Will Computers Replace Special Make-up Effects?

Written by Paul Thompson

The success of movies like Avatar had make-up artists wondering if special makeup effects would slowly disappear. We watched as computer-generated imagery infiltrated almost all films, at times replacing the need for sets and costumes. The use of animatronic masks and puppets were dramatically reduced. Would computers spell the end of special make-up effects? The short answer is no.

Around the same time as the release of Avatar, there was a rash of bad movies with an overabundance of special effects. It seemed moviemakers were creating spectacles just because they could. These CGI-heavy films often felt soulless and left moviegoers wondering why they should care about the characters. In the last couple of years, directors and actors have demanded more to work with.

Today, filmmakers are using more practical types of effects, such as complete makeups and fuller sets. Movies like Star Wars: The Force Awakens heavily promoted this way of filmmaking to the delight of fans. More and more filmmakers are following suit, and we are enjoying a time where special make-up effects are more dynamic than ever. Advances in materials and techniques ensure special make-up effects will have a place deep into the twenty-first century.

CHANGING WITH THE TIMES

MUD has taught special make-up effects ever since we opened our doors twenty years ago. In a lot of ways, we focused on effects more than we did beauty make-up. During the early days of MUD our beauty class was only four weeks long, and we had two special make-up effects classes for a total of fifteen weeks. Since that time, we have evolved and changed with the industry. We used to teach animatronics as part of our first special make-up effects course. MUD was one of the first makeup schools to offer silicone gel-filled appliances to our students. When gelatin prosthetics stopped being used in the industry we adjusted again. Today, MUD’s curriculum is much more balanced with twelve weeks of beauty training and twelve weeks of special make-up effects training.

When we launched our MUD Studios and started offering a MUD education at our partner schools we focused on beauty make-up. We felt that students in these smaller markets would benefit more from a beauty education. However, certain markets demanded meaningful special make-up effects courses. In response, we launched a thirty-five hour special make-up effects course in Europe, which slowly evolved into a more comprehensive seventy-hour course. This class is now available all over the world, and we are so excited by what our students accomplish. That is the amazing part about MUD: We can quickly change or expand a curriculum based on what is happening in the industry.

ARTISTS READY FOR ANYTHING

Special make-up effects are done in small shops and by individual make-up artists. We want to make sure our students have the tools to compete and create amazing effects. I recently had the pleasure of working with instructional specialist Vanja Djuran at our MUD Studio in Milan. We taught students how to apply silicone gelfilled appliances and foam latex appliances. The characters created were inspiring. The students learned so much in such a brief period of time.

It is an exciting time in our industry as we grapple with our place among digital technology and changing market preferences. Our students are prepared to meet the current demand of creating realistic characters that audiences can connect with. Today they can learn the skills that were once reserved for students going to a school in Hollywood. I look forward to seeing even more practical effects and much more immersive storytelling in the years ahead. •