Mutant Designer: Cortney Skinner

What would a pet mutant that was brought to Earth in a spaceship during the 1950s look like? Just ask Cortney Skinner of Waynesboro, who designed an 8-foot mutant monster for the sci-fi spoof "The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra."

Skinner is thrilled to see his name on both the movie poster and credits for this Tri-Star Picture film.

"I'm listed as the mutant designer; that was cool," he said. Skinner also designed the ray gun and several other props and make-believe memorabilia for the low-budget movie and just-released DVD.

Rolling Stone magazine gave Skinner an honorable mention for his work on the movie.

"The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra" was shot in 1999, then picked up by a major motion picture company and released in February.

"The mutant resembled an ear of corn, except it's green, or better yet, a partially peeled banana with feet coming out of the bottom," said Skinner, who also used three toilet tank float balls for the eyes and "lots of drapes and Velcro over painter's coveralls" for the body.

Trained as an illustrator, Skinner worked on the film, "Johnny Spade's Greatest Hits," which also was written and directed by Larry Blamire. In that film, he designed 11 LP record jackets and one eight-track cover. "It's so much fun to work on these films," Skinner said.

Skinner grew up in the Boston area and