This week on the blog, we are highlighting Ben Rittenhouse, AMUA’s Director of Special Effects Makeup, and who is an Emmy Award-winning makeup artist.
He shares: “I have always been fascinated by monster movies since I was a little kid. I remember my dad and I watching them endlessly. Then, we would end up trying to make our own costumes and special effects. You can imagine Halloween was always a big deal in my family.”
When Ben was 21, one of his friends planned to move out west and invited Ben to join him because of the work and career opportunities. He saved up some money, his parents gave him a 1983 Buick Park Avenue, and they drove cross country. Out west, Ben got his foot in the door, and one job turned into another.
His best project? The Pacific!
“The Pacific is a 10-part HBO miniseries and was shot in Australia. I was given the on-set Lead Position of the makeup and special effects crew, and we were on-set in Australia for about a year.
The Pacific was a very important project for me. Both of my grandfathers were in World War II, one of them in Europe, and the other in the Pacific. Being on-set for a World War II inspired series was a way for me to keep the tradition alive, without any danger!”
“One day on the set of The Pacific, we were at the Pellalu Air Force Base, which was were my grandfather was stationed. I told a production assistant about this, who then asked me what my grandfather’s name was. I told him John Shaw, then he told an extra his character name was Private Shaw and every time I walked by, he saluted me. It was it very touching and also very hilarious.”
Ben specializes in special effects makeup, prop making, prosthetics and has cultivated a successful and tenured career in the entertainment industry. Some of his most notable projects include: Star Trek, Hunger Games, Avatar, Anchorman, Hangover 3, CSI, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & the Wardrobe, Kill Bill: Vol 1&2, Hulk, RIPD, Grey’s Anatomy, The Mist, Hostel, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Hills Have Eyes, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning and Sin City.