A long time ago...

May 21, 1980 to be more precise...

Magic, literally, returned to the silver screen.  We were in awe of Star Wars back in 1977, but could have never imagined what lay ahead on May 20th...  The craftsmanship and technical wizardry from the first to the final frame of this film was out of this world.

Modelmaking, costumes, stop motion, green screen matte paintings, you name it, nearly every practical effect/skill/technique was utilized in this film.  And it all still holds up today.  Even more than the Special Editions, we would venture to say.

Happy 30th, it's been a long, long time old friends, but you're still as amazing today as you were in 1980.

May the Force be with you, always.

Tell us on Facebook, what was your favorite Empire moment?

Every now and again we stumble across something about the guys who make the FX.  Bill is one of these guys.  Enjoy!

Former Hortonville man reconnects with Freddy Krueger

By Cheryl Anderson • Post-Crescent West • May
6, 2010
Bill Forsche’s life resembles that of an ABC after-school special, but with a very good ending.

Forsche, 46, of Appleton, is a makeup and special effects artist who in 1988 worked on “A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master,” and was part of the crew for the remake of “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” which opened Friday and led the weekend box office with more than $32 million.

“A good friend of mine created Freddy Krueger, and that’s (special effects creator) Andrew Clement,” Forsche said. “Through correspondence on the Internet, he said, ‘I really want you to come out and help me with this. You’re really good at life casting, and would you help me out?’”

Forsche jumped at the opportunity to again hang with Freddy, the horribly disfigured killer who hunts teens in their dreams. While techniques remain the same, the materials have changed, said Forsche, owner of the Appleton-based Forsche Design, where he sells his life-castings and props.

“Freddy Krueger from ‘Part 4’ was all foam latex, which is a wonderful material but it’s opaque,” he said. “This Freddy Krueger that Andrew Clement designed is all silicone so it has a translucency to it that looks very realistic.”

With $15 in his pocket, a fake ID and fake beard, the Hortonville native hitchhiked as a teenager to Hollywood to pursue a career in filmmaking in 1979. Creating props, background scenery and special effects makeup for the high school drama department piqued his curiosity. Seeing “Star Wars” put him over the top.

Forsche’s first break came in 1984 when he worked with Wisconsin director Bill Rebane on “The Game” as a makeup and special effects artist. His work also has been seen in “The Lost Boys,” “Beetlejuice,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “The Nutty Professor,” among other films.

“Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy,” a special two-disc edition documentary released last week features much of Forsche’s early video footage from ‘The Dream Master.’ He’s also selling his home movies, “Nightmare on Elm Street 4 Freddy Krueger Behind the Scenes,” at www.nightmaredvd.com.

Forsche said his biggest fan remains his father, Bob Foertsch of Hortonville.

“It gives me great pride when my dad currently boasts about his son the special effects artist,” Forsche said.