The Art of Illusion

Why make-up artists are an essential part of movie magic

Actor: Jure Henigman Photograper: Peter Giodani Make-up Artist: Vanja Djuran @ MUD Europe

Filmmaking combines different art forms to create a single illusion. Whether a fi lm is set in the past or present, a distant location or imaginary place, its creative team must come together to bring the vision to life. Moviemaking includes a host of disciplines, from directing and acting to scenography, cinematography, costumes, dialogue, music, special effects, and more. Along with the director, cinematographer, and production designer, the make-up artist helps create the world portrayed in the fi lm.

While actors bring the screenplay to life, it is the make-up artist who supports their physical transformation from actor to character. If a script requires actors to look beautiful, make-up artists make it so. If the movie asks for ragged characters, youthful or elderly individuals, or even monsters and fantastical beings, the make-up artists work behind the scenes to craft these personas. Make-up helps audiences believe that what they see on the screen is real.

Movie make-up is a combination of art, technology, research, craft, and plain old hard work. It is corrective, covering fl aws, pores, and wrinkles while emphasizing attractive features. It is also creative, enabling actors to inhabit almost any type of character. Make-up and hairstyles must look convincing and effortless yet be durable enough to last long hours on set. No matter the creation, movie make-up must withstand close scrutiny when magnifi ed on screen.

A movie tells a story in about two hours, but the making of it lasts many months. Scenes that follow each other might be shot days or months apart. Make-up artists are challenged to use their skills to maintain the continuity of the character, no matter how much time passes between shooting the same look.

MAKE-UP HELPS AUDIENCES BELIEVE THAT WHAT THEY SEE ON THE SCREEN IS REAL.

ENGAGE THE AUDIENCE EMOTIONALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY TO MAINTAIN THE ILLUSION CREATED BY THE FILM.

The endless possibilities in fi lm require the make-up artist to be ready for anything with a range of tools and techniques. Beauty make-up employs cosmetics such as foundation, contour powders, lip and cheek color, and mascara to enhance or correct an actor’s features. Character make-up transforms actors with color, prosthetic appliances, contact lenses, hair pieces, and false teeth. Realistic blood, knife or bullet wounds, and other grisly effects are all in a day's work.

Special make-up effects uses advanced techniques to create elaborate, realistic characters. To breathe life into imaginary creatures, monsters, and otherworldly beings, special make-up effects artists use mechanical devices, prosthetics, and computer graphics. Artists might also create convincing diseases and deformities that thrill and disgust audiences at the same time. Period fi lms may require a combination of beauty make-up, character makeup, and special make-up effects to create authentic historical looks.

Make-up artists are an essential part of any movie production. They help engage the audience emotionally and psychologically to maintain the illusion created by the fi lm—from the realistic to the fantastical. This type of make-up artistry is often challenging and labor intensive, but playing a role in movie magic can also be incredibly rewarding.

REALISTIC BLOOD, KNIFE OR BULLET WOUNDS, AND OTHER GRISLY EFFECTS ARE ALL IN A DAY’S WORK

actor: Jure Henigman creative director: Maja Kešelj @ MUD Europe photography: Peter Giodani make-up & hair: Vanja Djuran @ MUD Europe make-up assistant: Tanja Vojnovič @ MUD Europe stylist: Matjaž Plošinjak stylist assistant: Urban

A special thanks to The Cankar Center and MGL - Ljubljana City Theatre shooting location: The Cankar Centre Ljubljana

MAKE-UP BREATHES LIFE INTO IMAGINARY CREATURES, MONSTERS, AND OTHERWORLDLY BEINGS.