Most people celebrate Halloween only once a year. However for Sergio Guerra, 39, makeup, costumes, blood and gore is almost a daily occurrence. As a special effects makeup artist, Guerra has a career in bringing frightening characters to life.
Sergio Guerra runs his own business, has numerous clients and works on film projects here in San Antonio. But perhaps his most memorable achievement is participating on FX channel’s series, Face Off.
Guerra was only 5 years old when he won his kindergarten Halloween costume contest dressed as Frankenstein. At that moment, he realized his love for monsters and his desire to make these monsters come to life.
After graduating from South San Antonio High School in 1997, which is located 5 miles from Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Guerra attended Texas State University as a music education major but instead decided to pursue his true passion working in special effects makeup.
He turned to books, TV and videos as resources to expand his knowledge, as well as for inspiration.
“Back then there wasn’t YouTube, so I guessed at the materials,” Guerra said. “I used tortilla mix to make a mummy one time.”
Through trial and error, he began to get better at his craft and started using the proper materials for the makeup.
In 2002, Guerra took a job working at Ripley’s Haunted Adventure. It was the first year-round haunted house in San Antonio and he impressed his employers with his portfolio. With all his experience, he was given free range to create.
“I credit them big time for letting me do the things I did,” Guerra said.
He continued to work at Ripley’s while also working on local films when a producer told him about a casting call for reality TV show.
The show was FX channel’s competition series called Face Off, where special effect makeup artists compete against each other in hopes of winning the grand prize and the title as Hollywood’s next great effects artist. With only two days before the deadline to submit a video of his work, Guerra sculpted a cast of his own face. Out of 700 makeup artists who entered, only the top 12 were chosen, and Guerra was one of them.
He was flown to LA where he appeared on the first season and made it to the second episode of eight episodes before he was voted off. Although he did not advance, Guerra enjoyed the experience.
“I was working with seasoned makeup artists and I had never really studied.”
Guerra returned to appear once more on the last episode of the season and has been called back to do other shows but has declined.
“I have a business and that’s more show business,” Guerra said.
Currently, Guerra is running his own special effects business called The Darkness. If you’ve ever been to SeaWorld’s Howl-O-Scream and seen Jack, their signature monster, then you’ve seen Guerra’s work. At Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, Stumpy, the spine attached to a live actor sitting in a stack of boxes, is also Guerra’s work.
He also works with private collectors and has done demonstrations at conventions such as Monster Tech Fest, held at St. Philip’s College in 2015.
Sasha Oquendo, 29, is a model and actress who has worked with Guerra. “I was an extra, a zombie,” Oquendo said. “It was cool getting the prosthetics done on me.”
Some of his other projects include working on films here in San Antonio.
“Everybody knows Sergio,” said George Ortiz, Director and Producer of the film “House of Demon” on which Guerra did all the special effects. “It’s a blessing to know him. He’s a humble guy and does a great job.”
Guerra’s side job is in Human Resources for City Base Entertainment. He dedicates his time and energy working in special effects makeup projects.
“I just like making monsters and scary things. I enjoy scaring people,” Guerra said.
