Learning Things Twice

Growing up I always hated learning. I would say, "it's too hard!!" My parents would always try to get out of it by whining and complaining. However, I never seems to get anywhere. I still had to learn. 

Well today learning is very helpful and I see that now. Rather than saying "it's too hard!!" I would gladly say, "I am so glad that I am learning how to do things twice now, so that I know what to do when I make a mistake in the real world (after graduation)." 

I have learned to grow within my mistakes and learn how to correct them. My grinch that I am working on I have had to so the steps at least several times. But I finally got it right and the final product is coming along together quite nicely. I did the four-part foam pice twice this week, because the first time the nose did not tun out at all. The piece looks bad. We then really researched how to make the four-part foam. After much research we attempted another batch. The second piece turned out beautifully. 

We then started to paint the piece. I was going to start with one color. Then I learned that you start with one and add colors to it. So I started with the dark colors first, then I added the lighter colors on top to blend in. 

Crazy right? Well I definitely had fun! 

I was also on set this week learning twice, trying to think on my toes how to solve a problem. Well the bullet wound we made started to melt and stick to everything but the actors face. We tried everything to smooth the edges down once we got it stuck to his face. However, the beard the actor had made this a little difficult. I finally got a crazy idea to lay a beard over the edge that would blend in with his actual beard. It worked. My second learning idea worked. 

I am super glad that I am learning twice while I am still in school. I feel like I am a lot more prepared for the real world and an actual career as a makeup artist. I love learning! What about you? Do you enjoy learning? 

Movie Magic

Have you ever wondered how some of the magic on film happens? How they can create scenes with rain, snow, and wind? I don't know, maybe the it's just me, but I love learning how they create these moments. I have always wanted to learn, especially while the makeup still looks flawless. 

On set this week I learned how to achieve some of this magic. We made a snow blizzard. Instead of your typical snow storm made by Mother Nature, we used the night sky, fog, dry ice, giant fans, and potato flakes. 

I never thought potato flakes would be used to create snow. When we watched the whole effect the scene looked real. I was really surprised! I am also grateful that there was no real snow, because I would have needed to do touch ups a lot more. 

Now, being on a set and watching all this magic happened was really cool. However, when people who were not on set swathe fog they thought it was smoke. They called the fire department. Before the fire department showed up we did actually start a little fire. We had the fire put out immediately. When the fire department showed up they saw no evidence of a fire. Instead of leaving they stayed to watch the magic. They thought it was so unique. 

What do you think? Will you see film the same way? I will for sure see new techniques they make to create such scenes. I have determined that I love film because of the magic that is created. I want to help create that magic. One day I will be a makeup artist for one of the future films that will come out and create the magic that you all love and adore, especially the makeup. 

Black and White Film

I am currently working on a film project called That Old Familiar Spirit.  This is a western horror film. It is a pretty exciting film. The plot is very difficult to describe, but I will try. There is a man and a woman. The woman kills her husband. The sheriff comes out with some grave diggers to bury the husband. They then try to persuade the woman to come back to town. They use all sorts of excuses. The biggest excuse was because winter was coming and she would not make it through the winter on her own. She does not go with them, but stays in her home. Her husband comes back to life. He shows love for her and the land. However he starts a fire in the house. She is worried that he is going to kill her. She ends up dying because of a house fire, and dying in the bitter cold. In the end, they come back to life and work on their home and yard. The sheriff returns and sees that no one lives there, but everything is left in pristine condition. He leaves wondering what has happened, but we see the man and woman tending and taking care of the film. 

This film project is special, because it will be done in black and white. Now, for makeup black and white makeup is very different compared to everyday and color makeup. Placements are a little different. The colors no longer exist, but a gray scale does. Here is what our bullet wound looks like in color and in black and white. In the color picture, we do not have any blood or any hard colors. The color picture does not look as realistic as the one in the black and white photos. However, the black and white photos only use gray scale, so this helped the colors show and appear more real. The director approved and loved how the bullet wound looked in the gray scale. 

I learned that camera tests are necessary. Without this camera test, we might have done too much for the actual film process. Then our job would not have been as successful. The camera test allowed us to see how much we can add and how much we do not have to add. We added tired eyes to the color picture. In the black and white the tired eyes barely appear on top, but on the bottom they appear real. 

I learned that there is quite a big difference in black and white photography and film compared to color. I am excited to see how this film works out. Hopefully through the learning and camera tests we have done our hard work will pay off. 

What do you all think about this film and the plot? Do you think it will be successful? If not, why? What is your favorite movie plot? Let me know, I would love to look them up, as well as see the makeup job. 

The Grinch Project

This semester, I am in a class that allows me to have one on one time with a professional teacher. This experience has helped me to develop my skills immensely. I have learned so much with this class already, especially this week.

This class helps us to develop our skills. I wanted to become better at everything, so I decided to recreate the Grinch look from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. I had to start out by researching the character and finding pictures that would help me recreate him. 

This picture has been the biggest help to me. I have used and referred back to this picture multiple times. Well in order to create this, I had to create a schedule of everything I needed to do to complete this process. Well, I learned that this whole process takes several days and multiple hours. I am still nowhere near finished, but this is what I have learned so far. 

I had to take a life mask. A life mask is a mask of the person's face. There are multiple steps to get to the end result. First, is to mix alginate and apply to the face. Once the alginate has set, then plaster bandages can be applied to help keep the mold of the face. 

 Then plaster is used to create this look...the look of a life cast.

 After I had the cast of the head, I decided to make a positive mold. I choose to do this for a couple different reasons. First, I would not have to mold on his life cast that he gets to keep, and I would have a back up piece in case something were to go wrong. Then we sculpted on the face to create the look we want. I sculpted The Grinch features the best I could, but in my own way so I would not be plagiarizing other's work. Plus, it is always hard to follow someone exactly. Once you have the face sculpted then a negative is created. The negative and positive go hand in hand so that a latex, gel, or foam piece can be created.

 During this process of creating the negative, I learned that I had not Vaselined the keys enough. This caused the positive and negative to stick together. I learned Vaselining the keys are essential, and must be done well, in order to avoid mistakes or breaking. Well, as a result of my lack of not coating the keys in Vaseline, my positive side broke as we pulled the negative and positive apart. Part of the reason was that the positive side was much thinner than the negative. So in reality the thinner the piece is the weaker it is, when it stands up to something else. I learned that thickness is helpful to withstand breakage.

Instead of crying over a broken piece, we quickly sprung into action and saved the positive as best we could, in order to make a new positive. We had to use alginate and plaster bandages again. Needless to say, I was in the makeup room for a good eight hours that day. I love my major, so I did not mind the eight hours.

With the eight hours we managed to make a negative piece work as well as a positive piece (bottom is the negative piece).

Through this learning experience I learned several things. First,  I will always remember to Vaseline everything, so plaster will not stick to plaster. Second always build up. It is okay to have a thick layer. Better to be thick, than thin. Thin can break, whereas more thick layers can withstand the breaking. Third, this process of building and making takes a while. Last, I learned how grateful I am to work one on one with a teacher. She helps me to learn and grow. She never criticizes me or my work. She helps me and always encourages me to reach my full potential. She knows that I can do this assignment. I can! By the end of the semester I hope to have something similar to the Grinch. I will have a Grinch of my own. Plus, multiple skills and knowledge I have gained through this process.