Special makeup effects artist Tom Savini was one of the early “rock stars” of horror make-up alongside notable names such as Dick Smith, Rick Baker, Rob Bottin, and Stan Winston. Savini connected with horror fans in the 80s not only because of his spectacular gore effects in films like Friday the 13th, Creepshow, The Burning, Maniac, The Prowler, and Dawn of the Dead, but because of his larger-than-life personality which was reflected in Fangoria magazine interviews and his (usually bit part) acting roles.
 

Tom Savini in George A. Romero’s “Dawn of the Dead”
 
Savini is undoubtedly responsible for inspiring an entire generation of oddball artists to go into the makeup FX field, and by extension, also responsible for the fortunes of liquid-latex manufacturers world-wide. His Grande Illusions books are standard issue for kids going into makeup FX. The man is a legend.
 

Savini creating Jason in “Friday the 13th”
 

Behind the scenes on “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2”
 
A new documentary has just been released on Savini. The film, titled Smoke and Mirrors, covers both his professional and personal life and features interviews with director George Romero, former proteges Greg Nicotero and Howard Berger, Jerry Only of The Misfits, and Night of the Living Dead actor “Chilly” Billy Cardille.
 

 
There’s no word yet on an official DVD/Blu-Ray release, but one assumes that can’t be far off. The film is currently playing the festival circuit.

A teaser trailer has been released and can be viewed below.
 

 
Until we get to see Smoke and Mirrors, we can tide ourselves over with a viewing of the excellent Fangoria video magazine Scream Greats Volume One: Tom Savini , Master of Horror Effects which was released to VHS in 1987.
 

 
I had a copy of this tape as a kid and wore the damn thing out. Thankfully YouTube has come to the rescue with a digitized version. Enjoy this look into Savini’s world.

Fangoria’s 1987 documentary on Tom Savini:
 

 
H/T: ihorror.com