DON BROOKER

Department Head | Creative Director

Don Brooker brings a highly creative and dynamic energy to any creative project. Communicating through multi disciplinary art forms including illustration, painting and sculpture, he offers a variety of practical design services to creative industries.  Known for his work on feature films such as Avatar, King Kong, What We Do in the Shadows, The Hobbit Trilogy and Television shows including Cleverman, Ash vs Evil Dead, fan favourite Wellington Paranormal, Time Bandits and recent genre films The Rule of Jenny Pen and Wolfman.

After studying fine arts at the Hunter Institute in Newcastle, Australia,  Don then began his screen industry career, which now spans over 25 years. He is an experienced creature and makeup effects designer and head of department. He has supervised international onset prosthetic teams as well as leading and managing creature workshop crews. He has enjoyed contributing as an artist, to a long and varied list of renowned projects with world class teams. He has worked for industry leading companies and individuals such as Weta Workshop, John Cox Creature Workshop, Makeup Effects Group and Odd Studio.

Don is grateful to have worked with accomplished directors including Steven Spielberg, George Miller, Ridley Scott, Jemaine Clement, Peter Jackson, George Lucas, Mel Gibson, James Cameron, Neil Blomkamp, James Ashcroft and Taika Waititi.  Don has proudly contributed to Oscar and Bafta winning teams and also an array of winning and nominated projects for MUHS Guild, APDG, NZTVA and most recently a 2025 NZSA nominee for Best Makeup Design for The Rule of Jenny Pen.

IMDB

☎︎ (+64) 021 171 9482 

Co Department Head | Co Director

Jess Reedy is a Senior Makeup, Hair and Prosthetic Artist, a specialist in special makeup effects and prosthetics with diverse experience in the industry, her career has spanned over 25 years.  Her creative skillset includes experience in a wide range of manufacturing processes within the workshop, additionally she has enjoyed many years working onset with top talent and prosthetic, makeup and hair teams globally.

Jess began her career in the screen industry following studying a BA and BEd at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand. After a film industry traineeship she went on to advanced study in Fashion, Media Makeup Artistry and Hairstyling and completed a Diploma in SPFX MU and Prosthetics.

Her resume includes work with a variety of notable personalities and she is grateful to have had opportunities allowing her to acquire techniques and skills in many areas of character arts.  Jess has worked with accomplished directors including George Miller, Ridley Scott, Peter Jackson, and Andrew Adamson.

She has proudly contributed to Oscar and BAFTA winning teams and multiple winning and nominated projects for MUHS Guild, and APDG. She has also enjoyed being a part of crews working for industry leading companies and individuals including Jim Henson's Creature Shop, KNB EFX, MEG and Odd Studio.

IMDB

☎︎ (+64) 021 086 45678