Special effects makeup artist Dick Smith will be honored

The L.A.-based Baker, who decided as a 10-year-old to follow in Smith's footsteps after reading a magazine article about him, started copying his hero's methods in a makeshift lab in his bedroom. Tsuji became obsessed with Smith's work while going to movies in Kyoto, Japan, and reading about his craft in Fangoria magazine.

"I wrote to him," says Tsuji, who has been working in American films for 12 years. "He wrote me right back. Whenever I made new makeup I sent him photos of it and he sent me back comments. He recommended me to be one of the crew of the Japanese film he supervised, 'Sweet Home.' Right after I graduated from high school, I moved to Tokyo to join that film."

Baker also wrote to Smith and sent him photos of his work after he graduated from high school. While on a trip to New York that summer, he met Smith at the makeup artist's house.

"I spent the day with Dick," recalls Baker, who worked with him on "The Exorcist."

"He told me anything and everything I ever wanted to know about how to do things, formulas and techniques. It was one of the greatest days of my life."

Though the event is sold out, there will be a standby line. For information go to www.oscars.org.

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susan.king@latimes.com