CHAD COSTEN
STORYTELLER
MY MONSTROSITIES
For as long as I can remember I have loved making things.
So this is a little creative corner I decided to call COSTEN CREATIONS, which features a few of
the pixel people, furry freaks and maniacal monsters I've crafted over the years. ENJOY!
'Michael' the ZOMBIE SPIDER
I built this guy out of Technic Lego and flexible foam for the Halloween Episode of Felicia Day's GEEK & SUNDRY series Written by a Kid.
Details
- 'The Coming' game test (FEATURED LEFT)
- 'Alien Escape' match-3 style shooter game art (TOP)
- 'Time-Squatch' mobile game in development (BOTTOM)
VIDEO GAMES
I've toyed with some level design and made 1-hour playable turn-based RPG, but I am mostly interested in conceptualizing both new and retro ways of creating game art while telling stories.
Details
From Left: Jim the Plant, Gumtar the Conqueror, The Purple People Eater, Widget, Cornelious the Wizard... and a Frog.
PUPPETS PALS!
When you tell someone you make puppets, they tend to look at you funny. But when you say "Like Kermit" they immediately understand. Jim Henson was my hero and I've made many a Muppet of my own in loving memory.
GUMTAR THE CONQUEROR
Gumtar is my favorite character to perform. I've used him in several spec-ads: Out of this World and Earth Class Rock, and he used to run his own YouTube channel. One day he hopes to star in a kid-friendly puzzle website!
Details
- Hand puppet (two performers)
- WWW.GUMTAR.COM
Details
- Soon to be used in DEATH vs. ROBOT
- To see an artsy / weird super-8 film of "Tinny" in action, GO HERE.
- To see him star in a Green Peace commercial, GO HERE.
ONE TIN SOLDIER
Arguably the coolest thing I have ever made; and am most proud of. I built this costume for a "Short Circuit" like movie I wanted to make back before I knew how to make movies. He has a Rotating Gattling Gun, SFX & Light FX.
Details
- Skull Kid Mask (LEFT)
- Korok Kid & Screenshot (RIGHT)
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA - A Missing Link
Like all Zelda fans, I dream of the day when we will be able to experience the greatest Hyrulian adventure on the big screen! ...And subconsciously I plan to direct it because I keep building props for it whenever I have down-time.
Details
- Height: 5'6"
- Materials: stiff foam, hamster balls & a platstic garbage can.
UROBOROS ROBOTICS - U.1.U.9.
I built this robot costume for my Web Series GAIA. But looking back on it, I may have made GAIA so I could build this robot costume. In any case, the performer inside lost all feeling in her extremities and I don't feel bad at all.
PIXEL ART!
When I get really stressed, I make pixel art. I LOVE pixels!
Updated TLOZ-ALTTP graphics (LEFT) + 'Pooper Mario' & Pals (BELOW)
Details
- Short Film: Merry Christmas, Mr. Scarugi
- Stands 58cm high.
TREE OF THE DEAD
I've become sort of obsessed with miniatures these past few years and aim to put at leats one miniature effect in every film I make. This tree is made of mini skulls, spines and bones and was used in a short I recently directed.
THE 'NOT SO' LITTLE MERMAID
I worked on an indie film last year (2014) called Charlotte's Song, which is a dark-fantasy reimagining of the classic Little Mermaid fairy tale. I performed and built the puppetry aspects for two mermaid monsters.
Details
- Hand Puppet
- 8 Fully Articulated Legs + Head
IT'S ME! --->
MODEL MAKING
I've made a few models in my time... but for some reason they're all UFO's.
BELOW: Shoebox Diorama / The Coming UFO pieces / Misc. Alien Ship
Details
- My take on some classic Marvel Characters
- Character Designs for VITA EXTRA MORTIS
- Comic cover mock-ups: NUKEY & ATTT
COMICS
I've dabbled in indie comics and sunday paper "funnies" strips in the past, but mostly I like working on one-off comic covers for friends and personal projects. As for reading comics... LOVING SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN!
Details
Costume: Spandex. Tight.
Mask Eyes: Wire Mesh
Feet: Hand-cut soles (not comfy)
COSTUMES
Yes, I love Spider-Man this much. Don't fit the tights anymore, but back when I was a youngin' I made a costume (LEFT) to match McFarlane's Spidey.
Details
- "Baby Brain" - Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (LEFT)
- Tombstone from L.E. Feature Film pitch (RIGHT)
PROPS
From 'Brains in a Bottle' to Light Sabres and Sorcerer Wands, I've made a plethora of props professionally and personally. Prop building, like poster-making, helps me better visualize the world I am writing in working on.
MASCOTS
My professional creative career began as a Mascot Builder. I've made some pretty famous sports teams' mascots, which sounds cool, but all I remember is the smell of the soggy suits when they came back in for cleaning.
COSTEN COMMERCIALS
My sister is an insurance broker and the manager of Costen & Associates Insurance & Financial Planning LTD. She needed some web advertising for the company, so I threw together some of my best miniature-making magic!
Details
- x3 10sec. Commercial Spots: COSTEN & ASSOCIATES
- Cinderella, A Christmas Carol, The Wizard of Oz
GUNTHER THE GHOST
Since I was about twelve I have had an idea for a short film starring a little ghost with a pumpkin head named Gunther. In 2014 I wrangled a bunch of my students to help me shoot a miniature set test for short. More to come!
Details
- 1999 CG version of Gunther for Calgary-7 viewable HERE
- Canon 5D MarkII background camera test viewable HERE
LEGO LOVE
As an X-mas gift to some of my friends and family I collected Lego versions of us and put together little scenes complete with Lego-ized backgrounds! In the spirit of THE LEGO MOVIE, everything IS awesome when it is LEGO!
