Painted Personalities Blog

The film that I help out with SFX makeup at the beginning of the year, Collection, had its premiere at the Sidewalk Film Festival. It took place Saturday night at the Alabama Power building on 18th Street North. Clint Till, the director, was there along with the principal actors, the other (real) makeup artist, and assorted family members. I was pleased withteh look of the film. It looked like what I had envisioned from reading the script and seeing several of the parts being filmed, so that was good. Friends of mine saw the online trailer, but weren’t able to make the showing Saturday night. If Clint is able to have a another showing in town, I’ll publicize it here so folks who want to see it can see it. If you are interested in seeing the trailer, you can see it and several of the making of previews on Par Entertainment’s myspace page.

Here are a couple of photos from the film. Clint Till has graciously allowed me to use them. The first is after I did the base makeup and while I’m am applying blood on the actor as he is in place in the scene. The second is a close up of the actor in scene.

Late last night Clint sent out word that he had pictures up on Parc Entertainment’s Myspace page. The photos are under the photo link under the main profile information, where it says view photos. You can see a few pictures of the dead makeup I did on the bottom of the first picture page, and at the top of the second page. I had done some regular powdering on the actors for the first Sunday shoot, after Tara had to leave, and I could stay. Then yesterday we ended up coloring one of the child actors’ hair with eyebrow pencils and black powder to get his appearance closer to the teenage actor’s hair color, since the children were playing younger versions of the characters. That’s the extent of my regular makeup experience on the film!

Tonight was the first night of shooting for this short film that I’m helping with. The director was shooting footage of the murdered character in a local converted warehouse. I arrived at the location with lots of stuff for fx makeup. I knew I would be making up the actor to be dead. I talked to the director yesterday to get more information on what he envisioned for the effect.

With those ideas in mind, I set up my makeup kit and started to get the actor transformed. He was very nice, and by the time I was done, he looked rough. I didn’t get any pictures, but the producer got some and I’m supposed to get some from her. Both the producer and the director were pleased with makeup.

I saw some things that I need to work on for future efforts. The sfx wax won’t stick to the makeup, so put it on before you put the base coat down. Watch out for under the nose and under the eyebrows. The makeup was a bit spotty there, and when the camera was doing an extreme closeup on the actor’s face from an odd angle, it showed up. Oops. I wasn’t pleased with that, but there wasn’t too much I could do about it at that point.  But I’ll make sure that those areas are covered better next time. I had the stuff to add some maggots and bugs, but we didn’t end up using that. The colors looked different on film than they did in person, so I need to see a bit more of that to make sure the effect comes across.

Overall, I was pleased with how it turned out.  I’m looking forward to next weekend to see how regular makeup goes for films!

I’m going to be helping with a film tomorrow.  A local film maker is starting shooting on a short film.  Its the first time I’ve ever done any film work, but I do have sfx experience.  I’m looking forward to seeing the process and learning more about regular theatrical makeup.
I’m definitely going to put my classes from Bloody Mary to use tomorrow!  Hooray! When I can, I’ll tell more about it.

This past weekend was much better! I had 2 appointments for 3 people set up ahead of time at Costume Creations on Saturday. One man was going to a Hollywood themed party and the host wanted him to be Howard Stern for it. That was the first time I had tried to make someone up as a celebrity. It worked out pretty well.

The second appointment was to make a couple look like they were freshly risen from the grave. They were hosting a party Saturday night and had added dirt to the yard to make it appear that they had dug up out of the ground. I can make folks look like zombies! I made them look dead, then I added the latex effects to get the crumbly rotting effect. Its so effective to get that icky look. They looked good!
Unfortunately I don’t have pictures of the makeup jobs I did. It looks like I am going to be working with Costume Creations for future Halloweens. I can’t wait!

I’ll be taking appointments to do Halloween makeup next Friday and Saturday, October 27 & 28, 2006 at Costume Creations in Vestavia Hills. Costume Creations hours on Friday are 10:00 Am to 9:00 PM and on Saturday are 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. I’ve already filled appointments for 2:00 PM through 6:00 PM on Saturday. So you need to contact me at 907-0747 if you are interested, because time slots are filling up.

Are you looking for an excuse to dress up? Friday night has the Rocky Horror Masquerade Ball at the Alabama Theater, the ACME Cajun Dance with costumes, the Boo 11 Halloween Party for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Boo at the Zoo. Saturday is Boo at the Zoo, the 1925 Phantom of the Opera at the Alabama Theater, and other events at the clubs in town. There are costume contests at most of these events. Where else are you going to get your makeup done by someone who has been doing makeup for the Birmingham Jaycees haunted house for 15 years?

Bloody Mary is going to be in town in on October 26, 2006 at 7:30 to give a lecture and makeup demonstration. It is going to be at UAB, in the Hill University Center Alumni Auditorium. Bloody Mary is the Stage name of Bobbie Weiner. Bobbie is a Hollywood makeup artist who designed the makeup for the dead in the Titanic. She’s worked on other movies, and has her own lines of makeup.

A group of Birmingham Jaycees are going to be attending this lecture. We brought Bobbie in twice in the past for makeup classes, and it’s nice to see that UAB is going to be bringing her in again. Bobbie is a marvelous storyteller and has met so many folks in Hollywood and around the country. She is one of my favorite people to have visit.