Columbus special effects artists star in new TV show that recreates American myths and monsters

A handful of local artists are creating a monster, and they want everyone to see.

Special effects makeup artist and mask-maker Todd Reed, alongside Todd Kinsler of Sinister Signs and Dayton-based artist Ben Peters, are currently filming the first season of a show tentatively titled “614 Scream Kings.”

The show, which has already taken the trio to West Virginia, New Mexico, Massachusetts and more, centers on regional American cryptids, another name for mythological beings like witches, Bigfoot and Mothman.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Currently, “614 Scream Kings” has been picked up by Steam Powered Productions and is being shopped to networks. Reed expects it to be picked up in the next few months. “Story of Murder,” a documentary series on serial killers that Reed provided narration for, is currently available to stream Amazon Prime.

Each episode of the new show will focus on a specific cryptid. The Scream Kings then travels to these locations, collects evidence and attempts to locate the creatures, before returning to Reed’s Columbus studio to do what they do best: Create really cool, lifelike versions of each cryptid.

“Basically we travel to these locations to learn about the cryptids and and get some inspiration, then we come back to studio here in town and build a full-size one,” Reed said.

The entire first season is being pre-filmed. The Scream Kings just returned from a trip to Salem, Massachusetts, and is heading to Lousiana’s Rougarou Festival, dedicated to a supposed werewolf-like creature that stalks the bayou, next.

Want to read more? Check out our print publication, (614) Magazine. Learn where you can find a free copy of our new September issue here!

BROUGHT TO YOU BY