There are many options for fast, cheap application of special effects and character make-up. These are useful for low budget filming in a hurry but also form a good basis for all good special effects.
Light and Shade:
The key to basic theatrical character make up, the principles of light and shade can be used to great effect for film as well. A day's theatrical make-up workshop is a good refresher in how to build character with a few greasepaints. A subtle, blended or airbrush application of these techniques is suitable for filming and can help to avoid the use of large scale prosthetics
- A totally three dimensional look can be sculpted with just a dark and light cream or powder, using the skin as the mid-tone; everything from a six pack to a square head can be faked.
This is an ideal basis for any work but alone is excellent for sickness, disease, ageing, zombies, wight loss or gain and death. It is also good for creating scary features like heavy brow bones, alien noses and deep set eyes.
Mark Making and Texture:
Experimenting with application can turn cream make-up into something visually exciting. Almost everything will make a mark so anything can be used as an applicator for a textural or special effect.
- Stipple sponges, spatulas and special brushes are fairly inexpensive to buy in professional make-up shops or art shops but these give a range of looks and effects. Thread veins, blotches, scratches, scabs and wrinkles are easy to create using these tools.
- Powder greasepaint gently to take the shine off for camera but leave any bits which need to look shiny such as red cheeks or oozing flesh. Use extra powder to create a dry, papery or aged look to the skin.
Time:
Special effects take time so are problematic for budget productions. No-budget collaborations offer an opportunity to indulge in complicated showpiece effects because nobody gets paid on these. Low-budget films, however, usually have a harder job because long days mean extra money spent on production.
Much of the early decision making process will involve choosing a feasible script to film. However, in practice ambitious effects are often called for, which require more time to do well than is available. Choosing correct materials can help to pull off a good make-up in these situations.
- Ageing is the worst case scenario for low budget make-up departments, as it takes time to make realistic. Wrinkle stipple is inexpensive to buy but application cannot be rushed or the results will look disastrous. In an emergency, keep these techniques to small, key areas such as around the eyes. Rather use a highlight and shade to create the look of jowls and sagging skin. Powder will make skin look drier and a greying hairline looks more realistic than a cheap wig.
- Stage style make-up works for screen horror monsters, including Zombies. Big budget films use more prosthetics for zombie work but excellent effects can be achieved with greasepaint. Yellows, greens and browns can darken eye sockets and blend away lips or brows. Taking out color from the skin with even a basic pale foundation gives a sickly appearance.
- Preparation is the key to quick effects when dealing with continuity. Scars, cuts, bullet wounds or character features are cheap to make from latex, although making the molds takes pre-production time. These small prosthetics are also simple to fix to the skin, blend in and dress with make-up. Ideal for maintaining continuity these can be made in multiples so that the effect always looks the same.
Handy Materials:
- Tuplast Skin Plastic creates small cuts, lumps, boils, lesions, scars and blisters. It dries in minutes and can be applied direct to the skin, then shaped. The translucent look of the product is ideal to color lightly, whilst leaving a water or puss filled finish in areas that have been left unpainted.
- Wax is useful for quick, one-off cuts, lumps, bumps and bullet wounds, plus is handy for sculpting effects such as severed fingers.
- Certain latex formulas are suitable to apply directly to the skin, providing no latex allergy is present. For speed these can be dried with a cool hair dryer then distressed to give the look of a burn or grazed skin.
Films:
Hellraiser: Clive barker, 1987.
- Genuinely scary and revolting special effects from a low-budget production which became a cult horror classic.
Night Watch: Timur Berkambetov, 2005.
The Audio Scientist: Peter Leontiades, 2007.
- A short film which used special effects make-up to save post production time. Actors faces were contoured before digital manipulation giving a unique style to what looked like a purely animated work. This also facilitated the digital coloring process. This is an example of traditional make-up techniques enhancing digital production rather than being made redundant by it as some fear.
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