Wētā Workshop Creative Workshop: Intro to Scars and Scrapes

Step into the world of practical movie effects in the Intro to SFX workshop, where you will create your own scars and scrapes and apply a gruesome-looking wound to your arm. This hands-on session focuses on the craft behind convincing special effects makeup, showing how bruises, scrapes and horror details are built for the screen.

With guidance from an experienced crew, you will learn the basics of prosthetic effects by sculpting lifelike textures and working with silicone gels, special effects makeup and movie blood. The workshop draws on techniques used to make monstrous wounds look real, from surface scrapes to deeper scar effects that make people look twice.

The atmosphere is practical and close-up, with small group sizes designed to allow one-on-one learning throughout the session. You do not need any previous creative experience, so it suits complete beginners as well as anyone curious about how practical effects artists work on films.

The result is a clear introduction to special effects makeup, grounded in making, mixing and applying the materials yourself. If you have ever wanted to see how faux blood, sculpted scars and prosthetic details come together, this workshop gives you the chance to try it firsthand.