ABOUT KNB EFX GROUP
Founded in spring of 1988, KNB EFX Group Inc. has been the Special Makeup Effects powerhouse in Hollywood for 28 years. They have specializing in character prosthetic makeups, animatronics, creature creations and animals replicas. Co-Owners, Greg Nicotero and Howard Berger, have accumulated over 800 feature film and television credits to their name including HATEFUL 8, OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL, LONE SURVIVOR, BREAKING BAD, PREDATORS, HITCHCOCK, THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, SIN CITY and AMC’s hit series THE WALKING DEAD, to name a few.
Collaborating with the best artists in the business, KNB’s work continues to provide filmmakers with the most ingenious and creative Special Makeup Effects to date. Their 20,000 square foot state of the art facility located in Chatsworth, California, is base of operations that serve film & television production all over the world.
Their personal devotion and love of film has endeared them to the best directors and producers in the business, making KNB EFX the premiere spot in town.
In the past, their contributions have been recognized by such organizations as The Hollywood Film Festival, The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences with Emmy wins for DUNE (2000), THE PACIFIC (2011) and multiple statues for THE WALKING DEAD (2012/13). In 2005 they were awarded an Academy Award and British Academy of Film & Television award for Outstanding Achievement in Make-up for THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE.
Both Howard and Greg met while filming George Romero’s zombie epic DAY OF THE DEAD in Pittsburgh, PA in 1984 and became fast friends. Upon Greg’s relocation to Los Angeles, he and Howard spent a few years honing their skills at various studios before deciding in 1988 to form their own company. In its infancy, KNB EFX was awarded several jobs that would guarantee their longevity. Greg’s pre-med background before entering the film industry solidified a job on GROSS ANATOMY which challenged them to create realistic autopsy cadavers. This led into Kevin Costner hiring the group on DANCES WITH WOLVES and from there they begin garnering the reputation for “hyper-realistic” replica animals/dummies and superior craftsmanship. The list of clients grew after work on MISERY, ARMY OF DARKNESS, ERASER, THE MIST and RESERVOIR DOGS. With the advent of computer technology, KNB found themselves still moving forward, able to continue the tradition of practical make-up effects, working in conjunction with the growing visual effects field on films like SPAWN, MEN IN BLACK and FROM DUSK TILL DAWN.
Into the next decade, KNB continued to perform with directors such as Sam Raimi, Frank Darabont, Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino, Michael Bay, Wes Craven and Paul Thomas Anderson with work on BOOGIE NIGHTS, DRAG ME TO HELL, SCREAM, GRINDHOUSE and KILL BILL VOL 1 & 2, & TRANSFORMERS.
To date, this passionate and dedicated collection of make-up artists and puppeteers proudly put their mark on film and television history. Whether it is creating nightmarish zombies for AMC’S THE WALKING DEAD, collaborating with Quentin Tarantino on DJANGO UNCHAINED or touching up Jamie Foxx as Electro on THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN 2, KNB is as vibrant as it was the day they opened their doors.
