Symbolic Arts

---WHAT WE DO---
Creature Design/Make-up/Suits
Character Creation
Prosthetics
Sculpture
Fine Art
Special Effects

10/09/2025

We usually can't share what we're working on because of NDAs. And by the time we can share, we're tied up with new NDA projects and don't get around to posting about the old stuff we're finally allowed to show.

Case in point: Monkey Man. We designed, sculpted, and built the Monkey Man masks back in 2020. The movie finally came out in 2024. We meant to post then ... but we were busy with other projects we still can't talk about.

So, from our very own Department of Better Late Than Never, here are some belated behind-the-scenes peeks.

08/30/2025

Back in early 2020, we were in the middle of design work on two centerpiece sculptures for Universal’s then-upcoming Epic Universe park: Luna and Helios (aka Apollo), created for what would become Celestial Park.

Universal had already gone through a long list of other vendors over the previous year, but the job wasn’t working. We took it on--and then the pandemic hit. We soldiered on, designing from our homes.

Fast forward to this past May, Celestial Park finally opened, with our statues now standing tall at the front and back of the land.

Our design process included both physical sculpting and digital modeling. Here are a few stages along the way.

Have a great long weekend, everyone (if not as long as the pandemic was)!

08/06/2025

Continuing with long-overdue photos, and wrapping up this trilogy of posts about short films we worked on that are now winning awards on the festival circuit, here are some behind-the-scenes photos of "The Erl King".

We handled both practical effects and vfx, with our primary role being the design and build of the suit and makeup for the eponymous tree character, played by the great Marti Matulis in this dark fantasy (one of our favorite genres).

More long-overdue photo posts from our work on other projects coming soon! :)

07/23/2025

Continuing with long-overdue photos of some of what we've been working on over the past few years, here's an AFI short we worked on: "Fishmonger", for which we created practical FX, most prominently for the lovelorn mermaid(?) Sinead. She ain't exactly Ariel, but by the time the film's over you've fallen for her anyway.

The film has been racking up awards (including for FX) and has screened at over 60 festivals so far, including Slamdance, AFI Fest, Vancouver, Sitges, and Fantastic Fest (and lots more).

07/11/2025

We've been busy, but we'll try to get back on Facebook with some long-overdue photos of some of what we've been working on over the past few years.

First up: meet Ditto, a lovelorn animatronic alien suit we built for the short film "Houston, We Have a Crush".

These shots are from the premiere at Palm Springs ShortFest a couple weeks ago, where Ditto walked the red carpet (kind of).

07/31/2022

20 % off today only! Sign up using code: SYMMASKS20

Who of you are horror fans?

Oh, ALL of you? 😂

Here at Symbolic School of the Arts, we sure love us some good horror films🖤 - our instructors are literal monster makers! 👹
What we’re getting at is that we’re already thinking about Halloween and we know you are too. And what better way to celebrate than by actually creating (and then wearing!) your own monster in our Mask Making Class!
Special effects artist and instructor Josh McCarron will give you professional instruction and feedback as you sculpt, mold, cast and then paint the custom mask that YOU create. This class is designed for all skill levels - beginners don’t be shy, unlike the monsters that lurk in the shadows, Josh has agreed not to bite. 😂

Oh, and did we mention that Industry Famous and Symbolic Arts’ own Joey Orosco will provide additional art direction?!!

If you haven’t signed up, make sure you hurry - 20% off class today only, again using code: SYMMASKS20

07/30/2022

Special effects and practical effects in Hollywood utilize a bunch of tools, but mask making is still a cornerstone to a lot of characters and creatures on the big screen! And in case you’ve missed it, Symbolic School of the Arts’ is launching our new MASK MAKING CLASS. Join us as special effects artist and instructor Josh McCarron guides you through the process of making a high-grade latex mask from sculpting clay, to molding, casting and then painting. Industry Famous and Symbolic Arts’ own Joey Orosco will provide additional art direction!

As stated in previous posts, this class is designed to be very accessible to all, from beginners (so don’t be shy to sign up!) to advanced artists wanting to hone their craft. There are limited seats available and you don’t want to miss this!

Go WILD with your imagination - what kind of mask will you create?

Sign up now!

www.symbolicschoolofthearts.com/courses

07/16/2022

Have you heard? SYMBOLIC
SCHOOL OF THE ARTS is launching classes
with makeup and special effects artist Josh
McCarron!

This is a class that's for both beginners and FX veterans alike! Sign up today for our limited
time launch special (save $300!).

Currently enrolling for classes in August and
September - Sign up by going to
symbolicschool.com

07/14/2022

Our SECRET is out! We are launching SYMBOLIC SCHOOL OF THE ARTS and offering a sculpting class with makeup and special effects artist Josh McCarron!

This is a class that’s for both beginners and FX veterans alike, and with our launch special of $300 off, a class with an instructor of Josh’s caliper is a steal! Sign up today! This deal is a limited time only.

Currently enrolling for classes in August and September - Sign up by going to http://symbolicschool.com

08/07/2021

We’ve been busy with a few projects we can’t post about yet, but here’s Symbolic Arts’ Joey Orosco working late night helping out with AFI student film The Erl King.

12/04/2020

This is Pharah, from the Colossal Collectibles Project back in 2016 celebrating the worldwide release of Blizzard’s “Overwatch”,that premiered in Busan, South Korea.

Symbolic Arts’ Eddie Yang headed this project at Alliance Studio along with Tasha Cronin. As there were 3 figures released simultaneously in 3 different cities worldwide, Eddie and Tasha both ended up going to South Korea with Pharah.

The assembly of Pharah went off without a hitch! Thank goodness! Eddie was on the phone all night receiving reports on progress from the Hollywood and Paris crews.

After the excitement of the release, Eddie got to explore Busan, as it was his first time in South Korea. He and the crew got to visit temples, see an enormous amount of Buddha statues, have Korean BBQ (of course!), and did some hiking.

Wow, what a trip!

Address

9232 Independence Avenue Suite 101
Los Angeles, CA
91311

Telephone

+18188185200

Website

http://www.symbolicartsfx.com/

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