Jacob Elordi and Mike Hill Celebrate How Collaboration Brought Frankenstein to Life

The Wavelength Award at IndieWire Honors recognizes partnerships where two artists create something greater together than they could alone. Previous recipients include Benny Safdie and Nathan Fielder for The Curse in 2023, and Steve McQueen with Adam Stockhausen for Blitz in 2024.

This year, the award went to Jacob Elordi and prosthetics designer Mike Hill for their work on Guillermo del Toros Frankenstein. Without their combined efforts, the iconic monster would not have been realized on screen.

During the IndieWire Honors ceremony on December 4 at Nya West in Hollywood, both Elordi and Hill expressed admiration for each others contributions. Hill humorously introduced himself and Elordi, recalling del Toros invitation: Im making Frankenstein, and Id like you to do the creature, but if you say no, the movie doesnt happen. So finish your breakfast and decide. Its on you, Mike.

Hill described Elordis dedication: He was covered in glue, paint, contact lenses, wigs, and dentures for 56 takes. He never complained, endured long shoots, faced wolves, and spent 10 hours removing the makeup. No one expected the depth of performance Jacob delivered. We owe him immensely, as do all moviegoers.

Elordi also paid tribute, emphasizing the value of working with talented collaborators. He recalled being drawn to IndieWire for its authentic coverage of film and expressed gratitude to del Toro and Hill for the opportunity to create the character together.

Playing the monster required Elordi to spend up to 10 hours in makeup daily, a process he found essential for entering the characters mindset. Having that much time to focus on one scene is a rare privilege, he said. By the end, when Mike added the final touches, theres a kind of magic that happens.

Hill noted that he immediately recognized Elordi as the perfect choice for the role after watching interviews. It wasnt just his appearance or heightit was his soul, the humanity he brought to the character that made him ideal. I told Guillermo right away, This is our man.

Author: Benjamin Carter