Roy Knyrim
{{Short description|American film director and effects artist}}
{{Infobox person
| image =
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| birth_name = Roy Knyrim
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|18|1985|08|07}}
| birth_place = Hilton, New York
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse =
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| nationality = American
| occupation = {{hlist|Film director|special effects makeup artist}}
| education = Hilton High School
| alma_mater =
| relations =
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}}
Roy Knyrim (born 1966/1967) is an American film director and special effects makeup artist. He directed Demons at the Door (2004), Cemetery Gates (2006), Night Skies (2007), and Death Racers (2008).{{cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/6999/icp-races-to-the-asylum/|title=ICP Races to The Asylum|last=Foy|first=Scott|date=May 2, 2008|website=Dread Central|language=en|access-date=October 29, 2022}} His credits as a special effects and makeup artist include the fourth, fifth, and sixth films in the Children of the Corn film series, as well as A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989), Gods and Monsters (1998), 2001 Maniacs (2005), and Death House (2017). He also provided miniature models for such films as The Abyss (1989), Tremors, Darkman (both 1990), and Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991).
Knyrim heads the special effects workshop SOTA FX (State of the Art Effects).{{cite book|last=Carnell|first=Thom|date=2011|title=The Carpe Noctem Interviews - Volume 2|publisher=Crossroad Press|asin=B005QBF5AS}}
Early life and education
Knyrim was born in Hilton, New York.{{sfn|McLendon|2008}} He began creating special makeup and creature effects in his second grade of elementary school, and filmed them using super 8 film.{{cite news|last=Fine|first=Marshall|date=August 7, 1985|title=Hoping to rise to the head of his class|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112247595/the-journal-news/|newspaper=The Journal News|location=White Plains, New York|page=C6|access-date=October 30, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}} He has stated, "Mostly I did those in my basement. Friday the 13th was a big influence, but I made up my own stuff. They were a lot of slash, a lot of splat. A couple of them were pretty good – but most of them were garbage. I was in a hurry to do them and get them developed so I could look at them and show them." Knyrim graduated from Hilton High School in 1985.{{sfn|McLendon|2008}}
Career
{{Expand section|date=November 2022}}
Knyrim's early credits as an effects artist include the Troma Entertainment films The Toxic Avenger Part II and The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie, both released in 1989.{{sfn|McLendon|2008}}{{sfn|Stine|2003|p=297}}
After moving to southern California, Knyrim, along with Jerry Macaluso and Patrick Tantalo, founded the special effects workshop and production company SOTA FX (State of the Art Effects).{{harvnb|McLendon|2008}}: "After relocating to southern California, Tantalo, along with Jerry Macaluso, founded SOTA F/X, a production company."{{harvnb|Fischer|1998|p=49}}: "Explained Roy Knyrim, who co-founded SOTA with Gary Macalusa {{sic}} [...]" With SOTA FX, Knyrim has provided special effects makeup on a number of films, including the 1998 film Gods and Monsters, as well as the television series Weird Science.{{sfn|Fischer|1998|p=49}}
Knyrim directed the 2004 direct-to-video horror film Demons at the Door, which features music by the American hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse.{{cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/271476/who-goes-there-podcast-ep159-demons-at-the-door/|title=Who Goes There Podcast: Ep 159 – Demons at the Door|last=Smith|first=Matt|date=April 15, 2018|website=Dread Central|language=en|access-date=November 6, 2022}} According to Fangoria, by May 2006, during the production of the Knyrim-directed horror film Cemetery Gates, he had "a slew of Insane Clown Posse videos under his belt".{{sfn|Shapiro|2006|p=75}} Following the release of Cemetery Gates later that year, Knyrim went on to direct the 2007 science-fiction horror film Night Skies{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-best-and-worst-alien-abduction-movies/|title=The best and worst alien abduction movies|last=Lambie|first=Ryan|date=March 31, 2016|website=Den of Geek|access-date=November 2, 2022}} and the 2008 action film Death Racers, the latter of which features Insane Clown Posse in acting roles.{{sfn|McLendon|2008}} Knyrim is co-directing the upcoming horror comedy film Sorority of the Damned alongside Joe Davison, who will also star in the film.{{cite web|url=https://rue-morgue.com/exclusive-news-and-poster-creature-effects-veterans-open-up-the-sorority-of-the-damned/|title=Exclusive News and Poster: Creature Effects Veterans Open Up the "Sorority of the Damned"|last=Gingold|first=Michael|date=October 6, 2020|website=Rue Morgue|language=en|access-date=November 2, 2022}}
Selected filmography
=Film=
==As director/writer==
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! width="65"| Director ! width="65"| Writer ! class=unsortable | Notes ! class=unsortable | {{Tooltip|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}} |
| 2004
| {{yes}} | | Direct-to-video film |
| 2006
| {{yes}} | | | {{sfn|Shapiro|2006|p=74–75}} |
| 2007
| {{yes}} | | |
| 2008
| {{yes}} | {{yes|Co-writer}} | Direct-to-video film; co-wrote story with Patrick Tantalo |
| TBA
| Sorority of the Damned | {{yes|Co-director}} | | Co-directing with Joe Davison |
==As special and visual effects/makeup artist==
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Credited as ! class=unsortable | Notes ! class=unsortable | {{Tooltip|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}} |
| 1996
| Makeup effects supervisor | {{sfn|Shapiro|2006|p=76}} |
| 1998
| Makeup effects designer | Television film | |
| 2001
| Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge | Creature and makeup effects designer (SOTA FX) | Television film | |
| 2004
| Makeup effects designer | Television film | |
| 2005
| Snakeman | Makeup effects designer | Television film | |
| 2006
| Makeup effects designer | Television film | |
=Music videos=
- "Boogieman" by Twiztid, 2015{{cite web|url=https://www.laweekly.com/rap-duo-twiztid-get-a-creepy-new-look-from-face-off-makeup-artist-greg-lightner/|title=Rap Duo Twiztid Get a Creepy New Look from Face Off Makeup Artist Greg Lightner|last=Holslin|first=Peter|date=January 27, 2015|website=LA Weekly|language=en|access-date=November 2, 2022}}
References
{{Reflist}}
=Bibliography=
- {{cite magazine|last=Fischer|first=Dennis|date=December 1998|title=Gods and Monsters – Makeup|magazine=Cinefantastique|publisher= Frederick S. Clarke|volume=30|issue=11|issn=0145-6032}}
- {{cite news|last=McLendon|first=Gary|date=September 17, 2008|title=Actor finds his favorite role|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112248575/democrat-and-chronicle/|newspaper=Democrat and Chronicle|location=Rochester, New York|page=40|access-date=October 30, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
- {{cite magazine|last=Shapiro|first=Marc|date=May 2006|title=Cemetery Gates of Gore|magazine=Fangoria|publisher=Starlog Group, Inc.|issue=253|issn=0164-2111}}
- {{cite book|last=Stine|first=Scott Aaron|year=2003|title=The Gorehound's Guide to Splatter Films of the 1980s|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jzKSCgAAQBAJ|publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=978-0786415328|access-date=November 2, 2022}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0461865}}
- [https://www.facebook.com/SotaFxStudio/ SOTA FX Studio] on Facebook
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knyrim, Roy}}
Category:Film directors from New York (state)
Category:American make-up artists
Category:American horror film directors