Special Effects Makeup
A short Lesson
Lesson Topics
- History of special effects
- Types of special effects makeup
- Purpose of Casualty Makeup
- Important things to remember as an injury artist
- Application and tools of Casualty Makeup
Lesson Materials
- Handout
- Tools
- Makeup
- Video
Tasks
- Apply a bruise
- Create a story around your injury
- List different types of casualty makeup
Where it all began
Lon Chaney Sr was one of the first known special effects makeup artists. Born to deaf-mute parents in Colorado in 1883, actor Lon Chaney Sr. was a master of pantomime on the big screen as he had to learn to communicate with his parents from a very young age using his hands and his face. As an actor in silent movies he became renowned for his grotesque characters in movies like the hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and the phantom of the Opera (1925). Because of his outstanding ability to transform himself using makeup techniques that he developed and his many facial and body contortions he became known as "The Man of a Thousand Faces"
Pictures of Lon Chaney's makeup
The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)
London after midnight (1927)
A few Interesting historical facts
- In the days of silent movies actors had to apply their own makeup
- The first movie to use prosthetics was "Frankenstien" (1931)
- The first movie to use foam latex was "the Wizard of Oz" (1939)
Makeup Effects Catergories
Lets take a look at some of the different type of makeup effects and a few examples
Casualty TV Series - Cosmetic Makeup Effects
These are simple makeup effects using cosmetic colours and makeup accessories such as glasseyes, lashes, skin wax, tooth enamel, nails, wigs, loose hair, liquid blood, congealed blood and silicon that can be added to the skin to enhance the effect without a lot of time being spent on it. It is mainly used in any type of Casualty or Injury Makeup Effect as well as Theatrical Characters
Used to create: Casualty Makeup (Cuts, Bruises, Scars, Swelling, Drug Addict, Death) Fantasy Characters, Clowns, Geisha
Mrs Doubtfire - Prosthetic Makeup Effects
This is process of using prosthetic sculpting, moulding and casting techniques to create advanced cosmetic effects of the face, hands and feet and sometimes the whole body.
Used to create: Monsters, Gore, Changing body and face shapes
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Latex Effects
Similar to Prosthetics but doesn't need to go through the casting process, this is a small flabby piece of latex skin that can be stuck on the face by special adhesive to give the illusion of scars, birthmarks, burns or wounds. Liquid Latex is another latex effect that dries to give the effect of wrinkled skin
Used to create: Ageing Characters, Some Casualty effects (Scars, Wounds, Burns)
Casualty/Trauma/Injury Effects Makeup
Pictures created by Angie Hincks
Bullet wound, swollen and bruised eye and cheek, swollen lip, scar
slit throat, bullet wound, cuts and bruised eyes
bruising, cut, cigarette burn, strangualtion
Different Types of Casualty Makeup Effects
- bruises
- cuts
- scrapes
- swelling
- stiches
- slit throat and arms
- bullet wounds
- stab wounds
- cigarette burns
- burns
- amputation
- sunburn
- strangulation
- scars
- shock
- death
- drug addict
The Purpose
Things to consider as a casualty effects makeup artist
- the story behind the injury
- the age of the injury
- the study of anatomy and physiology
- the study of the trajectory of the injury you are asked to simulate - it must have a realistic cause and proper effect i.e bullet wounds
- Other possible injuries
- Planning of injuries, operations and accidents according to scripts usually given 2 weeks in advance
- continuity
Some Simple Application Tutorials
Scars
Video Tutorial
Bruises
Video Tutorial
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