Jim Ojala

James Ojala (born May 6, 1977) is an American special effects and makeup artist, screenwriter and film director.

Career overview Early years Ojala grew up in Duluth, Minnesota, where he developed an early love of film through horror movies and the works of directors such as Martin Scorsese, Stanley Kubrick, George A. Romero and Buddy Giovinazzo. Following his graduation from Duluth Central High School in 1995, Ojala began his career working in public-access television. There, he and his friends created the series My Three Scums, a horror comedy sitcom about a dysfunctional family of mutants and monsters which he described as "sort of an obscene punk rock Munsters on crack". Ojala also worked alongside B-movie auteur Larry Fessenden on the 2001 horror film Wendigo and was involved with the Millennium Film Workshop, where he learned how to work with 16mm film under the supervision of underground filmmaker Mike Kuchar.

After the events of September 11, Ojala found it difficult to obtain any type of work in New York, eventually forcing him to seek out career options in California. Only a few days into a week-long visit to Los Angeles, Ojala was hired on the spot as a lab and on-set technician for the visual effects studio Almost Human, Inc., providing various functions including moldmaking, makeup application and puppeteering for film, commercials and television series including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly.

Current career In 2005, Ojala established his own independent special effects studio and film production company Ojala Productions, specializing in makeup and creature effects for film and television as well as producing in-house projects written and directed by Ojala himself. Among others, Ojala Productions contributed special effects work for films like 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams and the critically acclaimed Deadgirl, television shows including Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! and the music videos for Snoop Doggs Malice n Wonderland album. During this time, Ojala wrote and directed the short films The Incredible Torture Trio, which played at the TromaDance Film Festival and was later distributed internationally on a Best of TromaDance DVD compilation, the 48 Hour Film Festival entry Truthus: A Family Holiday and Marvel Zombies: The Movie, a fake trailer based on the Marvel Comics property of the same name.

With Monty Broussard, Ojala wrote and directed the 2011 science fiction thriller short Harvest, a proposed pilot for a television or web series. The following year, Ojala was featured in Craig Chenery's book Blood Spatter: A Guide to Cinematic Zombie Violence, Gore and Special Effects and in 2013, he directed the music video for comedy punk band The Radioactive Chicken Heads "Deviled Egg", which was highlighted on horror channel Fearnet as their "Music Video of the Week". In 2016, Ojala provided make-up effects for popular indie pop band Lucius music video "Gone Insane"; the video received notable mainstream recognition, with Rolling Stone describing the effects "strange [and] striking" and the Village Voice calling them "exceptional".

Beginning in 2017, Ojala has served as co-producer for the Shudder original talk show The Core, in which he also appears as a regular on-screen guest detailing the secrets and artistry behind practical special effects.

In October 2018, after four years in production, Ojala released his first feature film as a writer-director, Strange Nature.

After producing and directing several music videos, Ojala, shot, edited and directed "The Last Time." It is the first official music video for legendary punk band, Fear (band) and stars original singer/songwriter Lee Ving and original drummer, Spit Stix.

Filmography As director/screenwriter

As makeup artist/special effects technician

Film

Television Year Film Notes 2001-2002 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Seasons 6-7 2001-2004 Angel Seasons 3-5 2002 Firefly 2003 Miracles 2005 Point Pleasant The Inside 2007 House Episode: "Insensitive" 2010 Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Episodes: "Crows" and "Chrimbus Special"2011 Jon Benjamin Has a Van Episode: "Breakdown Van" True Blood Episodes: "I'm Alive and on Fire" and "If You Love Me, Why Am I Dyin'?" 2014 - 2015 Comedy Bang! Bang!

Short films