PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Let me tell you a bit about FX Artist Gabriela “Gaby” Genic. When I first met her, I was so nervous I introduced myself as Gaby! I wasn’t necessarily intimidated by her; I just knew she was cool and wanted to be her friend. I soon realized that, not only is she cool – with her long jet black hair, porcelain white skin, and black latex mini skirts – but she is also as sweet as pie! She is one of the most inspiring people that I have ever met. Her passion has been makeup for as long as she can remember, and she is driven and motivated for it to take her far. Based out of New York City, Gaby has not only made her way through MUA (New York’s premiere makeup school), but has been teaching horror special FX to up and coming artists like herself for a few years now. Not bad for 20! Gaby’s next move will be to conquer Tom Savini’s prestigious makeup school just outside of Pittsburgh, PA.
Recently, I sat down to talk with the one I deem the Jersey City Doll Face to ask her a few questions…
PopHorror: Hi, Gaby! Why don’t you tell the readers a bit about yourself
Gaby Genic: My name is Gabriela Genic, and I’m 20 years old. I’ve been doing makeup for about 6 years now. After high school, I went straight to makeup school to get certified and have been working as a freelance artist and makeup instructor since then. I’ve had some great opportunities, like working with the SyFy Channel and the Mehron Makeup Company. I decided I’d like to further my career in special FX because that has always been my favorite. In June, I will be beginning Tom Savini’s Special FX Makeup School!
PopHorror: That’s amazing! When did you know you wanted to get into special FX? What inspired you?
Gaby Genic: Growing up, my mom always showed us horror movies, and instead of being terrified, I was always excited to watch them and wanted to create my own monsters.
PopHorror: Tell us your favorite horror movie and why.
Gaby Genic: I love Hellraiser. That movie has always inspired me, and I love the cenobites. The FX work and the whole concept of the characters has always intrigued me.
PopHorror: What is it you love about horror?
Gaby Genic: I love horror because it’s such a fun genre. There are so many types of horror films and so many ways to be creative with it. Of course, I love the art behind it all as well.
PopHorror: What has been a favorite look of your career so far?
Gaby Genic: This is a tough question. Two of my absolute favorites have to be the demonic woman and barbed wire look. They were both a lot of fun to create, and honestly, were my least planned looks. They were created as I was going!
PopHorror: Who are some of your favorite special FX artists and why?
Gaby Genic: I don’t have any specific favorite special FX artists. I just admire all of them. I love seeing the different styles and looks people create.
PopHorror: What are your goals for the future?
Gaby Genic: My goals are to do the special FX for horror movies. I grew up watching them, and it would be a dream to be able to create those monsters and all the effects for them!
PopHorror: Do you see yourself ever doing anything else?
Gaby Genic: I really don’t. I’ve been wanting to be an FX artist since I was a kid. It was always my favorite thing to learn and what I loved about horror movies. So I definitely can’t imagine doing anything else.
PopHorror: What kind of music do you like? Has a song or artist ever inspired a look?
Gaby Genic: My musical tastes range to a lot of different genres. For example, some of my favorite artists are Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, The Struts, Highly Suspect, Sharon Needles… honestly, this list could go on forever. Whenever I’m feeling uninspired, I like to blast their music and just jot down whatever ideas I come up with. I’ve definitely been inspired by these artists and songs, especially Rob Zombie. It’s always been a dream of mine to work on one of his sets.
PopHorror: Is there any advice or guidance you can give to someone that wants to do special FX?
Gaby Genic: Practice! Special FX can be tricky and stressful, but at the end of the day, it is so much fun and a great way to show your creativity. Don’t give up with it. Just keep pushing yourself and practicing! Also, if special FX is something you’d really want to pursue as a career, I’d suggest taking some classes to learn from experts who’ve been in the industry and have loads of experience and knowledge.
Gaby always stays hard at work, and you can check out her Instagram page to see her latest creations at @gabriela.gen
We are so looking forward to see what this talented artist does in the future! We want to thank Gaby for her time, and wish her good luck in school!
