The Godfather of Gore, The Sultan of Splatter, and a “legend” in the world of special effects are all nicknames that actor, stuntman, director, and award-winning special effects makeup artist Tom Savini has earned himself throughout the years. A junior at Southmoreland High School wants to learn all she can from this man who revolutionized the horror genre by attending his Special Effects Program at Douglas Education Center in Monessen.

“What interests me most is the different makeup and skills taught in order to create something new,” said Madison Duffey.

Tom Savini’s makeup credits are seen in movies such as Friday the 13th, Day of the Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Texas Chainsaw Massacre II, and many more.

This unique program helps students hone their skills by making their visions come to life through four components in this 16-month course that was designed by Savini himself, such as make-up application, mold making and casting, animation fabrication, and exhibit and display design. Other classes that students take during this course include digital sculpting, hand beads, and anatomy and anthropology. Instructors for this program include Savini’s long term associate Jerry Gergely, who earned an Emmy nomination in 1998 for his makeup work in the movie Babylon 5.

“We believe that, just as tapestry is enriched and enlivened by a variety of textures an hues, so Douglas Education Center takes on beauty, intricacy, and vibrancy through a rich diversity of people,” said school  CEO and President Jeffrey D. Imbrescia.

This school’s philosophy is that students of diverse ages and backgrounds can work together in the classroom and grow their skills, knowledge, and maturity beyond the “normal expectations to achieve any goal they may desire.”

“I look forward to being able to transform someone into anything imaginable,” said Duffey.

Students that graduate from this program get employed at companies such as MTV, Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights, MAC Cosmetics, Trick or Treat Studios, and the Smithsonian Institute.

Although Duffey is already employed as an assistant at Shear Magic Salon, she aims for much higher forms of work in her future.

Some lucky individuals in the program get the opportunity to be on SyFy channel’s  “FaceOff,” where artists looking to break into Hollywood compete to show their skills. Each week, artists work to impress professional artists such as Ve Neil, Glenn Hetrick, and Patrick Tatopoulos for their name to be on top of the score board. Over the history of “FaceOff,” DEC would have had a total of 14 graduates compete on the show.

“If I feel like I’ve been taught well enough, and I feel skilled enough, then yes I would like to be on the show,” said Duffey. “It would be an opportunity to show anyone, everyone what I’m capable of.”

A program that Duffey learned about through her cosmetology program at CWCTC could become a reality for her after high school.

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Bailey Geehring

I am a senior and a second year editor for the Tam O'Shanter. I will attend California University of Pennsylvania in the fall to pursue a career as a Speech-Language Pathologist.
"Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud"- Maya Angelou

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