Vermin

Crewed • Props & Creature Creator • 2023 • Festival release: 2025 (Monster Mash)

BTS and build log for creature and props work on Vermin.

Writer/Director: Jonah Howell
Role: Props & Creature Creator
Year: 2023
Festival: 2025 Monster Fest
Runtime: 12 mins

Skeletal Rat design sketch — Skeletal Rat

Long-Nose Rat design sketch — Long-Nose Rat

Final Rat design sketch — Final Rat Design

Initial sculpting stage — Stage 1 — Clay base sculpt

Mid sculpt detailing — Stage 2 — Detailing and refinement

Clay sculpt prepared for mold with cardboard flange — Stage 1 — Sculpt prepared for molding

Fiberglass and silicone shell applied over clay sculpt — Stage 2 — Fiberglass & silicone shell applied

Completed mold opened showing sculpt impression — Stage 3 — Mold opened showing final impression

Opened two-part mold and remaining clay core — Stage 4 — Mold separation and cleanup

Plaster molds of smaller detail pieces on cutting mat — Stage 5 — Small detail molds cast in plaster

$Latex Casting$

Latex puppet skull in workspace with lighting rig — Stage 1 — Latex layered in each side, foam dipped latex for strength

Joining and removal from molds — Stage 2 — Removal after connecting both sides

Full head latex casting from top view — Stage 5 — Latex head assembled and trimmed

Finished latex puppet head on workbench — Stage 6 — Finished latex skin ready for painting

Paintwork by: Zoë Giles — All credit for the painting and finishing work goes to the very talented Zoë Giles, who brought the creature to life. Couldn’t have been completed without her.

Painted Vermin creature head in workshop lighting — Workshop detail shot

Painted Vermin creature outdoors in sunlight — Outdoor lighting — natural colours

Side view of painted Vermin head showing final surface detail — Side view — finished surface texture

Digital concept render of Vermin creature head by Zoë Giles — Digital concept render by Zoë Giles

Materials & build: Sculpted out of Monster Clay. Mold created in fiberglass. Final puppet cast in latex and padded with bear stuffing.

Notes: include close‑ups of seams and patch work, servo access if any, and paint layering passes (base coat → mottling → grime).

/TECH

Core:      Monster Clay sculpt
Mold:      Fiberglass shell (two-part)
Cast:      Latex skin, padded with bear stuffing
Finish:    Paint passes for grime/age, optional saliva gel
Rigging:   (Add if applicable)

/CREDITS

Credits

Writer/Director: Jonah Howell · Props & Creature Creator: H.J. Becker.