The TailMan

The following provides a "Personal Bio" on this master mermaid creator.

Meet Thom Shouse,
also known as " Tail Man".

 Thom Shouse a.k.a. the "Tail Man" has been a special effects artist for thirty years and has specialized in mermaids and aquatic effects for over twenty years. Thom is a native Californian. He was raised in the South Bay of Southern California. As a youngster, Thom frequented the local beaches and became an avid bicyclist, surfer and skin diver, and is currently a certified scuba diver.

Growing up so close to the ocean, Thom acquired a great love of the sea and became interested in the folklore and sightings of “mermaids”. Little did he know that years later he would become an aquatic specialist!

Thom’s career with mermaids began in 1983, when he headed the team that created the mermaid tail for the movie “Splash”. Thom went on to create the mermaid tail for the television movie “Splash Too”. Because he would show up on the set with one or more mermaid tails over his shoulder he was given the nickname “Tail Man”.

Thom’s mermaid tails have appeared in music videos (Incubus and Filter); commercials (Twix, Bugles, Nescafe Frappe); television (Charmed, Baywatch); Print Ads (Pacifico Beer, Swatch Watch, Jean Paul Gaultier Parfum) and magazines (Playboy, Conde Nast).

Most recently, Thom was honored to have a “Wet Tail” featured in the 2003 Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalog . In October 2003, Thom was invited to travel to New York with 2 mermaid tails for a segment of the “Today Show”.

Thom’s list of celebrity “Mermaids” include: Mischa Barton, Alison Eastwood, Shannon Elizabeth, Leeza Gibbons, Daryl Hannah, Jaime King, Alyssa Milano, Gena Lee Nolin, Jaime Pressly and Anna Nicole Smith.

Thom the Tail Man is known worldwide and his mermaid tails have traveled the globe! Thom has sent or accompanied tails to: Australia, Canada, England, Malaysia, Mexico and Spain.
 

 Thom has thirty experience in effects coordinating and supervision; sculpting and moldmaking in all mediums; knowledge of plastics and rubber materials; lifecasting, prosthetic design / makeup and appliances; as well as air brush painting. Thom is also experienced in welding, miniature construction, radio and cable control; has a full range of foundry knowledge, specializing in ceramic shell molds; pyrotechnic assistance, weapons handling; and a NAUI certified diver, familiar with special problems relating to underwater props, costumes and makeup.
 

The Tail Man wishes to thank the following people for their hard work, love and support:
  • Philip Beaulieu
  • Aaron Bonachea
  • Michael Broussard
  • Jeff Butler
  • Heather Cacioppo
  • Kevin Corrigan
  • Sara Dionne
  • Janine Foster
  • Evelyn Franco
  • Irene Fredericks
  • Chris Gatz
  • Shayla Gonsalez
  • Heidi Horvath
  • Diana Maldonado
  • Yvonne Mendez
  • Judy Musser
  • Dave Randall
  • Kelly Reno
  • Amanda Shouse
  • Victoria Smith
  • Mike Wiese
  • Eugene Yamashiro
Thom Shouse / The TailMan
MERMAID CREDITS
"ALL AMERICAN MAN" Evolution Film & Tape, Inc. - Reality T.V.
Segment features a male contestant in a photo shoot as a Mermaid for TBS. (Fall 2004)
 
"DEAR MR. CASH" Porcelli Film Co. - Film
3 Custom Mermaid Tails for an independant film.
 
"BET AWARDS" Cossete Productions, Inc. - T.V.
2 Mermaid Tails for the music production featuring "Ludacris". (Summer 2004)
 
"GLAMOUR MAGAZINE" The Conde Nast Publications, Inc. - Magazine
Mermaid Tail for the "Would You Dare?" Article. (Summer 2004)
 
"NEIMAN MARCUS" Neiman Marcus 2003 Christmas Catalog - Catalog
Tail Man Mermaid Tail features in the 2003 Christmas Catalog.
 
"PACIFICO BEER" Espasnol Marketing & Communications - Print Ad
Custome design and construction of a Prop Tail for print ad. (Spring 2003)
 
"CHARMED"  North Shore Productions - T.V.Series
Design and construction of Mermaid Tails for the premiere episode of the 5th season. Supervision and training of Alyssa Milano, Jaime Pressly and stuntwomen for all mermaid sequences.
 
"TWIX"  FM Rocks - Commercial
Mermaid Tail for Twix candy commercial featuring "Usher".
(Spring 2002)
 
"PLAYBOY"  Playboy Publishing - Magazine
"Wet & Wild" Photo layout featuring Heather Christensen in a Tail Man Mermaid Tail.
(Special Edition - February 2002)
 
"INCUBUS MUSIC VIDEO"  A Band Apart - Music Video
Mermaid Tails for underwater effects on the "Wish You Were Here" music video.
 
"NESCAFE FRAPPE"  Cadillac Promotions - Commercial
Mermaid Tail for Australian commercial, including location supervision.
"A RING OF ENDLESS LIGHT"  Village Roadshow Productions - Disney Channel Movie
Mermaid Tail and Baby Dolphins for Disney Channel Original Movie (December 2001 release).
 
"DEATH OF A MERMAID"  Environmental Media Associates - PSA
Mermaid tail for Public Service Announcement.
(August 2000)
 
"WEIRD NATURE"  BBC (British Broadcast Co.) - Documentary
Mermaid tail for a BBC documentary (February 2000)
 
"FILTER MUSIC VIDEO"  FM Rocks - Music Video 
Mermaid tail for underwater effects on the "Take a Picture" music video. (November 1999)
 
"BUGLES" 
Reactor Films - Commercial 
Design and construction of mermaid tail for underwater shoot  in Cancun. 
 
"POW WOW UNDER THE SEA"   PBS - Children's television program - TV
Program featuring Native Americans with the main character as a Mermaid with Merbaby. 
 
"SWATCH WATCHES"  Swatch Watch Productions - Print Ad 
Mermaid tail for promotional layout with Gena Lee Nolin. 
 
"JEAN PAUL GAULTIER PARFUM" 
Bessie Moo Productions - Print Ad / Store Promo 
Mermaid tail for 1998 magazine ad and promotions for Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom & Saks Fifth Avenue. 
 
"LEEZA"  Syndicated Talk Show - TV
Guest segment on the "Leeza" Gibbons talk show. Leeza is turned into a Mermaid for the finale.
(July 1998)
 
"SO. WESTERN BELL"  Tool of North America - Commercial
Mermaid tail and location supervision for 1998 underwater shoot in Mexico.
 
"STARBURST CANDY"  Lopes Picture Co. - Commercial
Design and construction of lightweight Mermaid tails and accessories for wire flying shoot. On location supervision, makeup and hair. (June 1997)
 
"CONDE NAST TRAVELER"  Conde Nast Publications, Inc. - Magazine
Mermaid tail for July 1997 magazine cover.
 
"BAYWATCH"   Baywatch Production Co. - T.V. series
Construction of Mermaid tail for underwater and beach filming. Consulting and location supervision.
(Aired May 1997)
 
"ANNA NICOLE SMITH"  Landmark Calendars - Calendar
Mermaid tail for 1996 calendar featuring Anna Nicole as a Mermaid.
 
"MERMAID"  Wood Holly Productions - Commercial / Short Film
Mermaid tail design, production and location supervision.
 
"LANCOME"  Walt Disney World / FL. - Event 
Design and construction of "Merman" tail with on location supervision for event featuring a swimming "Merman".
 
"SILVER FLASH"  CRM Group, Inc. / FL. - T.V. Pilot
Construction and supervision of underwater Mermaid tail. 
 
"ATLANTIS"   Rycor, Inc. - Atlantis Natural Hair & Skin Products
Design and construction of "costume" type Mermaid tail for product / promotional photos.
 
"SPLASH TOO"  Disney Studios - T.V. Movie
Construction of underwater Mermaid tails for actress and stunt double. Supervision/Mermaid Wrangler while on location in Walt Disney World, Florida.
 
"SPLASH"  Touchstone Films / R. Short Productions - Film
Contract development of Mermaid tails, underwater makeup and applications for Daryl Hannah and stunt doubles.
 

10/20/2003
MERMAID TO ORDER

By BRIDGET HARRISON

A Note From The Tail Man:

I have twenty years of experience in making Mermaid Tails. It has taken extensive research and development methods necessary to achieve the quality of my current Mermaid Tails. 

I do not recommend construction of any kind without understanding the many safety issues that are involved when in the water. I cannot stress enough the importance of SAFETY! Remember, humans are not used to swimming with their legs confined in a "tube". Any restriction of normal human movement runs the risk of potential danger. Special training and safety people are an absolute must!