Creepy in Omemee: The Twisted FX of Rhonda Causton
By David Briggs
(Posted February 12, 2017)
Legend around Omemee is that there's a terrible old shack in the middle of the woods. If you can find your way through the wretched fog that veils the horrible forest, and dare to enter the dilapidated cabin, you'll find a horrifying vision: a mad woman surrounded by human limbs, alien heads, monster remains and gallons upon gallons of blood in various stages of decay...
..Her name is Rhonda Causton, but don't dare to speak her name...
Okay, so part of that opening is true. Yes, Rhonda Causton is often surrounding by such things, but they're all part of the job as an in-demand effects artist. She's definitely not mad. And however cool it would be, she doesn't work out of a shack within a haunted forest. She has a shop on her property. Yes, she lives in Omemee, but she's not the subject of legend...yet.
But people are talking. Her list of film projects continues to grow, and the experience and connections she's gained continues to lead to more projects. Recently, she just wrapped The Haunt, the first feature film for which she created all of the special makeup effects.
"I've been a horror and sci-fi fan since I was a little kid," she explained when asked what got her interested in creating makeup effects. "I used to paint and sculpt and draw and my subjects were always monsters, and horror themed stuff."
..Her name is Rhonda Causton, but don't dare to speak her name...
Okay, so part of that opening is true. Yes, Rhonda Causton is often surrounding by such things, but they're all part of the job as an in-demand effects artist. She's definitely not mad. And however cool it would be, she doesn't work out of a shack within a haunted forest. She has a shop on her property. Yes, she lives in Omemee, but she's not the subject of legend...yet.
But people are talking. Her list of film projects continues to grow, and the experience and connections she's gained continues to lead to more projects. Recently, she just wrapped The Haunt, the first feature film for which she created all of the special makeup effects.
"I've been a horror and sci-fi fan since I was a little kid," she explained when asked what got her interested in creating makeup effects. "I used to paint and sculpt and draw and my subjects were always monsters, and horror themed stuff."
"Horror movies were my thing," she emphasized, "and I'd play around with makeup that belonged to my mother when I was a kid, but I would never do beauty makeup with it, I'd always try to do other stuff."
Like cuts, wounds, blood, prosthetics, and castings. Well, at least that's where that early childhood fascination has lead, and the Ontario indie-horror scene is glad that it has.
Causton's love of horror and sci-fi was always simmering, but it took some time on a film set to bring it all to a boil. That film was Abattoir, which due to lack of funds is still in post-production purgatory, but acting in the film was a game changer for her.
Like cuts, wounds, blood, prosthetics, and castings. Well, at least that's where that early childhood fascination has lead, and the Ontario indie-horror scene is glad that it has.
Causton's love of horror and sci-fi was always simmering, but it took some time on a film set to bring it all to a boil. That film was Abattoir, which due to lack of funds is still in post-production purgatory, but acting in the film was a game changer for her.
Her character dies by chainsaw, which is a tough effect to pull off, especially with a low-budget, but the effects team for that film left a lasting impression, and that team was Carlos Henriques and Ryan Louagie a.k.a the head butchers at Hamilton's own The Butcher Shop.
"They totally inspired me," she said. "I was in awe of what they were doing on that set. I couldn't take my eyes off of the work they were doing because it was just so cool, and it just brought me back to the excitement and the thrill I had when I was a kid doing that stuff."
Her experience led her to enroll in Toronto's School of Make-up, which was "like a whole new world opened for me." Upon graduation she began her own effects studio, Reel Twisted FX, and started doing work for indie horror and sci-fi films, and also conducting various workshops.
"They totally inspired me," she said. "I was in awe of what they were doing on that set. I couldn't take my eyes off of the work they were doing because it was just so cool, and it just brought me back to the excitement and the thrill I had when I was a kid doing that stuff."
Her experience led her to enroll in Toronto's School of Make-up, which was "like a whole new world opened for me." Upon graduation she began her own effects studio, Reel Twisted FX, and started doing work for indie horror and sci-fi films, and also conducting various workshops.
"It is coming along," she enthused, reflecting on the progress she's made over the past years. And she doesn't plan to slow down, as the film life has definitely gotten under her skin.
"That's what's so exciting about it," she said, speaking of the thrill of watching your work on the screen. "After doing all of that work, even though the actual scene might only be two or three seconds, it's so worth it to see how it looks on camera."
"I think it's the most satisfying job I've ever had."
~ ~ ~
"That's what's so exciting about it," she said, speaking of the thrill of watching your work on the screen. "After doing all of that work, even though the actual scene might only be two or three seconds, it's so worth it to see how it looks on camera."
"I think it's the most satisfying job I've ever had."
~ ~ ~
To see more of her work, be sure to visit her Facebook page at Reel Twisted FX.
Also, check out her IMDB page!
And have a look at her demo reel below!
Also, check out her IMDB page!
And have a look at her demo reel below!
