Blue Whale Studios Inc

For more than three decades, our founder Jonah Levy has had the privilege of working in film, television, and themed entertainment, contributing to productions such as Percy Jackson, WandaVision, Captain America: Brave New World, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. Along the way he has also received two Emmy Award nominations and two Makeup and Hair Guild Award nominations. What many people may not know is that Jonah has also been teaching and mentoring artists for nearly as long as he has worked in the field. Education and sharing the craft has always been an important part of the Blue Whale spirit. As Jonah transitions away from regular on set work, he is placing more focus on helping the next generation of artists stay connected to their passion, their imagination, and their creative fire. These guest lectures are not only about special makeup effects. They explore the larger creative journey, including storytelling, longevity in the arts, and how artists can remain connected to their innate creative abilities over time. Jonah is now offering guest lectures and masterclasses for makeup schools, art programs, universities, and creative institutions. Sessions can be offered in person or through online lectures and mentorship programs. If you are part of a program that may benefit from something like this, we would love to connect. And if someone comes to mind, please help spread the word. Personal recommendations have always been the strongest way opportunities like this find their way to the right places. Always in service to the craft and the artists who carry it forward. Blue Whale Studios #creativeeducation #specialmakeupeffects #filmmakingcommunity #artseducation #nextgenerationartists

What an incredible post to write. 2023 marks the 25th year our company has been in business, & what an amazing roller coaster ride it has been so far. The past 2 years have, undoubtedly, been the most challenging years we have ever encountered, but the opportunities these challenges have prented can not be measured because there is ALWAYS growth on the other side. That being said, it is because of the challenges we have faced over the years that we have been able to sustain &  expand. While we can’t post pics of most of what we have done, we are so extremely proud of the work our team has produced.  From super subtle old age makeups that have pushed us to fine tune everything we do, to literally creating new techniques to solve problems that could not have been solved through traditional means, to having the shortest lead time we have ever had to create a look alike character makeup of an extremely well known historical icon. And NONE of it could have been accomplished without the dedication & loyalty of our incredible crew, now and throughout the years we have been operating.  With that, we want to take a moment to thank a few artists (in no specific order, listed in next comment), as well as extend our sincerest gratitude to others we have worked with along the way (too numerous to list here) & have been instrumental in our success.  We would not be where we are now had it not been for every single artist who has spent time in the shop, on set, & to every client who has trusted us with their project…  we are better because of each of you.  So THANK YOU! Blue Whale Studios has always & will always represent something bigger than the individual artist.  The goal of our company is to create a space for everyone that walks in the door to feel safe to grow & expand in all aspects. To push ourselves to be better each day & to allow for individual expression through open & honest communication.  Respect, Dignity & Integrity. By holding these principles as our foundation, understand that evolution is a slow & steady process that takes focus, determination, & patience. 25 years is a huge accomplishment & we hope to serve for many years to come!

For Captain America: Brave New World, once the sculpture for the original Leader makeup was complete, it moved into the hands of @anthonycanonica , our master mold maker and casting wizard. Anthony oversaw the mold fabrication and silicone runs with precision and care, ensuring lightweight comfort, clean seams, and a resilient final product. His expertise allowed us to maintain performance flexibility while honoring the sculpt’s integrity. We also devised the way to create plugs on the top of the head positive so that there were large sections open in the final piece to allow airflow while not compromising the integrity of the prosthetics. The balance between artistry and engineering is where true magic happens—and this process is a testament to the hands that bring characters to life from the inside out. Big thanks again to @ernestocornejoart for the beautiful sculpture and to @davidathertonmakeup and Marvel for entrusting us with their original vision. #MoldMaking #SiliconeCasting #MakeupFX #MarvelStudios #AnthonyCanonica #BlueWhaleStudios #TheLeader #BraveNewWorld #Prosthetics #BehindTheScenes #SpecialMakeupEffects #FilmCraft

For the original Leader makeup on Captain America: Brave New World, we began with a high-resolution digital scan of the actor—expertly handled by @jarmanprops as well as a traditional lifecast by @anthonycanonica . These two gave us the precision and alignment needed to build a flawless foundation for practical makeup. From there, @ernestocornejoart brought the vision to life through a traditional clay sculpture, maintaining reverence for the original comic book design. The goal was to honor the source material while creating something expressive, practical and as comfortable as possible, while staying grounded in realism. This fusion of digital and traditional craftsmanship is where our process thrives—uniting precision with soul, pixels with fingertips. #MarvelStudios #CaptainAmerica #BraveNewWorld #TheLeader #BlueWhaleStudios #MakeupFX #SpecialMakeupEffects #ClaySculpture #DigitalScan #CharacterDesign #FilmCraft #BehindTheScenes #PracticalEffects #ProstheticMakeup #OldSchoolMeetsNewSchool #FXArtistry

The nature of filmmaking asks us to adapt—to respond with creativity rather than react with attachment. We were originally brought on by the amazing @davidathertonmakeup to co-design and apply the practical makeup for The Leader on the incomparable Tim Blake Nelson in Captain America: Brave New World. As often happens in film, the story evolved, and during reshoots, the creative direction shifted. Our version was ultimately not used in the final cut. Still, we remain incredibly proud of the work we created. Drawing inspiration from the original comic book art, we developed a look that felt both grounded and iconic—true to the source while achieving a refined, natural realism. Technically, we were thrilled with how lightweight and comfortable the final makeup was for the actor—an achievement made possible by the dedication of an extraordinary team. Deep thanks to @davidathertonmakeup and the Marvel Universe for trusting us with this character’s first iteration. And heartfelt appreciation to the artists who brought it to life: @ernestocornejoart for his masterful sculpture, @anthonycanonica for his expert mold making and flawless castings @jarmanprops for digital design support @gretchenmakeswigs for her exquisite wig and brows. @veiled_optics for her beautiful contacts and @smokewagon_gypsy for her top notch care of Tim and his lenses Makeup application by @davidathertonmakeup and @jonahl_1976 Even when the work doesn’t reach the screen, its impact lives on—in the process, the passion, and the people behind it. We’re honored to have played a part in this chapter of the Marvel legacy. #CaptainAmerica #BraveNewWorld #MarvelStudios #TheLeader #MakeupFX #SpecialMakeupEffects #BlueWhaleStudios #BehindTheScenes #FilmCraft #SFXMakeup #ComicInspired #Prosthetics #AdaptAndCreate

The Electric State – Coming to Netflix, March 2025 Huge thanks to Prop Master Doug Madison for bringing us on board to fabricate several hero and stunt weapons for the film. One of the standout pieces was the Amhearst Rifle—seen in the hands of Ke Huy Quan and Chris Pratt’s characters. Based on detailed concept art, this weapon was designed as a rail gun that fired explosive discs, which made for some fun real-world fabrication mods to figure out how it would actually function. Originally painted in a “District 9”-inspired color scheme, it ended up being too close to the enemy droid weapons—so a reshoot in black and silver gave it the unique look it deserved. Though it didn’t make it on screen, we also built fully modular ammo packs that could be hot-swapped for reloading. Each disc was a multi-piece assembly—we gang-molded the parts and resin cast them by the dozen. Proud to be part of this one. Prop Master: Doug Madison #TheElectricState #Netflix2025 #MovieProps #PropFabrication #HeroProps #StuntProps #ChrisPratt #KeHuyQuan #AmhearstRifle #RailGun #SciFiWeapons #PracticalEffects #SpecialEffectsProps #FilmCraft #BehindTheScenes #BlueWhaleStudios #SFX #District9Vibes #MoldAndCast #PropMakers #WeaponDesign #SciFiFilm

We’re beyond excited to see the new teaser image and hear that the legendary @barriegower and his team are bringing their magic to the Masters of the Universe movie! Their work is always next-level, and we can’t wait to see how they bring this world to life. In the spirit of all things #HeMan, here’s a throwback to the costume we created for @questofthemusclenerd , We oversaw the entire build—armor, costuming (leatherwork created by @jonesspecialtysoftgoods ) and sword—and it was an absolute blast to help bring this iconic character to life. So pumped that this film is officially greenlit—Masters of the Universe has always been a favorite of ours! Who else is excited to see it finally happening? #MastersoftheUniverse #HeMan #MOTU #CostumeDesign #SpecialEffects #MovieMagic #FXMakeup #FilmIndustry #BehindTheScenes #PracticalEffects #PropMaking #80sNostalgia #MovieCostumes

This was for a show @prankencountersnetflixx with @bluewhalemakeup this was my first “hidden camera” kind of job and its was so fun waiting to see how its going to play out!! I got to do a few episodes with them, but this was one of my favorites. She has a silicone brow piece with some texture, along with a wig. She’s a cavewoman that melted in a chunk of ice and that escaped! Also one my last jobs before Covid and first jobs coming back, man what a difference! #prankencounters #prankencounters #nexflix #makeup #makeupeffects #prankshow #caveman #bodypaint #bodymakeup #tribal #tribalmakeup

On January 8, 2025, I found out that one of my closest friends of over 31 years, Gabriel De Cunto, lost his entire home in the devastating Los Angeles fires. Fortunately, no one was home, and no one was hurt. And while we are all heartbroken by the loss, I’m also in awe of his resilience and positivity through this unimaginable experience. Gabriel is one of the kindest, most gentle souls I’ve ever met, and he’s always been a beacon of support for others. Now, he needs his community to rally around him. When I first moved to Los Angeles as an 18-year-old intern, Gabriel took me under his wing. He became my guide, my big brother, and ultimately one of the most important people in my life. His generosity and warmth were constant reminders that even in the most intimidating new beginnings, you can find family in unexpected places. Today, Gabriel is facing a new beginning of his own, one that none of us could have foreseen. Everything he owned is gone, but his spirit remains unshaken. He’s ready to rebuild, but he can’t do it alone. This GoFundMe campaign is about coming together to give back to someone who has given so much to others. The funds raised will help Gabriel replace essential belongings, secure temporary housing, and begin to piece his life back together. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference. If you’re unable to contribute, please consider sharing this campaign to help spread the word. Let’s show Gabriel the same compassion, kindness, and generosity that he’s shared with so many of us. Thank you for standing with him during this challenging time. Please click the link in our profile to donate

An absolute honor to be nominated for the 2025 MUAH awards for our collaborative work on @percyseries season 1. as a studio of artists, we have always gravitated towards mythology and fantasy more than any other genre , so when the incredible @naomibakstadmakeup reached out to see if we wanted to help with some of the various practical effects. We jumped at the opportunity. We knew it would be tricky being in Atlanta based company since it was filming in Vancouver, but we were determined to solve any problems that needed to be solved in order to make this work. as with every project, it was an amazing collaborative effort between our team, Naomi‘s onset make up department @jeanniechowhair incredible hair department, as well as the wardrobe team, but with modern technology we were able to pull off some really fun and fantastical characters that worked seamlessly between all departments huge acknowledgment to our crew, the ones who make everything happen and are the ones who all too often don’t get the full credit they deserve Thank you, thank you, thank you to: Shop Foreman, lead moldmaker and prosthetic runner: @anthonycanonica Lead Sculptor: @ernestocornejoart Lead Digital Artist and Fabricator: @jarmanprops Lead Painter: @tesslaeh Additional sculptor and shop artist extraordinaire: @logantobia Lace brows: @gretchenmakeswigs “Helena” character makeup design and art direction: @jonahl_1976 and @naomibakstadmakeup And of course, our behind the scenes unsung hero handling all of the day to day operations necessary to a fully functioning shop, @nismail77 whoever takes on the award this season, we are thrilled to be recognized and even more thrilled to have been able to contribute to this series. #makeupartist #specialmakeupeffects #practicaleffects #specialeffectsmakeup #sculpture #prostheticmakeup #silicone @disneyplus #muah

Thrilled to announce the Hair and Make up teams have been nominated for Best Hair styling and Best Make up!! Thank you to my Hair team and to @naomibakstadmakeup and make up team! It’s been wonderful working along side you all 💖💖 Congratulations to all the nominees!! See you all in February 💖💖 @percyseries @disneyplus Hair stylists @jessicagjoneshair @amanda.dawn.mitchell @heathermclellan17 @samanthawyatt Make up artists @meganaharkness @kristasellermakeup @bluewhalemakeup @mikemakesmonsters @walker.scobell @leahsavajeffries @aryansimhadri @iamcharliebushnell @dior.n.goodjohn @danshotzy @jamesbobin #percyjacksonandtheolympians #walkerscobell #leahsavajeffries #aryansimhadri #charliebushnell #diorgoodjohn #rickriordan #disney #disneyplus #camphalfblood #muahs #muahsawards #muahsawards2025 #besthair #bestmakeup #hairbyjeanniechow

For the Netflix film “Uglies”, producer Jenny Hinkey brought us in to create a pig mask for an extended sequence where the main character sneaks into a party in disguise. A major design inspiration was taken from Ariana Grande’s 2016 bunny costume. The mask was digitally designed in zbrush and used a 3d scan of the actress to confirm scale and fit. Prototyping was done in-house through MSLA printing and the final deliverable was molded and cast in a flexible but semi-rigid rubber from BJB. The paint job was achieved with a blend of Createx Quicksilver chrome and CandyO2 pigments. Top coating was a water-bourne gloss clear coat blended with a flex additive, also from Createx. Molding and Casting by @anthonycanonica Everything else (concept design, digital asset building, prototyping printing, cast processing, paint ) @jarmanprops Uglies is a 2024 American science fiction drama film directed by McG and written by Jacob Forman, Vanessa Taylor, and Whit Anderson. #UgliesMovie #NetflixOriginal #SpecialEffects #SFXMakeup #MaskDesign #3DPrinting #ZBrushArt #MovieProps #HollywoodFX #CreatexColors #FilmProduction #MakeupEffects #SciFiFilm #BehindTheScenes #MovieMagic #BlueWhaleStudios