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Bringing monsters to life: a Nova Scotia man’s hobby

Special Effects Makeup Artist, Marc Deveault, working on one of his creations. Mayya Assouad/Global News

WARNING: Although the gore depicted is fictional, images may still disturb some readers.

ANNAPOLIS VALLEY, N.S. – In a small village in the Annapolis Valley lives a man who brings monsters to life.

Marc Deveault’s lair is filled with heads, eye balls, teeth and arms — all hand made, all unnatural.

“You can see all the teeth scratches and the skin build up that would be behind the teeth as they bite,” said Deveault, describing a zombie bite he created.

Zombie bite makeup by Marc Deveault. (Photo: Cory McGraw)
Zombie bite makeup by Marc Deveault. (Photo: Cory McGraw). Cory McGraw/Global News

Deveault, a retired medic with the Canadian Forces, first learned the basics of special effects during a course in casualty simulation makeup. The rest, he says, is self taught.

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“You really have to be a jack of all trades, like you have to [know] everything from moulding, to sculpting, to fiberglass moulding.”

Over the years, Deveault has worked on everything from small projects to big movie sets. He says one of the challenges he’s faced has been getting local directors to look for talent within their own province.

“They keep hiring people from Montreal or Toronto, because they think it’s Toronto, [so] it’s better.”

WATCH: Marc Deveault and photographer Paul Vienneau on The Morning News talk about their zombie photography sessions

Another challenge, according to Deveault, is the growing trend of using computer generated imagery (CGI), instead of prosthetics. Still, he believes there will always be a place for his monsters.

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“There’s nothing like a guy in a monster suit and teeth and prosthetics,” he said. “It takes more time but the actors react so much better.”

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