Interview with Special F/X guru Shane Saucedo Part 3
This morning I conclude my interview with Shane Saucedo from Hellbent Studios.
Dave: Have you seen an increase in smaller, independent films since the advent of easily accessed editing and filming resources?
Shane: Yes!!! And better quality.
Dave: Very cool. What tips would you have for someone looking to produce an independent horror short and looking to get some inexpensive special effects going?
Shane: Plan it out carefully and to the point of being call anal, then find someone with experience and willingness to answer questions for the how to parts. Then do a film on the fly, quick shooting and so on. Try to equal the quality. Above all, have fun with it and let people do their respective jobs. Keep an open mind and keep it simple.
Dave: Words to live by in any occupation. If someone were interested in getting into special effects, what would be the best thing to start with?
Shane: Hmmm…I am self taught, but there are some excellent schools out there to get you started in makeup. The thing I would suggest is to get involved with your local film scene, find someone open to mentoring you and be willing to do the thankless work for a while. All the greats have done this and it seems to help put it all into perspective. As well as finding out if you are apt and willing to do the work. It’s not for everyone and takes a certain type of personality as well.
Dave: What projects are you working on currently? Anything exciting you can give us a hint about that will be coming out soon?
Shane: Two features I can’t even say the names of (sorry, contractual) and a lot of smaller stuff for WWII re-enactors and some Star Wars prosthetics, as well as we are developing the Halloween props, masks, makeup, and products line for our company. We are always interested in working on Indy films or just answering questions on how to stuff as well. We do a lot of fan props and commission type work for small business and the haunt industry. We are doing a test market on etsy.com/hellbentlabs to see response to the different props we are starting out with and a couple appliances.
Dave: How can readers follow or contact you?
Shane: Feel free to contact us @: facebook.com/Hellbent Fx. Our website is under construction and going to be updated as soon as our tech is free. 
Www.hbsfx.com but its not much to look. (LOL)
(Facebook image courtesy of the horror movie t shirts)
Dave: Thanks Shane. This was awesome.
Shane: I want to give a special thanks to Dave here at Nerd Kung fu, it was a pleasure to meet you and we most definitely look forward to the next one!
Dave: Thanks for your time, Shane. I hope to see more stuff from you guys soon.
That’s it. I found Shane to be a very chill guy, and the masks and props they were selling at the show were of extremely high quality, so if you have a project you want some help with, be sure to contact him.
Next post I’ll be back on budget dating, but I am working on an interview that I think will be extremely cool, so keep checking back for that.
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