Special Effects maestro Gord Smith, who attended Brampton Centennial Secondary School, worked on films like “Platoon”, “Natural Born Killers” and the first two films in the “X-Men” series and his homegrown company, FXSmith, is renowned for its work in the field. In his early years as a Toronto actor and director, he supplemented his income as a props master. His reputation for props was building until in 1981, he was asked to create decomposing bodies for the film “Threshold” starring Donald Sutherland. The effects were so praised for their realism that it prompted him to go into the business of special effects makeup. It took some time and a few B-grade horror films before an invitation from Oliver Stone solidified his career. The collaboration with Stone continued through “Slavador”, “Platoon”, “Natural Born Killers”, “Born on the Fourth of July”, “JFK” and “Nixon”. His work with translucent silicone gel appliances is hailed as a major breakthrough in makeup technology and it was first used on Brad Pitt and Tootoosis in “Legends of the Fall”. Further credits include “Near Dark”, “Graveyard Shift”, “Jacob’s Ladder”, “Bethune”, “Alive”, “Body Parts”, “Robo Cop (the series)” and “Truman”.