In the world of special effects makeup and creature design, few artists are as imaginative and fearless as Cig Neutron. Known for blending horror, fantasy, and humor, Cig has captured the attention of audiences across the globe with their outlandish designs and unique aesthetic. Best recognized for their appearance on SyFy’s reality competition show Face Off, Cig’s career has taken them from the small town of Newcastle, Indiana, to the glamorous streets of Hollywood, and now to the vibrant artistic community of Las Vegas.
Growing Up with Monsters: Cig’s Early Life and Inspirations
Cig Neutron’s journey began in Newcastle, Indiana, a small town that felt even smaller after they left for Los Angeles. “I didn’t realize how small it was until I moved out,” Cig recalls. From an early age, they were drawn to the world of monsters and horror films, something that set them apart from their peers. Cig’s love for art began in school, where they spent most of their time drawing monsters instead of paying attention in class. “There were multiple times they called in my mom because I was always drawing monsters,” Cig laughs. “But my mom, instead of being concerned, defended me. She said, ‘So what if he’s the next Stephen King?’ That really stuck with me.”
This early support was pivotal in shaping Cig’s future. Cig’s mother, open and encouraging when it came to watching horror films, allowed them to explore the darker, more macabre side of cinema from a young age. Films like Evil Dead 2 and Michael Jackson’s Thriller music video sparked Cig’s fascination with special effects makeup. “I distinctly remember watching the making of Thriller with Rick Baker, and that was when I realized that people actually get paid to create these monsters,” Cig says. “That was the moment I knew what I wanted to do.”
Halloween, Makeup, and the Start of a Career
As a child, Halloween was Cig’s first real opportunity to experiment with makeup. “Every Halloween, I’d buy as many makeup supplies as I could to last me through the year,” Cig reminisces. “I was obsessed with creating zombie and werewolf makeups.” This obsession carried over into their teenage years, when Cig realized that their love for creating monsters was more than just a hobby—it was a career path.
After high school, Cig enrolled in the Tom Savini Special Make-Up Effects Program in Pennsylvania, a 16-month course where they honed their skills in mold-making, prosthetics, and more. “That was when I really started to take off,” Cig recalls. Armed with a diploma and a passion for monsters, Cig took a leap of faith, packing up their life and heading to Los Angeles to chase their dream. “I had $1,000 and a crappy Dodge Neon, but I knew I had to be in L.A.,” Cig says. It was a bold move for someone with no connections and little more than a dream, but it paid off.
Within days of arriving in Los Angeles, Cig landed their first gig, working in the mold department for Tron: Legacy with Quantum Creation FX. “That was my first introduction to the big-budget Hollywood world,” Cig explains. They soon found themselves working on projects like Sucker Punch and Real Steel, learning the ins and outs of special effects at some of the top shops in the industry. Despite the excitement of working on blockbuster films, Cig quickly realized that something was missing. “I felt like I was working in a factory,” Cig admits. “I wasn’t getting any creative input. I was just a cog in the machine, and that wasn’t feeding my soul.”
Bizarro A Go-Go: Finding Their Own Creative Voice
It was around this time that Cig met their wife, Rannie Rodil, an artist and photographer who would become a major creative collaborator. Rannie was working on a “Girls in Cosplay” calendar, and Cig began helping with the makeup. Together, they decided to create their own project, a book called Bizarro A Go-Go, which combined their mutual love for horror, humor, and surrealism. “That was when I felt like I was finally doing what I came to L.A. to do,” Cig says. The project was a labor of love, and it marked the beginning of Cig’s departure from working on other people’s films to creating their own unique artistic universe.
Cig and Rannie also founded a quirky soap company called Rub-A-Dub Beelzebub, sculpting and casting occult-themed soaps. Their work was as strange and eclectic as it was original, and they quickly developed a cult following. It wasn’t long before Cig’s unique blend of horror and humor caught the attention of producers at Face Off, a reality competition show for special effects makeup artists. Cig auditioned for season two but didn’t make the cut. Several seasons later, they auditioned again, this time with a completely off-the-wall audition tape that featured Cig playing various characters. “I thought they’d either love it or hate it,” Cig says with a smile. “Luckily, they loved it.”
Face Off and the Rise of Cig Neutron
Cig became a contestant on Face Off season seven, where they quickly became a fan favorite for their outlandish designs and quirky personality. Cig made it all the way to the finale, finishing as the runner-up, but their time on the show was far from over. They returned for Face Off: All-Stars, winning the season, and solidifying their place as one of the show’s most memorable contestants.
“Face Off was a game-changer for me,” Cig says. “It exposed me to a large audience and gave me opportunities I never would have had otherwise.” After the show, Cig found themselves traveling the world, teaching special effects makeup classes and working on projects with major makeup companies. But there was also a downside. “I developed a young fan base, and my art was always very adult-oriented,” Cig explains. “I make monsters with substance abuse problems. I felt like I had to tone things down for a while, but eventually, I realized I wasn’t being true to myself.”
In the years since Face Off, Cig has embraced their authentic self both as an artist and a person. Today, Cig’s work is unapologetically edgy, blending grotesque, humorous, and sometimes sleazy elements into a style they describe as “cartoony realism.”
They have worked on Star Trek Discovery, with MNDR, LVCRFT, Patrick Starr, the Boulet Brothers, multiple seasons of Dragula and been the lead FX artist/creature designer for 3 feature films. (The Sandman, The Devil's Workshop, There's a Zombie Outside) just to name a few highlights
Queerness, Identity, and Spirituality: Cig’s Personal Journey
While Cig’s career was taking off, they were also on a personal journey of self-discovery. Growing up in a small town in Indiana, Cig didn’t have access to the language or representation needed to understand their queerness. “I didn’t know any queer people,” Cig says. “I didn’t know trans people or terms like pansexual. I just knew I was different.”
As a teenager, Cig began gravitating toward feminine clothing and makeup, which made them the target of harassment. “I was called a faggot every day,” Cig recalls. “I thought that was just normal, but I also didn’t understand why people were calling me that because I didn’t realize I was queer at the time.” It wasn’t until later in life, after battling and overcoming alcoholism, that Cig began to fully understand their identity.
Today, Cig identifies as non-binary and pansexual, terms they didn’t have access to as a kid but now embrace fully. “I like to express both masculine and feminine energy in different ways, depending on how I’m feeling,” Cig says. “I also see gender expression as a spiritual thing. I practice alchemy, and for me, it’s about reconciling opposites—bringing both polarities into oneself.”
Cig’s queerness and spirituality are deeply intertwined with their creative process, and they hope to inspire others to embrace their own identities through art. “It’s important to create spaces for non-binary and queer characters in art without over-explaining or putting them in a box,” Cig says. “Just let them be.”
Art and Partnership: Cig and Rannie Rodil
A significant part of Cig’s creative journey has been their collaboration with their wife, Rannie. The two have been together for over 14 years, and their partnership extends far beyond their personal relationship. “Rannie is an incredible artist in her own right, and she’s always been down to model for me, no matter how weird the makeup gets,” Cig says with a laugh. “She’s also very spiritually focused, and I’ve made music for her meditation videos and classes.”
Together, Cig and Rannie are working on turning their universe, Bizarro A Go-Go, into both a film and a live show. Now that they’ve relocated to Las Vegas, Cig is excited to bring their work to the stage in a city known for its live performance scene. “Vegas is full of inspiring venues, and I’m really drawn to the idea of bringing special effects into a live performance space,” Cig says. “There’s something magical about performing live.”
Las Vegas and the Future of Cig Neutron
Since moving to Las Vegas, Cig has embraced the city’s vibrant art scene. They recently secured a space at Slonina Artspace, where they will display their work and teach special effects makeup classes. “I’ve started painting on canvas, and I’m excited to share that alongside my sculptures,” Cig says. “Teaching is something I’m really passionate about, and I can’t wait to pass on what I’ve learned.”
Cig is also involved in the Las Vegas nightlife scene. They’re a featured artist in Gipsy Las Vegas’ Third Saturdays Art Event, curated by Robin Slonina. “I have a million ideas for that show,” Cig says. “There will be sculptures, paintings, and maybe even a weird performance or two. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Looking to the future, Cig has big plans. They’re working on a script for a Bizarro A Go-Go film and hope to bring their unique blend of horror and humor to the big screen. They’re also eager to return to their podcast, Spewtron, which started as a comedy show but has since evolved into a platform for discussing serious topics like racism, sexuality, and gender identity.
“Spewtron has become one of the most important things I’ve done,” Cig says. “It’s given me a chance to listen to people’s experiences and learn about the world in ways I never expected. I’m excited to keep growing and sharing those conversations.”
A Legacy of Monsters and Self-Expression
As Cig Neutron continues to push boundaries in both their art and their life, one thing is clear: They are an artist unafraid to embrace the strange, the macabre, and the uncomfortable. Through their work, Cig challenges societal norms, celebrates queerness, and encourages others to live authentically. Whether it’s on a movie set, a live stage, or a podcast, Cig’s voice is one that cannot be ignored.
Las Vegas is lucky to have Cig Neutron as part of its artistic community, and we can’t wait to see what monsters they create next They are a freelance artist eager and looking for opportunities to work with all the talented people and shows out here in Vegas.
You can follow Cig Neutron on Instagram at @CigNeutron or visit their website at cigneutron.com.