Kenneth J. Hall(I)
- Special Effects
- Writer
- Actor
Born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1958, Ken and his brother 'Cleve Hall' were
adopted within a year of each other and grew up there. His love of film
came at an early age, when his mother began taking both boys to the
movies while they were still toddlers. He was exposed to all genres,
from the fluffy Doris Day/Rock Hudson films to James Bond to musicals to
Hammer horror films, but it was sci-fi and horror films, with their
scary effects and futuristic creatures that got him hooked at an early
age. He began creating creature suits in his bedroom using upholstery
foam and any other materials he could get his hands on. He attended
horror/sci-fi conventions long before there were Trekkies and
ComicCons, meeting his favorite B-Movie stars and winning costume
contests. It was at one such convention that Ken came to the attention
of a young, up-and-coming effects artist named Rick Baker, who encouraged
him to follow his talents and dreams wherever they took him. He
followed them all the way to California in 1982 to become a
writer/director, inspired not only by the Universal and Hammer
classics, but also by the likes of Roger Corman, Michael McCarty, Herschell Gordon Lewis and
Russ Meyer, to name a few. Ken's first screen-writing assignment was
_The Tomb (1986)_, produced by Fred Olen Ray. For awhile he was a script- writer for
various Charles Band companies, producing such screenplays as _Dr. Alien (1988)_ and
Test Tube Teens from the Year 2000 (1994). His breakthrough film came in 1989 with the release of
Puppet Master (1989). From there he went on to pen such films as _Ghost Writer (1989)_ (a MOW
showcasing sisters Audrey Landers and Judy Landers, which he also directed) and
_The Clown at Midnight (1998)_ starring 'Christopher Plummer' and Margot Kidder. During his 13 years working as a
writer/ director, he also became established as a makeup/effects artist
and special effects creature/costume fabricator. Ken is one of a small
handful of experts in the field of foam fabrication, a technique that's
part pattern making, part sculpting. His best known creatures are the
title character of Roger Corman's Carnosaur (1993) (and sequels) and the famous
octopus prop used in Ed Wood (1994).
In 1995, Ken started Total Fabrication, Inc., which has become a well- regarded effects house serving the film, television and themed entertainment markets all over the United States. Through Total Fabrication, he's responsible for such diverse creations as the villain costumes for Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (1997) (and three seasons of the TV Series), as well as Mr. Moose, Bunny Rabbit and Grandfather Clock for "The New Captain Kangaroo" and the muscle suits for 'Rob Botin''s lounge lizards in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998).
Now, after eight years of creatures, video game characters and food costumes, Ken is ready to return to film-making with his indie production company, BV Entertainment, Inc. in North Hollywood, California. With his latest script, "The Halfway House", currently in pre- production, Ken plans to remain on the scene for quite some time.
In 1995, Ken started Total Fabrication, Inc., which has become a well- regarded effects house serving the film, television and themed entertainment markets all over the United States. Through Total Fabrication, he's responsible for such diverse creations as the villain costumes for Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (1997) (and three seasons of the TV Series), as well as Mr. Moose, Bunny Rabbit and Grandfather Clock for "The New Captain Kangaroo" and the muscle suits for 'Rob Botin''s lounge lizards in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998).
Now, after eight years of creatures, video game characters and food costumes, Ken is ready to return to film-making with his indie production company, BV Entertainment, Inc. in North Hollywood, California. With his latest script, "The Halfway House", currently in pre- production, Ken plans to remain on the scene for quite some time.