Ominous Origins: Somica Spratley (Interview)

Go behind the scenes of horror and movie magic with the incredibly talented visual effects and makeup artist, and up-and-coming filmmaker, Somica Spratley (30 min) (2.17.20).

Welcome to the Ominous Origins Podcast, a Horror Shots production. If you were previously a fan of the Horror Shots Podcast, this is the same great show with the same compelling content focused on myth, mysterious creatures, unexplained events, spooky stories — and even some of the strangest and most disturbing true crime stories. As always, our goal is to entertain, but also to enlighten with short, well-researched episodes on a variety of fascinating topics.

I hope you enjoy the show. If you would like to show your support, reviews on iTunes or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts are always greatly appreciated and help out so much. You can also comment on this post right here on Morbidly Beautiful and use the social share buttons to spread the word. Finally, you can check out my Redbubble store for some some great merchandise, including the new logo for sale on a variety of things!

THIS WEEK’S EPISODE:

In the world of horror, there are so many faces behind the scenes that make things work and help the machine run smoothly. One of those faces is Somica Spratley. She is a visual effects and makeup artist with a flare for the creative. Not only is Somica a woman in horror, but she’s also a woman of color, and so much more.

We all know that labeling people based on gender and skin color is a cliche, but when it comes to the film industry, it can still very much be an obstacle, even in 2020. However, that doesn’t hold her back. In fact, she uses what some might perceive as a disadvantage to her advantage.

There aren’t many women who work in visual effects, or at least not many who get the opportunity, but Somica has used her talent and every tool in her skillset to help her achieve what many others only dream of.

Through her talent, she has risen to become a well known and well respected artist in Alabama, from working on sets to helping others hone their skills. Somica’s empire is quickly growing.

In this interview, she talks about her struggles, and successes, and how she’s overcome the stereotypes of the film world and beyond.

Sadly, it’s not easy for anybody in this industry, but Somica proves that with hard work and dedication, you can overcome any biases that may befall you.

Of course, her career doesn’t end with makeup and effects. Somica is a woman with all the ambition in the world, and in 2016 she made her directorial debut. She’s also a member of her local union, IATSE 798.

Below you can find some of her work, which is outstanding. I highly encourage you to check out her portfolio, as this is what Women in Horror Month is all about: the women behind the scenes, the ones who aren’t front and center but are ultimately the heart and soul of any production.

Somica’s website is: https://www.somicaspratley.com/