MAKE-UP EFFECTS
FROM VARIOUS MOVIES-OF-THE-WEEK

"Spy"
USA Network/Wilshire Court Productions
Starring Bruce Greenwood, Catherine Hicks,
Ned Beatty and Michael Tucker
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"This was my first film as a Key Make-up Artist. It was a wonderful learning experience and a fun film to work on. The crew was terrific and the actors were top-notch."

A supporting character played by actor Tim Choates, required a subtle scar. It is rarely referred to in the film, but was an important part of the character's back-story. Gordon Smith, the make-up artist responsible for the great scar make-up on Tom Berringer in "Platoon" was consulted for the techniques used. A great thanks to the 'other' Mr. Smith for taking the time to reveal all of his 'secrets' on facial scarring.

The scar was created using very fresh non-flexible collodion, scar plastic (placrylic) and 355 medical adhesive. A template was made using dental base plate wax. This is the sheet pink wax used in denture-making. The wax was cut to resemble a 'phantom' half-mask. This was warmed and formed to Tim's face. Then the scar areas were marked and a slot was cut in the wax. Each morning, the template was set in place on the face and the various materials were painted through the slots. This allowed the placement of the scar to be perfect every time.

The scar used the non-flexible collodion for most of the area covered. Placrylic and a thickened matte 355 was used in areas that required more flexibility. A few hairs were cut from the mustache and brow areas to continue the scar line. The result was durable, required low-maintenance and was convincing even to the crew members.

"I used a hydrocortisone treatment every night on the skin. But there would still be a bit of redness after the removal each evening. Mid-way through the film, Tim Choate had about a week off of filming. He came to visit the set during his time off and afterwards, several crew members came up to me and said, 'Wow, I didn't know that scar was fake!' Apparently the crew had been commenting among each other that this actor was pretty lucky to get a job requiring a scar like his own."

"Child of Darkness, Child of Light"
USA Network/Wilshire Court Productions
Starring Anthony Dennison, Sela Ward
Lawrence Pressman
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"Sela Ward's make-up for this film was pretty normal most of the time. I don't want to give away the ending to the film, but her character goes through an extreme change from good to evil."

Making the beautiful Sela Ward look evil was no simple task. Subtle changes in eyebrows, eyelashes, lips, make-up texture and the use of highlights and shadows accomplished the task.

"My earliest work as a teenager, was with the Portland Opera Association. Some of my first training came from Vivian Lyman, a skilled Opera make-up artist. She taught me the basics of highlight and shadow. The precise use of color shades slightly lighter or darker than the base color can completely transform the actor's face. Knowing the skills needed to create an effective stage makeup is crucial to designing subtle changes in film and television makeups."

"Deadly Game"
USA Network/Wilshire Court Productions
Starring Michael Beck, Roddy McDowall, Jenny Seagrove,
Marc Singer, Fred Lane and John Pleshette
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"This was my first experience working with the boys from KNB Effects. Howard Berger and Wayne Toth created the terrific effects make-ups and special props used in the film. There were, however, several trauma make-ups to keep me busy. The film follows a group of strangers as they are hunted down and killed one-by-one on an isolated island (sound familiar?) As they trudge through the woods, cuts and scrapes were added.

The film also had several flash-back sequences that provided the opportunity to use various age-reduction techniques.

This was also my first time working with director Tom Wright. Later, we did 'Chrome Soldiers', with Gary Busey and Yappet Kotto."

"Perfect Family"
USA Network/Wilshire Court Productions
Starring Jennifer O'Neil, Bruce Boxleitner,
and Johanna Cassidy
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Bruce Boxleitner plays a charming renter, who slowly reveals his true nature..., a hardened, cold-blooded killer. "Bruce is a handsome, good-natured guy. The biggest challenge on this film was to make him believable as a multiple killer. Once again, minor changes in highlights/shadows did a lot of the work. I reddened his eyes and often used menthol vapors to further enhance the redness in the sclera. For several scenes, a simulated beardline was created by blowing very small hairs onto mustache wax added to the skin."

"Fade To Black"
USA Network/Wilshire Court Productions
Starring Timothy Busfield, Heather Locklear
and Cloris Leachman
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"All of the actors on "Fade to Black" were great fun. This was my second film with Heather Locklear. Her beauty is matched only with charming personality. She is one of the kindest people I've ever worked with."

The wounds on Timothy Busfield were created using 'Solka-flok', a paper fiber product and 355 medical adhesive. Ben Nye's 'Fresh Scab' and some gel blood were added to dress the surface.

"Chrome Soldiers"
USA Network/Wilshire Court Productions
Starring Gary Busey, Ray Sharkey,
Yappet Kotto and William Atherton
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"Chrome Soldiers" remains one of the toughest shoots I've ever done. The conditions were extreme. But out of it all came some enjoyable makeup jobs. William Atherton, playing the sheriff of a small town, gets the c**p beaten out of him at the end of the film. Very little of the scene was choreographed in advance. It was created shot-by-shot on the spot. I would stand by the camera with a tray of various trauma makeup supplies. As Gary would land a punch on Bill, I would come in and add the wound, then Bill would hit Gary in the mouth, and I'd come in and add some mouth blood. It was great fun and all I had to do was 'fill in the blanks' when the action occurred!"

The final scene has Atherton being arrested in front of the townspeople. For this scene, various wounds incurred during the fight are 'field-dressed' and a cauliflower ear is added. The ear was created out-of-kit with mortician's wax.

(Photos from the films "Spy," "Child of Darkness, Child of Light," "Deadly Game," "Perfect Family," "Fade to Black" and "Chrome Soldiers" are watermarked/copyrighted USA Cable/Wilshire Court Productions)

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