Melissa L. Nichols, has been a creative force, along side her brother Philip Nichols, since she was a child. From making home horror movies on a super 8 movie camera, to following in Phil's footsteps and seeking a career in the creative industries, Melissa is seen her brother as a role model and mentor.
But she is an accomplished artist in her own right; a 1986 graduate of the prestigious Aldine Education Center‘s Magnet School Advanced Visual Arts program, Melissa is a Multi-Media designer, as well as special effects makeup artist and creature designer, set designer, and decorator, and special prop mistress with over 25 years experience. She is a one woman art department.
In 1985 she helped her brother Phil form and launch The Nichols Studio. Working along side Phil, Melissa paid her dues on many theatre productions and eventually segued into Industrial and Commercial film work.
By 1988 The Nichols Studio was renamed Facades FX Make-up Lab (FFX Studios), and she became the Art Department Director, heading up the art department which would handle design and construction of special models and miniatures, props, wardrobe and sets for film, Television and video productions.
In 1989 The Nichols Studio was hired by local film maker Warren Chaney for his superhero serial epic Behind The Mask. There was no time, and no money, and the script called for a cross between Mission Impossible and Bat man. Melissa rose to the occasion creating all of the special props, costume pieces, comic book mock ups, etc. for this ambitious undertaking. This production opened the door to more film work for the Nichols duo.
Melissa L. Nichols has worked with some noted Hollywood Directors including:
Doug Mc Henry (Jason’s Lyric, Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Body Count)
Robert Berge (Keaton's Cop, The Dark Dancer)
John Milieus (The Wind and The Lion, Conan The Barbarian, Red Dawn, Clear and Present Danger, Rome)
Victor Salva (Powder, Jeepers Creepers Franchise)
Mark Pellington (Arlington Road, Cold Case, The Mothman Prophecies)Brian T. Jaynes (Boggy Creek 2010, Humans V. Zombies, Bigfoot wars)
Mel House (Psychic Experiment, Closet Space, Imago)
Melissa L. Nichols has worked with some noted Hollywood Actors including:
Forest Whitaker Jada Pinket (Smith) Alan
Payne Bokeen Woodbine Anthony "Treach" Criss Susanne Douglans Debora
Winters Charleton Heston Mickey
Rooney Jane
Russell Gene
Autry Peter
Graves Rita
Moreno Sam
Bottoms Karen
Black Francesco Quinn Shannon
Tweed Andrew
Prine Sean Patrick Flannery Mary
Stienbergen Jeff
Goldbloon Jim
Carey Tom
Berenger George Hamilton William
Katt R. Lee
Ermey Sam
Elliot George Hamilton Chris
Noth Geoffrey
Lewis Gary
Busy Titus
Welliver Mason Gamble Jeff
Bridges Joan
Cusak Kathy
Lampkin Glenn Morshower Texas
Battle Damon
Lapari Cory
Hart Denise Williamson Julin
Jean Frederick Doss Carl
Savering Shavon
Kirksky Dixie
Carter Selma
BlairSpecial Skills Relative To Field-Fine Arts, Studio Arts, Creative Arts-full training. Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite CS4-and up Design Premium Software, Digital Photography, Digital Imaging, Free Hand Illustration (not the software, the actual skill!), Layout, Costume History, Design, Construct, Engineer, Fabrication, Molding and Tooling, Carpentry, Critical Analysis, Practical Analysis.
Additional skills- Actor, Screen Writer, Producer, Self-Defense Instructor, fight choreographer, skilled in empty hand techniques including soft style, hard style and throwing art techniques, weapons skills: pole arms (spear, bayonet, chung bong, junken, gwan dao), bladed weapons (katana, cutlass) Kobudo (sai, nunchaku, bo, jo, three section staff).
Melissa holds the rank of Kyosanim, 1st degree Black Belt in Chayon-Ryu with world famous martial arts Korean Grandmaster, Kim Pyung-Soo. She is a lifetime member of the International Chayon-Ryu Martial Arts Association, and a member of the Chayon-Ryu Yudanja Whey (Black Belt Association).