Sculptor Stays Busy in Role of Star Maker

Whether it is a head of state or merely a headliner, David Robert Cellitti knows his heads.

As resident sculptor of Movieland Wax Museum in Buena Park, Cellitti has crafted busts ranging from President Bush to Eddie Murphy.

A visit to his workshop might remind some visitors of stopping by the coroner’s office. There are boxes of glass eyes, an assortment of dentures and stacks of discarded arms and legs.

The uninitiated conjure up images of horror movies when they see the workshop, he says. “The first thing they ask is, ‘Where is the vat?’ ”

Cellitti stays busy because in order to keep the museum current, Movieland adds about two new figures each month to its display of about 250 wax figures.

Movieland owner Ronald M. Fong says the museum has a policy of obtaining the permission of a celebrity before starting a wax replica. Not only does the policy avoid legal entanglements, the personalities can be measured and talked into showing up for photo sessions at the unveiling.

Cellitti, a movie buff, studies his subject through film clips, publicity stills and photographs in magazines or newspapers. The sculpting process, including placement of glass eyes and false teeth, can take two to three months.

The goal is absolute realism, which will be further achieved by lighting effects once the figure is placed on the set. “Wax figures can be incredibly effective,” he says, “because they look like they are going to move.”