Send us a textYou can feel it the moment Howard Berger starts talking: the best practical effects don’t just decorate a story, they drive it. We sit down with the KNB EFX cofounder to unpack how scrappy bets, obsessive planning, and a fierce love for monsters shaped modern genre cinema. From the unlikely $1,500 script that launched Quentin Tarantino to a fully storyboarded From Dusk Till Dawn handoff that let Robert Rodriguez focus on energy rather than logistics, Howard maps the decisions that turned cult ideas into enduring franchises.We dive into the KNB partnership model that keeps the work fresh: Greg Nicotero helms the gore and undead empire while Howard steers character-first makeup shows. That yin and yang unlocks range—from Grindhouse and Planet Terror to intricate prosthetics that demand patience and precision. Along the way, Howard reflects on why some films surprise even the crew, how nonlinear storytelling redefined what a “genre” movie can be, and what it takes to keep a team “frosty” through long days and high stakes. The stories stretch from Lovecraft and Bride of Re-Animator’s brutal build to the relationship-first choice to do Cabin Fever at cost, which opened doors to Hostel and beyond.What emerges is a blueprint for sustainable creative careers: respect every project, plan like your life depends on it, and choose collaborators who sharpen your voice. If you love 80s–90s horror, practical effects, or the crossroads where indie grit meets blockbuster scale, this conversation is a masterclass in turning latex, blood rigs, and storyboards into cinema that sticks. Hit play, share with a horror-loving friend, and leave a review with your favorite KNB effect moment—we’ll read the best ones on a future show.Support the show