Today we are featuring an extremely talented FX artist from Copenhagen Denmark. With 10 years of experience in sculpting, mask making and FX, for films T.V. and live theatre, I give you the FX Tailor...Anders Lerche.

NE-FX: Welcome to NE-FX! Thank you for taking the time to speak to me today. Lets get right into the questions...With such an array of experience, let’s begin 10 years ago. You were 22 and what were you doing as far as a career and education?

AL: I had started working my way through Dick Smith Monster makeup hand book, a finding out as much about those so-called 'splatter movies', that showcased all those impossible things that I was attracted to.

NE-FX: What were you doing at the time for your 'regular job' when you were attempting to learn about makeup effects?

AL: I had some 'Mc-jobs' during the years, mostly selling toys in Toys R Us, since it sorta resembled my interest in movies. Well, thats what I thought when I started, course' it soon turned out to be just a another job and I had zero chance for creativity. But you have to make ends meet, and save what is inside of you for when someone can appreciate that. Also I had some years of unemployment, but got through and made some contacts along the way. You got to take everything that comes your way and get as much experience as possible really.

NE-FX: Your bio says you are completely self-taught. Have you ever sought professional training? and if So, Where?

AL: No, but I had contemplated many times perhaps going to M.U.D in L.A., or taking a class by Jordu Schell. Hopefully one day, I will be able to get Dick Smith course, his big book of 50 years of knowledge in the makeup and film industry.(Editors Note: for more infor on the Dick Smith Make-up course see http://www.dicksmithmake-up.com/ 

NE-FX: M.U.D has a good reputation in the industry. Dick is the master for sure. Jordu is a great guy, extremely talented and an incredibly fast sculptor.  Very generous with his time and an avid fan of Dick Smith too. It seems that everyone in this field when they first start, seem to be expected to work for free. I assume you did your share of work that was basically for lunch and a credit?

AL: Oh, yeah, and lots of it. Just to get paid for the materials and to get some practice was enough for me. But that time is over now. In the end, no one respects your work if its free. When they have to pay a bill, they will appreciate if what you have done if it was good for them.

NE-FX:  I noticed that one of your masks was inspired by a creation of Dick Smith's, can you tell us more about it?

AL: Yes, the faceless horror thingy was taken from 'Ghost story' since it's such a brilliant concept. No eyes, just a dark void with nasty teeth! His entire body of work is what have brought this field of profession so far and given us, the filmgoers some revolutionary experiences. His effects are both mesmerizing and invisible, in such a way that they disappear and become real. The story should always be the driving for and the effect only the nice set of wheels on the truck ;)

NE-FX: What was your first paying job in FX?

AL: I suppose my first paying job was when I started taking two dollars to paint people faces as Orcs, in some Danish Live action role-play. This I really what kept me afloat financially, and what gave me my experience. There was a unlimited amount of people who needed ears, noses, masks and prosthetics for this kind of activity. Its quite big here in Scandinavia you know.

NE-FX: Can you tell us a bit more about L.A.R.P.?

AL: Live Action Role Play (L.A.R.P.) is where I have been working for the past 10 years, and a friend and I have recently started a company, Jotunheim Productions, that manufacture and sell latex prosthetics, mask and suits to many of the Danish LARP shops. We have 4 to 6 people working at our shop and are using up to 20 gallons of latex per month making Orc masks. It a dream come true and quite amazing that it's actually possible to make money doing these things for a living. But it has also taken a long journey to get to this point, more than 10 years and to do just the things that I like, and not to struggle all the time to make ends meet.

NE-FX: What FX artists work have served to inspire you?

AL: Rick Baker was a great idol back when I was younger and I can definitely feel myself in his shoes when I, as him, also go a divorce from my wife. But all for the better, really. But also people like Gordon smith, for his extreme realism, Jordu for his crazy modeling skills, and Savini for his attitude. Then there are illustrators like Brom, Giger, and the whole crew behind WETA Workshop- these are people that can constantly amaze and inspire me.

AL: Well, I started making the makeup in foam latex, but it seemed lifeless and dull to me. I then began experimenting with foamed gelatin, and did a 6 piece overlapping makeup of him, which I (at that time) felt was the best I could do. However, since I had to transform a 30-year-old girl to Hans Christian (who by the way was a not particularly handsome man) the pieces ended up being quite thick, up to an inch in some places. If I had have had someone with as deep-set eyes as Hans Christian, I would have worked a lot better. But, who is ever completely satisfied with their work, really?

NE-FX: Do you regularly attend the trade show? and What do you think of them?

AL: Unfortunately no, iv'e only been to one in L.A. They seem like a wonderful events and are a great opportunity to both meet a lot of talent and make some connections. I wish I had more time to be there when they take place, perhaps in London next year.

NE-FX: Do you consider yourself more of a sculptor, mask-maker or makeup artist?

AL: I don't like labels as such. I do a lot of masks at the moment, which entails a little of everything. I'm an artist, and I like to do what ever I can to express myself creatively.

NE-FX: You are listed as Special Effects Makeup Artist for 'Gabriel's ord' on IMDB ( http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0503481/ ). How does it feel being on IMDB and are they up to date?

AL: Well, it sort of made me proud, but no one has ever seen the movie, so what good does it do? It's just a short movie after all and they don’t get show that much after a while. I haven't done many more things in Danish films, since most of the jobs a taken by 2 or three very talented individuals here, and effects are only rarely used anyways.

NE-FX: Well, don't lose hope. After all, the New Zealanders only needed one crazy director who looked a bit like a hobbit. You also did “One Hell of a Christmas”? ( http://www.tvguide.com/search/index.asp?keyword=Anders+Funch+Lerche) What was that like?

AL:  Well, I did a single demon makeup, which looked alright, but only got shown for 3 seconds end the end. The actor was a bit of a wuss, and would let me get near his eyes or take a good casting of his face. Unfortunately the film is quite atrocious, and it saddens me to see that the director didn't think the plot through more carefully. This movie should be at the bottom of IMDB bottom 100, it's such a mess.

NE-FX: Ouch! What kind of development time do you need to make a mask from idea to completion?

AL: That depends. I have a personal record, which is 5 days for a full head Orc mask. This was only because I was inspired and less interrupted than I use to be. A good sculpt should be looked at again and again, thought trough anatomically and researched with what others have done when they made something similar. An then in the end you shouldn't really care about them, because you can never really be original, only show something different in your own interpretation.

NE-FX: I love the cave troll suit. What special challenges did you come across while making it?

AL: That is was so damn huge! The weight problem, how to get in and out of it (industrial size zipper in the back) and just how 4 hair dryers can blow dry 4 gallons of latex and foam rubber in a months time. He had his own water supply bottle inside and a small fan on top of his head. Without that fan the guy inside would explode from the heat. Actually Peter Jackson saw the Cave troll at the Danish Premiere for Return Of The King, said 'That's amazing!” and the Cave troll gave him a big hug. That made his father here quite proud...

NE-FX: Many of your creations have a vary polished look complete with wardrobe and contact lenses. Do you create your own wardrobe and lenses?

AL: The lenses are usually someone’s or maybe borrowed for the production. The wardrobe are L.A.R.P. people, who are quite creative. We are setting up a sewing shop at the moment, and will also be looking into S&M clothing and special creations for people with fetishes.

NE-FX: How do I open an account? [kidding] What advice do you have on lenses and wardrobe for makeup artists?

AL: That it is really important to have things in balance, and as much as possible go all the way. Stage some good photos, remember how people clothing should reflect how they look (' No, you have to have some blood on you shirt, your throat has been cut' and also look at the background. There are a lot of my photos that I would change if I could.

NE-FX: It's obvious that Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” films inspired you. What would you say to Weta's designers if you had the chance?

AL: Please give me a job! [wink wink] I have spoken to Warren Mahy, Ben Wootten and Allan Lee and thanked them for bringing this world to the big screen. The have created something fresh, something slightly offbeat in style but real and not Hollywood. I hope that their King Kong film is going to both rock and move us to laughter, tears and just utter amazement once again.

NE-FX: Lets talk about some of your other influences. What other movie in the last three years has served to inspire your work the most?

AL: That would be Lord of The Rings again. I guess I would be out of work if these films had not been made or had failed artistically.

NE-FX: What movie are you most anticipating?

AL: Apart from 'The Return Of The King Extended Edition', which in my opinion is the real LOTR film and not the 'long trailer' from the cinema, I am also looking forward to 'The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe', and on a lesser note, 'Revenge Of The Sith', just to see if George Lucas finally can deliver the proper Star Wars feel this time.

NE-FX: I sure George doesn't know either. You mentioned theatre was one of the facets you worked in. What effects have you been called on to create for the theatre?

AL:  I've worked on The Phantom Of The Opera in Copenhagen during its first season. Nice play, great people except some lead actor who really took the joy out of the work. But as this was a MC Donald's kind of show, and had to be the same all over the world, you were not allowed to change or refine the makeup for Phantom. I'm hoping that the new film with him will give us something a bit more updated and realistic.

NE-FX: Same question for commercials?

AL: I've made some elf ears withes noses, fake steaks and some over sized props for some Danish commercials during the years. It has always been delightful to work with people, especially when they were really creative and knew exactly what they wanted. You should always remember that your own outlandish ideas may be too extreme for prime TV and that you are not hired to be an 'Artist', but just a worker who deals with makeup.

NE-FX: Here in the US high definition T.V. is becoming more and more prevalent. Have you ever had to work under HD's higher standards?

AL: Unfortunately it's not gotten to Denmark yet, so... no. It seems that the picture will become clearer and a lot of bad edges will become more visible now. Better start saving that Bondo.

NE-FX: Have you ever worked with make-ups that involved CGI before?

AL: Can't say that I have, but I would love to see some CGI eye enhancement for some of my Orcs.

NE-FX: Did you hear that? any of you computer FX freaks want practice? Call Anders! The new generation of FX artists are concerned about the potential of CG and it's meaning for their careers. With the creation of digital characters like Gollum that act interactively with the help of talent, what concerns do you feel are valid and invalid about CG displacing the traditional makeup artist?

AL: It's not a threat, just an adjustment, like when sound or color was invented. CGI can make monsters look 99% real, but someone still has to sculpt them and make up some paint schemes. I still think that actors need something to relate to and not just act opposite a green screen. It's still too expensive to put on a beard or wig digitally, so I guess my job is secured in that regard. Maybe Gino Acevedo down at WETA can answer this better than I can.

NE-FX: Good point, maybe we'll ask him. Where do you go for a late night burger in Copenhagen?

AL: There are the usual international Burger joints here in Copenhagen (but oddly no Star bucks...yet) and they are as dull as they are fattening. However in the start of the walking street Strøget, just to you left, they have some good Kebabs and Falafel shops. Also a chain called 'Den Sorte Gryde' (The Black Cauldron') sell these enormous burgers in a truly Texan style size meal. They are good if you are really starving and want value for you money. Give me a call and I can show around. You wouldn't want to miss the Danish girls either.

NE-FX: I noticed that MonsterMakers ( http://www.monstermakers.com/gallery.html ) has your work on their site. What was that like?

AL: I sent them some pictures many years ago and they put them on. It some of my really early work, and it sort of odd to still see them around when I look at my name in Google. But it makes me feel proud to be represented at this site to know that someone will see my work and think 'Hmm, I can do that better'. That’s how I started really.

Thanks again Anders.  There you have it FX fans, be sure to check out Anders Lerche's work at http://www.fxtailor.dk and http://jotunheim.nu  Also, be sure to keep an eye out for him at the trade shows. You never know who you are going to meet in an orc mask.