The Rick Baker collection spans the years 1980-2006 and encompasses 340 video items. The majority of the collection consists of test material shot on video for his special makeup effects, creature effects, and footage documenting the process of applying his makeup effects to actors.

The collection's earliest videotapes contain test and development footage for Baker’s special effects work in the 1980s, including the titles "An American Werewolf in London" (1981), "The Incredible Shrinking Woman" (1981), "Videodrome" (1983), Michael Jackson's "Thriller" (1983), "Starman" (1984), "Ratboy" (1986), "Harry and the Hendersons" (1987), "Gorillas in the Mist" (1988), and "Missing Link" (1988).

Similar test and development footage documenting Baker's extensive work in the 1990s and 2000s represents titles such as "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" (1990), "Wolf" (1994), "Batman Forever" (1995), "Batman & Robin" (1997), "The Devil's Advocate" (1997), "Critical Care" (1997), "Men in Black" (1997), "Mighty Joe Young" (1998), "Life" (1999), "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (2000), "Planet of the Apes" (2001), "Men in Black II" (2002), "The Ring" (2002), "The Haunted Mansion" (2003), "Hellboy" (2004), and "X-Men: The Last Stand" (2006). The collection also includes test footage of Eddie Murphy in makeup as various characters from "The Nutty Professor" (1996) and "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps" (2000) while improvising humorous dialogue with Rick Baker.

Tapes that capture the process of Baker's special makeup effects being applied to actors include footage of Sharon Baird as the titular character in the film "Ratboy" (1986), Eddie Murphy as "Saul" in "Coming to America" (1988), John Astin as "The Judge" in "The Frighteners" (1996), Jim Carrey as "The Grinch" in "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (2000), John Alexander as "Jarra" in "Men in Black II" (2002), Ron Perlman as "Vincent/The Beast" in the television series "Beauty and the Beast" (1987-1990), and Leigh Lawson as "Judge Paul Cain/The Dark Avenger" in the television pilot for "Dark Avenger" (1990), then titled "Phantom." This footage may have been shot for the purpose of documenting the special makeup effects application procedures as a guide for instructing other staff to recreate the effects during production, or for Baker’s future reference on sequels and other projects.

The collection also features tests of various effects for unrealized film projects. Examples include alien creature puppets created in 1980 for an unproduced Steven Spielberg film and precursor to "E.T. The Extraterrestrial" (1982) entitled "Night Skies," puppet animatronics for an unproduced feature adaptation of Poul Anderson and Gordon Dickson's "Earthman's Burden" from 1984, a demo reel and creature tests for an unproduced dinosaur project entitled "Rex" from 1992, test footage of sketches and sculptures for a proposed remake of "The Creature from the Black Lagoon" that was to be helmed by John Carpenter from 1992, and 1994 makeup and creature design tests for prospective revivals of "The Mummy" planned by Joe Dante and "Planet of the Apes" that was being developed by Oliver Stone. Additional tapes for projects that were produced but ultimately not completed by Baker include preliminary makeup and creature effects for "Coneheads" (1993) and "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat" (2003).

Footage shot at Baker's Cinovation Studios includes general documentation of the studio space and creature shop, a horror-themed costume party, a short prank film entitled "Tirez La Cerveau," and footage of actor Verne Troyer – with whom Baker worked with on several films – demonstrating his physical abilities as a stunt player.

Video of Baker's interviews and appearances on entertainment news television shows during the 1980s and 1990s include CNN's "Showbiz Today," "Access Hollywood," "Entertainment Tonight," and "20/20," among others.

Also included in the collection are two 1991 documentaries: "Dick Smith: Master of Makeup" and "What's Up Joe Dante?"