Robert Kurtzman (born November 25, 1964) is an American

film director A film director or filmmaker is a person who controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfillment of that Goal, vision. The director has a key role ...

, producer,

screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting. These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television ...

, and special effects makeup artist. During his time at KNB EFX Group, which he co-founded, it would win a 2001

Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...

. He would then start his own production company Precinct 13 Entertainment in 2003 and Robert Kurtzman's Creature Corps. TRINITY OF TERRORS Guest Profile: Robert Kurtzman
/ref> In 2017, Kurtzman and his partner Marcia King moved to Atlanta and formed Robert Kurtzman MUFX LLC.

Career

Kurtzman began his career in 1984 when he moved from his hometown of

Crestline, Ohio Crestline is a village in Crawford County, Ohio, Crawford and Richland County, Ohio, Richland Counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. Crestline's population was 4,525 at the United States Census 2020, 2020 census. It is the third largest municipality ...

, to

Hollywood, California Hollywood, sometimes informally called Tinseltown, is a List of districts and neighborhoods in Los Angeles, neighborhood and district in the Central Los Angeles, central region of Los Angeles County, California, within the city of Los Angeles. ...

, to pursue his interest in

prosthetic makeup Prosthetic makeup also known as special makeup effects or FX prosthesis, is the process of using prosthetic sculpting, molding and casting techniques to create advanced cosmetic special effects, effects. Prosthetics are used on stage and screen ...

, better known as special makeup effects. In 1988, along with Gregory Nicotero and

Howard Berger Howard Berger (born 20 December 1964) is a special make-up effects creator who is best known for his work on ''The Chronicles of Narnia'' films. He has over 200 films to his credit since 1977. Berger is the co-founder of KNB EFX Group along w ...

, he formed K.N.B. EFX Group, a special makeup effects studio which has gone on to work on over 400 film and television projects. K.N.B. has won numerous awards, including an

in 2001 for their work on the 2000 Sci Fi Channel

miniseries In the United States, a miniseries or mini-series is a television show or series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. Many miniseries can also be referred to, and shown, as a television film. " Limited series" is ...

'' Frank Herbert's Dune''. They were awarded an Academy Award in 2006 for achievement in makeup for '' The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe''. After establishing himself in the special effects arena, Kurtzman turned to directing and producing. His first project was ''

From Dusk till Dawn ''From Dusk till Dawn'' is a 1996 American action horror film directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino from a concept and story by Robert Kurtzman. Starring Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, Tarantino, Ernest Liu, and Juliet ...

'', for which he wrote the original story, served as co-producer, and created the special effects. '' The Demolitionist'' marked Kurtzman's directorial debut. He went on to direct '' Wishmaster'', in which he had an uncredited cameo as "piano wire guy". In 2002, Kurtzman left K.N.B. EFX Group. Kurtzman moved his family to Crestline, Ohio, and started his own production company, Precinct 13 Entertainment. Founded in 2003, Precinct 13 is described as a Film/Television and Radio Commercial/Visual Effects production facility. '' The Rage'' was the first in-house, fully financed, independent feature film. Kurtzman and P13 have, also, co-produced the supernatural film '' The Dead Matter'', featuring Andrew Divoff,

Tom Savini Thomas Vincent Savini (born November 3, 1946) is an American prosthetic makeup artist, actor, stunt performer and film director. He is known for his makeup and special effects work on many films directed by George A. Romero, including ''Martin ( ...

, and Jim O'Rear. Kurtzman also directed the action-thriller film '' Deadly Impact'', which was written by Alexander Vesha. In 2017, Kurtzman took on the Makeup/ MUFX Co-Department Head position for the series '' The Haunting of Hill House'' directed by Mike Flanagan. Kurtzman moved his studio to Atlanta and formed Robert Kurtzman MUFX, LLC. His new company has worked on films such as

Jay and Silent Bob Reboot ''Jay and Silent Bob Reboot'' is a 2019 American satirical buddy stoner comedy film written, directed, edited by, and starring Kevin Smith. A sequel to '' Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'', it is the eighth film in the View Askewniverse. The film ...

, Ma and Doctor Sleep.

Awards

, - , 1994 , Makeup for '' Body Bags'' - shared with Rick Baker, Greg LaCava, Gregory Nicotero, Howard Berger , CableACE Awards , , - , 1995 , Makeup for ''State of Emergency'' - shared with Howard Berger, Gregory Nicotero, Ashlee Petersen, Heidi Seeholzer , CableACE Awards , , - , 1997 , Best Film for '' Wishmaster'' , Catalan International Film Festival , , - , 1999 , Best Makeup for ''

Vampires A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the Vitalism, vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead, undead humanoid creatures that often visited loved ones and c ...

'' - shared with Howard Berger and Gregory Nicotero , Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films Saturn Award , , - , 2002 , Best Makeup for '' Cabin Fever'' - shared with Howard Berger and Gregory Nicotero ,

Sitges - Catalan International Film Festival SITGES - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia () is an annual film festival held in Sitges, Catalonia, Spain. It specializes in fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernat ...

Filmography

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kurtzman, Robert 1964 births American male screenwriters American make-up artists American horror film directors Living people People from Crestline, Ohio American special effects people Animatronic engineers Screenwriters from Ohio Film producers from Ohio