If you're looking for authentic spacesuits in Hollywood, look no further than Chris Gilman's Global Effects—a hub for directors, set decorators, and costume designers. Offering highly accurate replicas far superior to anything you’d find at a local Halloween store, Gilman’s company specializes in Advanced Crew Escape Suit (ACES) gear and Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) suits.

Founded in 1986 under the quirky name Diligent Dwarves, Gilman transformed the company into Global Effects in 1991 while working on ‘Bram Stoker's Dracula’—tired of answering questions about cartoon characters, he rebranded to reflect his niche in the film industry.

For almost four decades, Gilman has supplied the movie industry with spacesuits featured in blockbusters like ‘Space Cowboys,’ ‘First Man,’ ‘Deep Impact,’ and ‘Armageddon.’ His creations have adorned actors in acclaimed series such as ‘From the Earth to the Moon’ and ‘For All Mankind.’ If it's a space-themed production, it’s likely one of his suits is involved.

Coming from a background as the son of a Connecticut aerospace machinist, Gilman has honed his craft as a metal fabricator and welder. His spacesuit replicas are constructed with such precision that they could fool NASA engineers. Gilman proudly states, "In our spacesuit collection for movies, we have replicas of pretty much every historic spacesuit that's been into space and many prototypes that were developed along the way." From Apollo to Mercury, he boasts around 300 suits, including eye-catching science fiction designs.

At the Global Effects warehouse, a treasure trove of spacesuits based on real NASA artifacts awaits. Gilman has worked with numerous stars—including Ryan Gosling and Ron Perlman—who have donned his meticulously crafted suits for various projects. In a quirky anecdote, he once dressed BBC's James May in an Apollo suit during an impromptu interview in a Texas parking lot.

Renting these iconic suits isn’t as simple as it sounds. The general public can’t just waltz in and walk out with one; it requires specialized insurance policies. With the original EMU suits rumored to cost between $12-15 million, Gilman offers his replicas for about $130,000, saying, "For 1% of the cost, you get 99% of the look," often leaving NASA personnel astonished by the accuracy of his work.

Gilman is passionate about authenticity and hates seeing common misconceptions in Hollywood productions. He points out that a pressurized full spacesuit is essentially a personal spacecraft, which needs to be treated with care during filming. One major blunder he frequently encounters is filmmakers forgetting to pressurize the suits, leaving them flat and lifeless on set.

Another pet peeve? The use of interior helmet lights, which Gilman finds unrealistic, especially since advancements in digital filming have rendered such gimmicks unnecessary.

Despite the plethora of suits available, Gilman has a soft spot for the iconic designs of ‘2001: A Space Odyssey.’ After owning a real suit for nine months, he made perfect replicas and has even collaborated on creating replicas of other memorable attire, blending classic design with modern filmmaking techniques.

With an impressive resume and a passion for spacesuit authenticity, Gilman continues to play a pivotal role in how astronauts are depicted on screen, ensuring that the portrayal of space travel remains as realistic and thrilling as possible.