Barrie Gower, a celebrated and accomplished prosthetics designer, has garnered an impressive five Emmy awards, solidifying his reputation as a master of his craft.
Born and reared in the north of England, Gower's formative years were deeply influenced by his father's occupation as the manager of a local cinema, providing him with a unique and fascinating perspective on the world of storytelling.
As a teenager, Gower's artistic inclinations began to take shape, with a strong focus on drawing and sculpture, laying the foundation for a lifelong passion for the arts.
Notwithstanding his fervent enthusiasm for the creative realm, Gower's initial endeavors to establish a career in the art world seemed to recede into the distance, like a mirage on the horizon. However, with the unwavering support of his mother, Gower took the bold step of applying to various esteemed art programs, ultimately stumbling upon a most promising opportunity at the prestigious London College of Fashion.
Despite being initially rebuffed in his first year of application, a rejection that was largely attributed to the lack of tangible evidence showcasing his proficiency in hairstyling or makeup skills, Gower's mother, undeterred by this setback, took the initiative to enroll him in a comprehensive hairdressing course, which he completed with distinction. This newfound skillset proved to be the catalyst for Gower's subsequent acceptance into LCF the following year, a testament to the power of perseverance and the unwavering support of a loving parent.
Notable individual, Gower, embarked upon a distinguished career in the film industry in the year 1996, shortly after obtaining a Higher National Diploma in Specialist Make-up from the esteemed London College of Fashion. His inaugural role was at the prestigious BBC Visual Effects Department, where he contributed to the creation of several notable projects, including the cult classic television series "Red Dwarf" and the critically acclaimed crime drama "Silent Witness".
The subsequent year, Gower was afforded the opportunity to work on his first major feature film, the historical war drama "Saving Private Ryan", directed by the visionary Steven Spielberg. Since then, he has had the privilege of collaborating with industry-leading companies and talented individuals, including the renowned Weta Workshop and the multi-award-winning make-up artist, Rick Baker.
Notable achievements of renowned prosthetics expert, Gower, include the prestigious Academy Award-winning prosthetic creations for the cinematic masterpiece 'The Wolfman' (2011) and the critically acclaimed 'The Iron Lady' (2012).
Throughout his illustrious career, spanning over a decade, Gower had the privilege of collaborating on the iconic Harry Potter film series, alongside numerous other large-scale projects, honing his skills and expertise in the realm of prosthetics.
Following his extensive experience and a decade-long tenure on the esteemed Harry Potter franchise, Gower decided to embark on a new venture, co-founding the innovative company, BGFX, alongside his wife, Sarah, a talented prosthetics designer in her own right.
Sarah, who Gower met while working on a film production in the vibrant city of Budapest, was an integral part of the CGI visual effects department. This serendipitous encounter blossomed into a partnership that would ultimately give rise to the establishment of BGFX, a testament to the power of collaboration and the unbreakable bond between two creative souls.
BGFX, a pioneering studio, was initially founded as a humble home-based operation, but its remarkable talent and dedication soon caught the attention of industry leaders, culminating in a groundbreaking opportunity: the design of prosthetics for the highly acclaimed and popular fourth season of HBO's esteemed television series, Game of Thrones. This monumental project marked the beginning of a long-standing and fruitful collaboration between BGFX and HBO, which has since seen the studio's creative vision and expertise play a pivotal role in shaping the visual identity of many more of the network's most successful and critically acclaimed productions, including the highly anticipated and much-lauded House of the Dragon and The Last of Us. For the former, the primary focus of BGFX's design efforts was centered on the poignant and haunting depiction of the ageing and decay of Paddy Considine's character, the doomed king Viserys Targaryen, a testament to the studio's unparalleled skill and attention to detail.
Notably, while concurrently working on this project, the team at BGFX was entrusted with the monumental task of designing and meticulously executing an entire world ravaged by a pervasive fungal infection, which in turn gave rise to a horde of zombie-like creatures spawned from the very spores that had taken hold. According to Gower, this project was, in his own words, "the biggest thing we've ever done."
Notably, although they didn't have to begin from a blank slate, the team still drew heavily upon the extensive library of work previously created for the original 2013 video game, courtesy of the esteemed developer Naughty Dog.
