By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Members of Robert Kurtzman’s Creature Corps were on hand Saturday evening at Cinema 14 in Ontario to sign autographs and promote the film “Tusk”.
The film, which opened at Cinemark Thursday, was written and directed by Kevin Smith and utilized Kurtzman’s Creature Corps to provide special effects and makeup for the movie.
Jerry Pendleton was first in line for the autograph signing, starting the line at 5:30 p.m. Prior to attending the signing Pendleton watched the movie which he enjoyed.
“There were creepy parts to it, but there was actually a lot of dark comedy,” Pendleton said. “The movie was very, very interesting. I have never seen a serial killer/transformation movie such as this. I have watched a lot of horror before, but this is one of the best and most interesting that I have seen in a while.”
“Tusk” was the first film in which Kurtzman worked with Smith. Kurtzman explained that he is already working with the director again on another film.
“Now we are doing ‘Yoga Hosers’, which we are still shooting. I go back out at the end of the month, and then back out in February again to shoot Johnny Depp’s segments,” Kurtzman revealed.
“By the time I heard about the ‘Tusk’ project, and by the time we were shooting was five weeks, and we shot in North Carolina,” Kurtzman continued. “Kevin and I just hit it off the bat because we all grew up on the same movies. So it was a real short hand with talking with someone like him, or Quinten, (Tarrentino) or Robert Rodriguez who all grew up on the same films. So it is just short hand it’s just a real easy connection between us.”
Beckie Cramer, who worked with the Creature Corps, for “Tusk”, said that she enjoyed the process of making the film.
“It was pretty exciting watching it all come together,” Cramer said. “When you see it go from drawing to sculpture to the molds, then see each piece of the costume come together for the film it is pretty amazing.”
Those who are interested in seeing the film will have a chance to see it through at least Thursday according the theater’s manager. The manager noted that the film could stay at Cinema 14 longer if there is enough demand for the film.
Kurtzman and the Creature Corps group are currently working with Kevin Smith for the film “Yoga Hosers”. Kurtzman and company will be working films “Late Phases” and “It Follows” in the coming months.