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Edward Scissorhands

 

"Ultimately, Tim Burton designed the character, so Stan Winston and I just brought it to life. Stan had designed the makeup and we basically used the forehead piece that was designed and then he had sheets of different types of scars. Edward was supposed to innocent, so I gave him a look almost like a clown makeup.”     Essman. S. (2014) Ve Neil: The Many Faces of Fantasy. Clubhaunt. Available from: http://www.clubhaunt.net/01essman_neill.html [Accessed: November 3rd 2014]

 

I think that the forehead piece would have been made in a similar way to our closed mould pieces, as its no bigger than the face and not overly complex. I'd assumed the scars were flatpieces, but its hard to tell looking at this image. I don't know what Ve Neil means by "sheets of different types of scars", maybe lots of sheets of different flatpieces. I'd assume that would be the best way to produce the same looking scars repeatedly, rather than using collodiun. I couldn't find out what the pieces were made from, but i'd assume theyd've used silicone where possible.

 

Edward Scissorhands. Available from:http://www.pinterest.com/pin/410883165972879501/ [online image] [Accessed: November 3rd 2014]

" Smith used silicone prosthetics that could be applied directly to the skin, their translucent quality creating an extroadinarily life-like texture. The great advantage of silicone prosthetics is that they can be re-used, unlike latex makeup effects, which must be recreated every single time."

 

While all Mystiques prosthetics are flatpieces, I'm not sure what kind of mold or material was used for the above images of the toad's prosthetics. The photo looks quite a lot like gelatine and because the piece is quite big I think it might be too big for a closed mould.

Smith, G. X-Men Prosthetics. (2012) [online image] Available from:http://io9.com/5935164/the-revolutionary-technology-that-turned-rebecca-romijn-into-x-mens-mystique [Accessed: November 5th 2014]

 

Pros and Cons of materials

 

Pros of using liquid latex:

 

  • Easy to use.

  • Easy to purchase and inexpensive.

  • Fast set up time.

  • Can be colored with water-based acrylic paint.

 

Cons of using liquid latex:

 

  • Can yellow over time.

  • Rots over time.

  • Some people have allergic reactions to latex, so you have to be careful.

  • Perspiration, oils, sunlight and heat can ruin latex.

  • Adheres permanently to porous materials (like jeans, t-shirts, etc.)

 

Pros of using cold foam:

 

  • Quick and easy to use.

  • Great for prosthetics where flexibility isn’t required (i.e. noses, chins, horns, etc.).

  • Cures in minutes rather than hours.

 

Cons of using cold foam:

 

  • Not flexible, so characters would not be able to emote (dramatize or show emotion) or talk through an appliance.

  • Since it is polyurethane, it can be dangerous to use on the skin when not cured. After it has cured, it is considered safe.

 

Pros on using gelatin:

 

  • Gelatin can be melted and reused.

  • Gelatin cuts and acts just like flesh.

  • Gelatin can be frozen to last longer.

  • Its a lot cheaper

 

Cons on using gelatin:

 

  • Larger pieces can be heavy.

  • Can usually only be used on the day you make it.

  • It rots, another reason to use it the same day.

  • It does not need very high temperatures to melt. Keep it out of your hot car or trunk.

  • It isn’t durable, and you have to be careful when handling it.

 

Pros of using foam latex:

 

  • It’s light and fluffy.

  • It’s reasonably easy to repair if torn.

  • You can paint it with PAX paint.

  • It can be made to be as tough as leather or very soft, depending on the additives used.

 

Cons of using foam latex:

 

  • It can begin to rot in as little as 6 months, so your work won’t last forever.

  • Mixing isn’t always easy, as there are many factors to consider, namely timing.

  • It has to be mixed in a dedicated mixer and cured in a dedicated oven. Neither can be used again for food.

  • The natural oils in your hands can alter the composition, so you have to wear gloves.

 

Pros of using silicone for prosthetics makeup:

 

  • Silicone makeup prosthetics don’t rot and will last for decades.

  • There are two components that you mix 1:1, making it simple to mix.

  • Curing is done at room temperature.

  • No special equipment needed.

  • Soft, so it flexes and moves with the move of real skin

 

Cons of using silicone for makeup prosthetics:

 

  • Silicone can be heavy.

  • It can be difficult to paint; the only thing that sticks to silicone is silicone.

  • It’s difficult to repair tears.

  • Some plasticene clay contains sulfur, which will react to silicone.

  • Silicone is often more expensive than foam latex.

  • Has a shine to it that may or may not compliment your prosthetic.

  • Cannot be reused.

 

Dana. P (2014) Do you use these 5 materials for making makeup prosthetics? [online] Available from: http://www.newtomakeupeffects.com/have-you-used-these-5-materials-for-making-prosthetics/

 [Accessed: November 8th 2014]

The Witches

 

A much anticipated film released in 1990, the film, based on the Roald Dahl book featured Angelica Hudson as the grand high witch. It was the last film Jim Henson would work on, and him and his team used a latex mask for her face, as well as purple contacts, dentures and chin whiskers. From my research, I could only find it said 'latex mask', which I presume means it's a full facial prosthetic, probably run in foam latex. As its a film intended for children, and Jim Henson is most well known for his puppeteering work, I assume they wouldn't be too concerned about making it a realistic makeup. I think it would be more important to capture her scary essence and overexaggerate her features than makeing sure the piece has translucency. I also assume that the chin hairs would have been hair punched into the piece.

Prosthetics in Films

X-Men

Jim Henson. Angelica Hudson, The Grand High Witch. (1990) [online image] Available from:http://www.zimbio.com/Many+Faces+-+Actors+Who've+Worn+Prosthetic+Makeup/articles/vkAfWKxkKr2/Angelica+Huston+The+Witches [Accessed: December 10th 2014] 

The Hours

 

The 2002 film featured Nicole Kidman, who was almost unrecogniseable beneath her wig. The prosthetic nose received a lot of attention. Despite it not being grossly large or deforming, it makes a huge difference to her face in a very subtle and well-applied way. I couldn't find out what the prosthetic was made of or what kind of mould, but I presume it would be some kind of closed-mould and judgeing by the transluscency and the fact you wouldn't even know she was wearing a prosthetic, I'd presume they used silicone. Ivana Primovac was the makeup and hair supervisor while Connor O'Sullivan and Jo Allen designed the prosthetic makeup. 

Nicole Kidman, The Hours. (2002) [online image] Available from:http://www.themakeupgallery.info/lookalike/writers/hoursnk.htm [Acessed: December 10th 2014]

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