TWIS Asks: Special-effects artist Greg Baker

This Saturday, Oct. 26, the Gulf Gate area will be transformed into a zombie stomping ground as special-effects artist Greg Baker hosts the inaugural Zombie Walk Special Effects Halloween. Starting at just $20, zombie enthusiasts can receive the full undead makeup treatment from industry professionals before heading to the bars to get their fill of brains beer. The event takes place from 2 p.m. to midnight, and participating bars include Chester's Reef, the Thirsty Turtle and Sarasota Brewing Company. We spoke with Baker about his experience in the industry and what people can expect this weekend.

I've lived here in Sarasota for 30 years, and I've been doing it professionally since I was about 19. I studied under Dick Smith, who trained a lot of the greats. He did the effects for "The Exorcist" and "Amadeus." He lived near Sarasota for a few years, and I submitted some of the Halloween masks I'd made and some other work I'd done, and he accepted me study under him in a course he was offering.

How were you able to maintain a successful career in Sarasota? It seems like most of this work would take place in Hollywood.

A lot of my friends did move out to California to find work, but it worked out for me to stay here. I learned how to sculpt and make molds, and I found a niche here, working for the different theme parks, until that dried up. I also did a lot of freelance projects and commissioned work, and I learned to take those skills and apply them to commercial and fine arts, working with sculptors and other companies.

Would you say you're most passionate about special effects work, though?

It's definitely what I'm most passionate about. This is the time of year when I get to cut loose and do that kind of thing again. You can get away with so much more, and it's gotten more popular again with the resurgence in the popularity of zombies. Blood and gore is a lot of fun. I love doing bullet wounds, bites and slices — any kind of injury you might sustain in a zombie apocalypse.

What inspired you to get into this kind of work?

As a kid, I was a pretty good sketch artist, and I got into working with clay when I was about 11 years old. I found that I could make my own toys and monsters — I used to make little clay "Planet of the Apes" heads. I made those like crazy. Then, as I got older, I checked out some books and learned more about the field, and I started making some Halloween masks and other things until I met up with Dick Smith. I made Predator and Alien suits and entered them into contests, and I used the prize money to open my own studio. From there, I started getting calls to do all sorts of work.

I made a 22-foot dragon for the Medieval Fair. I'd always wanted to make a dinosaur after I saw "Jurassic Park," but nobody was hiring me to make one, so I decided to make one on my own. It was a great photo opp at the fair, and then it ended up traveling around the country after that.

What's your favorite type of effect to produce?

My favorite type is character makeup. It's the most challenging. Making a white person black, or a black person white, or aging someone, is a big challenge, and I just really enjoy creating a character.