Rick Baker’s ‘magic scissors’ made monster movie history

Special makeup effects artist Rick Baker shows off an alien mask his studio created for "Men in Black III" at the Hero Complex Film Festival Saturday. (Alan Heitz / Los Angeles Times handout)

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Special makeup effects wizard Rick Baker surprised Hero Complex Film Festival attendees Saturday afternoon, dropping by to answer questions about his prolific career, and carrying an alien head in a garbage bag.

Baker, 61, is a seven-time Oscar winner whose credits include “Planet of the Apes,” “Hellboy,” “Ed Wood,” Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music video and dozens more.

The Q&A — at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles — followed a screening of a featurette about Baker’s work for “Men in Black III,” which hits theaters next weekend. The audience oohed appreciatively as Baker pulled an alien mask from the bag he was toting — one of 127 alien creations for “Men in Black III,” he said.

KISS ’N HELL FOR NICOLE

FOXY NICOLE Scherzinger thinks her first-ever sex scene is more likely to make people throw up than fancy her.

 

The budding Men In Black III actress, 33, said: “It’s the most unusual kissing scene. 

“In fact it’s the first one I have ever done.

Children for sale: Sex traffickers targeting Americans

When people speak about the sex trafficking market, experts say it not surprising to hear about places like Thailand, India, some European countries and even Mexico.

"It's like this underworld activity that most Americans just don't realize," Jenny Clark, associate professor at South Texas College in McAllen, said.

Experts on the human and sex trafficking markets gathered for a conference in McAllen, to discuss the multimillion dollar, international industry, that’s quickly spreading to new markets, including right here in the Rio Grande Valley.