Movies

Meet the proud parents of ‘M3GAN,’ Adrien Morot and Kathy Tse, who welcome us to their design shop

BBG News

Nestled just beyond the thrilling heights of Magic Mountain’s rollercoasters, camouflaged amidst the sprawling, nondescript industrial complexes of Valencia, I stumbled upon the covert workshop where the sinister, homicidal doll M3GAN was brought to life.

M3GAN wasn’t exactly born, but more so developed. Since her dance moves became famous after the 2022 horror hit, she’s been quite mischievous. However, behind this character is a team of creators, primarily Morot FX Studio, responsible for animatronic makeup and design. But also involved are a real-life actress, Amie Donald, who’s 15, puppeteers, numerous technicians, all working together harmoniously like a troupe of contemporary dancers.

Although this row of beige offices doesn’t look like a secret lab at first glance, it’s not too far from the truth. Last night, Christian Bale was here, trying on some facial prosthetics for his upcoming role in “Madden,” a film about Oakland Raiders football legend. Nicholas Cage visited the day before. Both actors are expected to return soon.

Adrien Morot, aged 54 and resembling a boy with his baseball cap, inquires if you’d like popcorn. It’s a Saturday in April, an unusual free time slot for him amidst his usually busy workweek, as he invites us to take a look at some of the recent updates he’s made on “M3GAN 2.0,” scheduled for release in cinemas on June 27.

In my recent visit, Morot gleefully escorted me through his self-proclaimed geek’s utopia, a two-tiered workspace brimming with scowling latex masks, furry creatures, and towering alligators keeping watch. Posters of horror films like Eli Roth’s “Thanksgiving” were interspersed with surprising, seemingly incongruous projects: Darren Aronofsky’s “mother!” and the movie “Vice,” where Steve Carell was miraculously transformed into Donald Rumsfeld by Morot.

In a setting reminiscent of a college dorm, I find pizza boxes scattered around work surfaces. However, upon opening one, I discover not remaining pizza slices but rather intricate pieces of fabricated skin applications instead – an unexpected surprise given their usual contents. These boxes seem custom-made for such finds.

As someone who’s been nurturing my passion for films since childhood – it was more than just a pastime, it was a cherished hobby – I can honestly say that every single day I walk into this shop, I’m struck by the same thought: “This is absolutely incredible!

In his younger days, he grew up in Montreal with an intense fascination for the macabre, often crafting his own creations. The entertaining 1986 thriller “F/X,” about a special-effects artist evading capture, was one he watched as a self-assured and overconfident teenager, believing himself superior to all, much like a typical adolescent. However, this film is also one he can recall in intricate detail, scene by scene.

Meanwhile, Kathy Tse, Morot’s longtime creative partner and spouse, is navigating through the store as well. Quietly spoken yet detail-oriented, her presence lends an air of serious artistic collaboration to the space, suggesting that it belongs to two contemporary artists. She shares that Valencia was considered more family-friendly and offered a better investment in real estate.

As a movie enthusiast, I can confidently say that our relationship clicks – built on trust and understanding – makes us an effective team. This bond becomes crucial during high-pressure situations or when the going gets tough. Consequently, they often find it necessary to bring us back together again.

Hollywood has taken notice of their impressive talents, particularly after winning an Oscar for their collaborative effort with Brendan Fraser on “The Whale”. However, the prestigious award seems to have gone missing, as Morot confesses, somewhat bashfully, that it’s currently hidden away in a closet somewhere.

Regarding achievements, an Oscar wasn’t something I aspired for; it was never on my list,” he explains. “What I really yearned for was to see one of our creations gracing the cover of Fangoria magazine. That was my only ambition.” (This is what we strive for in our shop.)

He guides us towards the idea of a particular closeness they prefer to cultivate, an authentic style that could be referred to as the distinctive approach of the Morot household.

That particular Oscar event stood out because Brendan and Adrien formed an incredible bond, almost like brothers. They exchanged endless encouragement, crude humor, and messages. It was truly a heartwarming and lovely friendship that has endured, as they continue to exchange texts even today.

As I see it, that’s consistently been our approach,” I say. “Our role is to aid the actor in their journey by providing what we create – aiding them in discovering and embodying their characters.

After saying this, they ascend with me to the upper level of their store, accompanied by their border terrier, Jasper. And there she stands, the star of the moment.

“M3GAN 2.0” is undoubtedly the sequel fans have been eagerly anticipating. It maintains the core absurdity of the idea – a menacing AI housed in a rebellious teenage robot – while also satirizing the reckless behavior of tech enthusiasts who rush to innovate without heeding clear, cautionary advice.

The movie leans heavily towards humor, with frequent bursts of laughter (even M3GAN can’t resist breaking into another catchy yet awkward tune). Interestingly, the creators seem to have picked up on our affection for her character, as they decide to make her a champion instead of just a tool. She is now pitted against a powerful military AI, named Amelia, both of them embodied in young female forms.

To facilitate our tour, Morot and Tse arranged two life-sized versions of M3GAN, one resembling the original character from the first movie, and another reflecting the updated design for the upcoming film. The latter model is more muscular and noticeably taller to accommodate their human actor’s real-life dimensions.

Tse notes that Amie grows at an astonishing rate, adding more than two inches in just a year. Originally, she stood about the height of “yay”, but after half a year, she experienced growth spurts. As a result, we had to adjust all our dolls to accommodate her new size.

According to Morot, “She’s a delight to collaborate with, truly a trooper. Everyone seemed captivated by her performance, so it felt natural to include her again in the sequel. Consequently, I believe the script was modified or tailored to ensure she would seamlessly fit into the narrative.

When M3GAN performs her popular swirling dances or operates, it’s actually Donald, a young actor from New Zealand hidden beneath a mask created by Team Morot. He demonstrates the mold to me, explaining, “This is her face inside.” “It’s a negative imprint of her face,” he continues, adding, “It’s surprisingly heavy.

In medium shots or close-ups, what you’re observing is an animatronic puppet controlled by multiple operators. Typically, Morot manages the mechanisms in the eyes and frequently discusses “eyeball movement” in detail, while Tse handles the arms and engages in a significant amount of hand gesture acting.

Director Gerard Johnstone, speaking from the editing room at Blumhouse’s post-production facility in Koreatown where he’s working on the sequel, admits that before his initial encounter with Morot and Tse’s talents in 2019, just before the pandemic, he hadn’t fully grasped how ‘M3GAN’ would become almost like a sophisticated Muppet film. He credits their dedication to creating lifelike illusions for swaying him.

The director exclaims, ‘I was incredibly motivated by that!’ He ponders aloud, ‘Why settle for making something reminiscent of a toy when these artists can create lifelike figures? Wouldn’t it be exciting to venture deeper into the uncanny valley than we ever have before?’ Adrien and Kathy seemed like the ideal collaborators on this ambitious endeavor.

These days, Tse’s M3GAN design models are produced using multiple digital printers (each head may require up to 50 hours), serving as a solid foundation for the initial movie production, which is not a common outcome.

In the room we’re in Valencia, the doll’s eyes seem captivatingly mesmerizing, hinting at a whiff of menace. “I sense something,” Tse remarks.

Within the room here in Valencia, the doll’s eyes are strikingly hypnotic, subtly conveying an eerie hint of wickedness. “There’s an aura about it,” Tse comments.

As I carefully style each strand of M3GAN’s hair for our photoshoot, observing every slight head tilt and subtle eye movement, Morot and Tse resemble nothing less than doting stage parents, nurturing a talented young theater actor. The thought naturally arises: Are they more than just creators, are they also protective caretakers?

Tse nods in agreement, acknowledging the depth of love parents have for their creations, comparing it to the way we treat our dolls. ‘See how attentive we are towards them? There’s a sense of pride and a desire to ensure they’re well-kept and presentable.’

For about twenty years, this duo has been together, and they got married roughly when they were both involved in the creation of “M3GAN,” an event that marked a significant milestone in their careers.

When we initially crossed paths, I was still blooming like a fresh flower, having just graduated from college. Meanwhile, he was immersed in the world of films, while I was starting my career in banking. It was through this profession that our paths intertwined, and eventually, he introduced me to the film industry.

“I could have went into banking,” Morot cracks.

They discovered fellow enthusiasts who shared their perfectionist nature, ultimately dominating the thriving Montreal makeup industry that was filled with film productions from Hollywood. Their dedication never wavered, as they forwent weekends and holidays, consistently putting in long hours of work.

However, it was clear that a move to Los Angeles was unavoidable for them. In the 1990s, Morot had attempted to make a go of things in town, working under other designers, mastering his trade, and immersing himself in the city’s culture until personal obligations called him back to Canada.

He shares that he was quite disappointed when he had to return, expressing, “L.A. has always felt like my home to me.” Upon arriving here at the age of 21, he exclaimed, “Wow, it’s like heaven, everything I need is right here!

They’re well aware that their expertise now symbolizes a scarcity: a genuine artisan skill focused on tangible texture, in contrast to the growing trend of digital simulations. In today’s world, where digital blood sprays are commonplace, prosthetic makeup effects have taken on a role as a refuge, a stronghold for traditional techniques.

Morot expresses concern, stating, “This appears to be a catastrophic collapse of the entire movie industry.” He worries that we’re eroding the personal aspect involved. This could lead to a sad outcome as we’d lose the shared experience of movies. We’ve already reached this point with streaming platforms and YouTube, where individuals are isolated in their own viewing experiences. There’s no longer the office conversation about popular shows because everyone is watching different content.

Tse adopts a realistic approach when discussing AI. “I believe we need to accept it,” she states. “Unfortunately, certain sectors within the field may face job losses, but one must adapt and explore new opportunities.

1. “M3GAN” and “M3GAN 2.0” delve into thought-provoking themes surrounding the role of artificial intelligence, even with their entertaining sci-fi elements. While they can be considered horror films with beginner’s training wheels, they also subtly instill in PG-13 viewers a cautious outlook on the future. Their roots trace back to “2001: A Space Odyssey” and the prophetic 1970 film “Colossus: The Forbin Project,” which revolves around two AIs that seize control of the world’s nuclear arsenal, a plotline reminiscent in the latest “Mission: Impossible — Fallout.”

According to Johnstone, the motivation behind creating ‘M3GAN’ stemmed from his feelings of frustration as a parent. He was grappling with finding a balance in this era of technology, surrounded by people who seemed to accept the status quo. He questioned, “Where is the middle ground here? Why aren’t schools having a discussion about it?

If Morot and Tse, pioneers in their respective fields, manage to make AI more appealing for future generations by using M3GAN as their representative symbol, they’re certainly sticking to traditional methods, utilizing tools that have sparked their creativity since the beginning. They unveiled a mechanical head for public viewing – it’s essentially the first doll they ever constructed (without the outer layer) and it plays a prominent vocal role in the latest film: a chilling scene depicting reconstruction within an underground shelter and saving the world before time runs out.

Tse expressed gratitude,” she said, which essentially means they considered themselves fortunate for having held onto this prototype at this particular time. The angular jawline and sightless eyes evoke an undeniable sense of the Terminator. Morot gently holds the head, reminiscent of a young fan fantasizing about magazine covers from Fangoria.

It’s the kind of thing you hold onto in a lab in Valencia.

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2025-05-14 13:31

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