & crew premiere or world premiere of your own work .
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
In my case , the most important thing is creativity . Don’t copy what other people did before. Yes , get inspiration but than do your own thing . You need patience. Nobody ever made it over night. Go the extra mile to be a bit better or work out an extra detail. Another thing that I think applies on every job ; be on time , be professional, hit the deadline . If I would fail on those 3 points , I wouldn’t be that busy anymore . People love that and you don’t want the rest of the crew waiting on you .
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I love to work with others. Everyone is doing things a bit diffused I constantly wanna learn new things . Everybody brings something new to the table and with a good team you can push the envelope further and further . In the film business it’s really a team effort. I like it to get pushed and put the stake a bit higher every time .
Contact Info:
- Website: www.masterofdisasterfx.com
- Instagram: oliverfx1
Image Credits
Oliver Poser
