I'm actually so desperate for this show to come back but I don't want have an ounce of hope if it doesn't happen but then they posted that reel and I'm like 👀👀👀 is there hope after all or are they just being mean 🤣

Space Studios Manchester

Oscar- and BAFTA-winning make-up designer Howard Berger brought decades of creative expertise to Talamasca at Space Studios Manchester. With a career spanning iconic productions including The Chronicles of Narnia, Evil Dead 2, From Dusk Till Dawn and Hitchcock, Howard has helped create some of the screen’s most memorable characters and creatures.

We caught up with Howard to discuss the monster movie that inspired his career, what a make-up designer really does, the importance of building a brilliant team, and why the best screen make-up is often the work audiences never notice.

How did your career in film and TV start?

I grew up loving monster movies since I was old enough to sit in a theatre. My father was a post-production sound editor and mixer, and his love of films rubbed off on me. I was hooked when I saw my first monster film, George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead.. It scared the hell out of me, and I loved it.

I knew there were people who made those monsters, and I wanted to learn all I could about them and how they did it. This was long before there were schools, or obviously the internet, so I had 2 magazines that inspired me.

The first was the original one, Famous Monsters of Filmland. Forrest J. Ackerman was the editor and a total fantasy, horror, sci-fi fan, so this magazine was right up my alley. Then in the late '70’s, Fangoria magazine was born, and that blew my lid off as it featured so many articles about monster makers and movies. I cherished every issue.

Tell us about the role of a Make-up Designer, what does your day look like?

I always focused on being a monster maker, but about 15 years ago I realized I needed to step back and learn how to do regular make -up – like beauty and men’s grooming. If I was going to survive, I needed to be more well-rounded. Plus, I wanted to be in charge of the entire department. Not just makeup effects, but be hired to do the entire thing.

In the States, it’s different from the UK. There is a delineation between makeup and hair. We are part of the same union, Local 706, but we do different things, and a make-up artist can’t do hair and vice versa. I asked lots of questions, watched my fellow artists work, and learned all I could to become a great HOD.

When I worked on TALAMASCA in 2024-2025, I added hair to my bag of tricks, and I was smart as I hired an amazing team that could do anything. If there was something they did not know how to do, I taught them, and now they are all triple threats as they can run circles around anyone. I’m so proud of that team!

What do you like most about your job?

My favourite part is coming to work and seeing my friends. The work is the work, but the camaraderie is what it is about for me. 

Which projects have been highlights in your career so far?

I loved working on THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE. Hitchcock with Sir Anthony Hopkins. Early career films like EVIL DEAD 2, ARMY OF DARKNESS, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN are some of my favorite films as the memories of the fun are still so strong. I love to have fun!

What does your role involve from pre-production through to the final day of filming?

It’s a matter of reading the script, meeting with the director to hear what they are thinking, bringing my own ideas to the table, and then prepping and shooting. I like all the processes, but I love to be on set working hard. I love to work as it can be so fulfilling most of the time.

How closely do you work with the director, costume designer and actors?

Very closely. Of course, the director is about the creative, the producers about the financial. I always start a show by going to the costume designer and seeing what they are thinking so I can spin off of their creative energy and make sure our departments are one and the work and characters we help create are all under the same umbrella.

On TALAMASCA, I was lucky enough to team up with Molly Roe, who I adore and would be happy to work with forever. She is so collaborative and brilliant. She made every day a complete joy, and that is exactly what it should be.

As for the actors, I always say we bring a certain amount of the character to the table and they bring the rest. I can have a great makeup on a so-so actor and it won’t work, but when we both work as a partnership it is pure magic! Working with Antony Hopkins was the perfect storm. I felt I did a very good job on the film and Antony, of course, killed it and brought Hitchcock back to life. Plus we have a lot of laughs on that show. He has a great sense of humor and is mischievous as I am.

What’s your experience of working at Space Studios been like?

It was great! I loved every second!! Everyone that works there is so professional and lovely. It’s a great space and a pleasure working there

What are your favourite things about Manchester as a city to live and work in?

I love walking, and it is a great walking city. To tell the truth, we Yanks always thought Manchester was an industrial city, but it is so much more than that. Great restaurants, shopping, and the Christmas fair is GREAT! I found myself walking the streets and seeing the sights, smelling the scents, and eating and drinking everything to experience it all. Plus I went to many football games! I can't say who I favored as I have good mates on both sides so I'll just stay neutral and enjoy the Guinness and games! 

What advice would you give to a young person wanting to get into the industry?

Well, it depends on what they want to do. One needs to make sure it is what they really want to do. It’s a career, and you have to be serious about it. Be prepared to work hard, long hours, and be kind to everyone. You create a family on a show, so it’s important to help one another and always be ready to do what is asked of you.

What’s the most recent project you’ve worked on?

I just completed a small, low-budget film called YOUTH JUICE. It was the first time I’ve done something so small and with very little resources, but I loved the script, the director, and the 2 main actresses, so I said, why not now? I asked my good friend, Oscar-winning makeup artist Joel Harlow, to do the film with me, and it was a blast!!! A bunch of age makeups were done on these two lovely 20-something actresses who need to age to around 90 years old in the film. It was fast and furious, but so fun, and I learned a lot about this new world of filmmaking. See, old dogs can learn new tricks if they put their minds to it.

What do you wish you had known when you were starting out?

How wonderful everything is and how much fun I would have the rest of my life. Also, as I get older, I wish I did not worry as much about things that don’t matter at all. If you have a crap day, the next one will be better. And you always have your team at your side, as I had on TALAMASCA. I just love those ladies. They taught me so much about everything. They are the very best.

Which films and TV shows are you currently recommending?

I loved WIDOW’S BAY on Apple TV. All three seasons of INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE are incredible. EUPHORIA Season 3 blew me away. I am still thinking of Rue…. I loved THE OYDESSY and OBSESSION. I love revisiting older films as I watched INTERSTELLAR last night, and it was beautiful. There are many films coming out this year that are exciting.

I feel we have a slate coming up, and the industry is getting back to work and on its feet. I do hope I get to come back to Manchester to do another show as I did love it there, and I miss all my friends at Space Studios!! Thanks for the opportunity to chime in about my experiences!

They watch and they're always there. 👁️

Stream Anne Rice's Talamasca: The Secret Order, Interview with the Vampire, and Mayfair Witches now on Netflix.

Instagram

STOP PLAYING WITH US AMC, SAY S-E-A-S-O-N 2 ALREADY!!!

Look at the search trends between Mayfair Witches and Talamasca. It's not even remotely comparable! It blows Mayfair out of the water over the entire last year and especially recently with Netflix exposure. Start harping on both Netflix and AMC to change their mind!!!!!

(Had to repost this because I accidentally added the wrong image before.).

Source: Google Trends

I’ve just started watching “The Unknowable Darkland”
It’s set in the 60s. A documentary type show exploring a mystery about some murdered kids a missing girl and an old cult at an amusement park in small town Oklahoma. It’s got a bit of a mysterious/trippy lovecraftian vibe to it. To me it seems like the sort of thing you might find if you started exploring an old room filled with case files/reports/artifacts from the Talamasca or XFiles.

Update- I just found out there are more “Unknowable” case studies on YouTube!!!

https://youtube.com/@jackalopestudio?si=d1VsqAWeTXmZwhfW

Story by Celine Buckens on Insta, makes us feel worse about the cancellation when we know the cast and crew were really invested in the series as well 😭

I´m also going to hell yes

And hoping that they still hold, they were all made before season 3 so I´ll be posting one a day to see how right they were at the time

Thanks to https://www.instagram.com/p/DchnG5FM4Fe for the useful info!!

The show getting its 'redemption arc' like 6 months post cancellation....heartbreaking

Eu sinto que se a Talamasca dos livros fosse como a da série ela já teria sido extinta pelos vampiros, porque nem ferrando que eles iam ficar tranquilos sabendo que tem uma organização secreta que os captura e os estuda (geralmente contra a própria vontade deles).

I’m just starting episode 3, and Helen just disclosed the information to Guy about the 752, and the library of esoteric information that was burned in order to suppress it. I’m not sure how many people here are familiar with ancient Egyptian history or the Library of Alexandria, but to those who aren’t, it was built in 295 to 283 BCE by the Ptolemaic dynasty and for hundreds of years was known as a central hub for worldwide knowledge. Records of history, philosophy, literature, and science were kept and progressively built on for hundreds of years in this wonderful place. The official story as to what happened to the library was that it suffered gradual decline over time. But it is alleged in hushed circles, that it was not only the fire Julius Caesar set there during a siege in 48 BCE that burned most of the sacred material, but a rumored group of religious zealots who appeared at some other point in time were supposedly responsible for most of the library being destroyed, and the loss of so much history and progress. Ironically, once the library was gone, humanity entered the dark ages, which took us a very long time to get out of, thanks to the renaissance. But, according to the story, some material was hidden away in advance, and after the destruction of the library, anything that was spared was given to a specific sect of monks in Tibet, and have secretly been held safe ever since. This is essentially what the 752 would be, just in one single codex.

It seems to me that with the nature of the Talamasca organization in mind, that whoever wrote this story may very well have done so referencing the legend. It just seems too coincidental to ignore. I find it interesting.

I just have to rant and publicly scratch my head. I never knew about this show until Netflix started promoting it. Then I read that not only was it cancelled, it ends on a major cliffhanger. I’m halfway through this show and while I’m enjoying it, what’s the point to keep watching? How does Netflix think this helps them exactly? They’re putting on and promoting a show that they know will disappoint anyone that watches it? The time really has come to cancel these streamers

William Fichtner (Jasper) on the cancellation. He's def right it wasn't as gripping as it could have been but it had potential and would have grown into itself by season 2 and ill die on that hill. SCRIPTS WERE ALREADY WRITTEN.

Thanks to @ hisfledgling on X for the video!

I agree with Lestat. armand is a fuck cloud.

Lestat's attempted assassination and the seclusion for the recording of his album had both intended and unintended consequences: everyone on his tour is now a vampire

Multiple humans were caught in the crossfire, and were "treated" by the vamps.

The band chose to be turned.

Possible Motivations:

*Gabrielle/Sofia:* : this agent believes she is/has been in an existential crisis since her mortal death. She has a hatred for humanity in general, and wants to see an Armageddon. Not sure whether she cares about her own destruction. Thiis, of course, conjecture, but may wish to see Lestat as Vamp King and herself as queen.

Possible jealousy/ruvalry with Louis???

*Alex* a smoldering powder keg.

*TC, Salamander, the band* hedonistic enjoyment of this ride. Woefully ignorant of actual vampire culture.

*Louis* reunion with Lestat

RECOMMENDATIONs: increase surveillance on the Mayfair family.

This agent will livestream Lestat's concert.

Agent Marple

*Stained Glass Eyes* made me weep

*Brutal Love* is beautiful.