Skin & Bones

Skin and Bones
(2008, 43 mins, color, dr, Larry Fessenden)

Notes from Fessenden: When I got the script I went directly to my concept artist Brahm Revel. We have worked on several projects together including WENDIGO, THE LAST WINTER, I SELL THE DEAD and WHAT ARE YOU VOTING FOR? I needed to talk to someone about how the wendigo in this story would look. I made sketches and then I had Braham re-do them so they had gone through both our filters.

These first images established the look that carried through to the film. I thought of Doug Jones for the part of Grady. Of course I knew him from Guillermo Del Toro's movies, but I'd never seen him without makeup on, I just knew I needed a very physical actor. I don't know how it came to me, it came to me suddenly, I don't even remember when. It was one of the best ideas I've ever had.

On the left below, sketches we'd done before thinking of Doug for the role. On the right, Dougie from some publicity photo and below, bellowing as Grady in SKIN AND BONES. Even his bone structure matched, it was uncanny. I told the producers he would save them money because he was his own special effect. What I didn't know is that he is a great actor as well.

For the scenes in the kitchen I envisioned the open jacket with a fur collar. The coat was created by costume designer Jenifer Haffenden

Aside from our own sketches I compiled some reference photos for the fx team. I had hoped the creature in SKIN AND BONES would be iconic like so many of the characters seared into my brain from books and movies.

reference photos