Meet Michael Dinetz | special makeup effects artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Dinetz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
It sort of happened out of necessity. I moved out to LA thinking I would just get a job at Stan Winston Studio and that would be my life for the next 40 years. Only after going to makeup school and speaking to many other industry artists did I learn how truly freelance this industry was. I started calling around to effects studios looking for work, and after a few months of no success, the studios were either without work or fully crewed, I said “screw it” and started applying for small independent film gigs. 18 years later, the rest is history. Obviously I learned a lot along the way about both my craft and about business.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My career has taken me around the world, as far away as Hong Kong and Mainland China. I’ve worked in various places around the US as well. I’ve worked for other workshops, and for myself. My career has been a real grab bag of ups, downs, insights, and heartbreaks. I can remember working on student films for no money, and more recently agreeing to do one that actually agreed to pay my asking rate (don’t really do the freebie exposure gigs at this point of my career). I remember working on no money passion project shorts and features, and I have worked on Marvel stuff and for Disney Imagineering. I have worked under people that are horrible business people and worse human beings, some of which are help in high industry regard, and I have worked for some of the kindest humblest people you could ever meet. None of this has been easy. The hours are long, and the demands are high.

What sets me apart? A few things. First, I don’t suffer fools. I am blunt and honest and don’t mince words. But, I do care, and I wear my heart on my sleeve. I feel deeply, and if you are good to me, I’ll be there for you in a heart beat. I just finished a week on a project for less than 20% of my rate because a friend was in a jam and needed help. I’d do it again in a heart beat. I am very specific on process. I am analytical, very much so, and it really governs how I approach working for my clients, how I choose techniques, materials, colors, and so forth. I really live in the space of detail and nuance. I constantly ask myself how things work, and really look at the science behind how this field works to make the best choices for those I work for. Makeup Effects is like 1 part artistry, 3 parts physics, and 2 parts chemistry.

My journey has been a long one and a difficult one. I never really fit in. I sometimes wonder if I even fit in my contemporaries in terms of this industry. I often feel I have much more in common with the previous generation, in terms of what matters to them and what does not, and how they prioritize certain things. I’m probably one of the only people in my generation of effects artists that has no hair color, no tattoos, no piercings, doesn’t worship horror, isn’t vegan, and wears a button down shirt to work. Nothing at all against anyone that fits that description, but it is kinda the norm, but it is not how I identify.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Weather being appropriate of course, we would hang on the beach, and swim in the ocean, in Malibu. There is a great little beach there called Dan Blocker Beach. If they had never been to LA, I’d take them to Universal Studios for a day. I’ve obviously been there zillions of times. I’m a huge fan of the Hollywood Museum, located just off Hollywood and Highland, in the old Max Factor Building. I am, however, at heart, a foodie, so there would be eating. Likely a trip to Quality Seafood in Redondo Beach, a dinner at the Smoke House in Burbank, maybe a breakfast at Fred 62 (one of my top LA favorite eateries) and maybe one at Republique as well. Might try to hit a Korean BBQ. Brothers in K Town is a favorite. Tatsu makes perhaps the best Ramen I’ve had anywhere in the world. Sushi, so many places, but Sasabune in Glendale is at the top of the list for sure. I could go on about food for days……

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There have been many people along the way that were supportive and many that were not (we work in a cut throat industry). It’s hard to narrow it to one person. I think that in many ways, I owe my current path to my dad. He is a phenomenal business person, a stickler for detail and nuance in how to do something. He would tell you he does not have an artistic bone in his body, and while that is likely true, I grew up with him taking me to the movies and renting movies with him. We still try to catch a few films whenever I am in for a visit. My effects teacher in my college years, John Stuart, opened my eyes to the fact that this can be a job, and he opened my mind to so many working industry artists and legends. I had an amazing teacher in makeup school, Justin Raleigh (who is now the owner of the prestigious Fractured FX) that really taught me the value of understanding material and process and paying attention to the little things that others often overlook. My industry friends and family are of course there on the low days and also the high days, and I love them for that.

Website: www.haunteddreamsstudio.com

Instagram: @haunted_dreams_studio

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mikedinetz