Most studios use Pros-Aide or Telesis. Toby Dick Studio developed a silicon-based hybrid adhesive that remains tacky but elastic. Katsaros modified the application process by using a microneedle roller on the actor’s skin before application. This creates micro-perforations that allow the adhesive to lock into the dermis, not just the stratum corneum. This is painful (numbing cream is required), but the bond lasts 18+ hours under SmackUp conditions.
In August 2025, the trio released their most viewed asset: "Red Room SmackUp – Kaitlyn Katsaros vs. The Clown." toby+dick+studio+kaitlyn+katsaros+smackup+better
A model was fitted with a full-face Toby Dick prosthetic (a distorted, torn-jaw look). Kaitlyn Katsaros painted the piece in real-time over 90 minutes. Then, the SmackUp began. The model was thrown against padded walls, forced to scream, and rake their own face. Most studios use Pros-Aide or Telesis
For 90% of productions, standard SFX is fine. But for the 10% who demand SmackUp Better—meaning effects that perform as hard as the actors—there is no alternative. In the hyper-competitive world of visual effects, body
In the hyper-competitive world of visual effects, body painting, and high-concept editorial work, three names have recently converged to create a seismic shift in quality and execution: Toby Dick Studio, Kaitlyn Katsaros, and the enigmatic project known as SmackUp. But the phrase that is buzzing across industry forums, social media launch pads, and creative director circles is the comparative challenge: "Better."
What makes the Toby Dick Studio x Kaitlyn Katsaros collaboration "better" than the standard Hollywood makeup or digital effects? Why is the SmackUp methodology being hailed as the next evolution in practical effects? This article dissects the machinery, the artistry, and the cold hard science that makes this trio the new gold standard.