For more than 20 years, Brian Penikas has made
a career of bringing interesting characters
to the screen with the use of Special Make-up Effects.
His career began as an assistant and designer to many
of Hollywood’s top make-up artists.
His early works include “Cocoon”, “Aliens”, and
the Oscar winning “Mask” (with Eric Stolz and Cher).
In recent years, as Creative Director for Make-up &
Monsters Studios,
Brian and his team have contributed their unique skills
and talents to notable films such as
“BATMAN & ROBIN”, “GALAXY QUEST”, “RULES
OF ENGAGEMENT”,
“MAN ON THE MOON”, “The GENERAL’s DAUGHTER”, and “STIGMATA”.
Whether creating something as small as a scar for Mike
Myers' Dr. Evil make-ups in
“AUSTIN POWERS II:The Spy Who Shagged Me”
or a nose for Al Pacino in “ANY GIVEN SUNDAY”
or something as monumental as the creatures and victims
for “JEEPERS CREEPERS 1 & 2 ”,
Penikas and his crew approach each project with the same
creative enthusiasm
and attention to detail that has driven them for over
two decades.
Every project presents new creative challenges
and Brian says he “feeds on” and welcomes those
challenges.
What’s Brian do when he’s not creating make-up effects
for the cinema? He is the “Keeper of the Glue and Faith” for his
group, APEMANIA, a re-enactment/parody troupe that pays tribute to Planet
of the Apes. Penikas credits Planet of the Apes as being his inspiration
since childhood to pursue make-up and effects as his chosen career. He
also says that dressing up as a gorilla with his friends to entertain people
is just another defiant excuse to never truly grow up and get a “real job”.