Issue #10 October ‘13 Halloween edition
£1.10
FREAK fx
Make-up tutorials inside
Impress your friends this Halloween Pick between The Terminator or a zombie
Masquerade: The Movie
An exclusive interview with the director of the student film that cost £5000
Get SFXsmart Build your own SFX kit with this guide
Inside Aimée Garner’s world of make-up
Contents 3 4-5 6-7 8 9 10-11
...Contents and letter from the Editor
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In next week’s issue
...Interview with Alessandro Repetti, director of Masquerade: The Movie ...Interview with Aimée Garner, make-up artist
...SFX make-up tutorial: The Terminator ...Guide to buying SFX supplies on a budget ...SFX make-up tutorial: Zombie
Win yourself the ultimate horror film bundle with our monthly competition
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A look at the best cosplays from MCM Expo London Comic Con
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Tour around Brushstroke School, the UK’s leading make-up institute
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Three tutorials - Sewn mouth - Black Dahlia - Corpse Bride
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The creepiest cocktails you can make for Halloween
* Latest film releases
Editor’s letter Welcome to Freak FX, where you get your weekly fix of horror, scifi and everything in between! This week’s issue has two specialeffects make-up tutorials for you to add to your Halloween to-do lists, and an exclusive interview with the director of Masquerade, the next big zombie film - and it’s student-made. I was lucky enough to be the make-up artist on set for the film, it was definitely one of the coolest experiences I’ve had so far. Not only did I get a trip to Venice, I got to work with a great crew making zombies, it’s what I do best! The zombie make-up tutorial on pg 10-11 is from a test shoot for the film, it’s guaranteed to turn heads at your next fancy dress party. The best thing is, it’s easy to do it on yourself too if you can’t find a willing victim. Watch out for future issues where I’ll be showing you how to recreate more popular looks, all on a student budget. If you’re an asipiring make-up artist, a horror film enthusiast or you just like creepy things, this magazine is for you.
Zahrah Haider Editor-in-Chief
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On set: Masquerade: The Movie
Lights, camera...action! Student and up-and-coming film director Alessandro talks about his latest project, Masquerade: The Movie, and jetting off to Venice to film it.
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o be able to travel abroad for an assignment is any results. The team are absolutely fantastic and the new student’s dream but one director made it his reality, people I’ve met are great. I’d play my cards a bit differently and it’s not the first time either. “This film cost me £5000, a scary though. Before each step I was so Coventry based student and director scared as I had no clear idea but figure for a student film” Alessandro Repetti has made films now I’ve got so much knowledge in Germany and the UK, and and experience I can use for his latest venture Masquerade: next time.” The Movie is set in Venice, Italy. Far from a typical zombie ilming in a foreign country, film, Masquerade is Repetti’s especially one as soaked exploration of the social aspects in culture as Italy, sounds of a post-zombie apocalypse. glamorous. But was it? It was difficult, mainly I was reading an issue of Dylan because there was little Dog, my favourite Italian comic time available and because we about a detective who works with couldn’t afford an initial trip nightmares and often has to deal to scout for locations. On the with monsters, vampires and other hand, it was amazing to ghosts. In that issue, Dylan had try and frame this beautiful city to face a future where zombies properly. Not many films set were slaves. This then triggered in Italy give the audience the the idea for Masquerade, where illusion that they are there. That slavery, morals and ethics come was my primary target, to make into question.” you feel like you’re in Venice. “ Tons of research went into this, even if it is just a My next project is a documentary set in Sicily and it’s short-film. I watched as many zombie films as I could. I about the new Mafia and the anti-Mafia techniques used researched into Italian history, about the Black Death, the in the last few decades by the police. It’s just as ambitious Italian Commedia dell’Arte with the characters and the as Masquerade, if not more, because it’s a documentary masks, the renaissance of Venice...these are all elements and I’m hoping for it to end up on TV. Part of the nature of that shaped the story.” a documentary is that it’s unpredictable: we don’t know what Sicily will give us until we go there.”
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or a student-made film, going abroad to film is a bold move. Alessandro Repetti, originally from Italy, feels strongly about the place and says it makes all the difference filming there. The fundamental reason is that Venice itself is a character in the film and I strongly believe in its presence. The film so far has cost me £5000. It’s a scary figure for a student film.” I’d still do it all over again if I could. Not only has it been an amazing experience, but it’s also producing great
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“I felt like a fish put back in water when I got my first studio job”
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t’s the sort of ambition and passion that doesn’t just manifest overnight. Repetti says how, after receiving his National Diploma in Modern Languages, he was hired by a local broadcasting studio. It was the first time I got in touch with video production. It was my area. I felt like a fish who was put back in water.” I was brought up with photo cameras around me. I used to play around with a software that would turn your holiday photos into a video. It sounds lame now, but at the time it was an absolutely amazing and innovative product. After my first studio job I bought my own equipment in no time and decided to make my own film: a feature.”
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Today I make films because telling stories is the most rewarding work I could possibly do in my life.”
“My next project is a documentary in Sicily about the Mafia”
Feature
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Interview with
Aimée Garner is a hair and make-up artist based in the Midlands. She graduated from Leicester College with a degree in Artistic Make-Up and Special Effects, and has worked all around the country on various film, TV and theatre projects.
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. Why did you want to get into special effects make-up?
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. When I was 14 I became obsessed with film and make-up. I used to use whatever I could find around my house on my brothers and friends to create black eyes, bruises, blood etc. It was then that my mum helped me into looking into courses for my future education.
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. What are your top three essential products for doing special effects makeup?
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. It’s difficult to choose only three but if I had to, they would be: - Derma Wax - Fake blood (my favourite brand is Pigs Might Fly) - Bruise Wheel (Ben Nye’s one is perfect for colouring in bruises and wounds)
Q
. Where do you get your inspiration from when creating different looks?
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. Watching movies is always a good idea because you get to see what other make-up artists have done. I usually search online as well. I’ll never copy another artist’s work but I’ll usually take bits that I like and put them together. For injuries, I’ll look through medical journals and I’m always asking friends to send me pictures of any injuries they’ve had!
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. What are your favourite looks to recreate?
. I love casualty make-up: bruises, black eyes, broken noses etc. I do love a challenge though, like when people ask me to do melted faces or broken bones.
Photos courtesy of Aimée Garner
Aimée Garner, make-up artist Q
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. What has been your favourite special effects shoot so far?
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. There are lots but I’ll narrow it down to two. The first one is a short film that I did last summer, called ‘Winding Lane’. It was fun because everyone that worked on it was so passionate about what they were doing. The second would have to be going on the War of the Worlds tour. It was my first time working as a head of department with celebrity clients (Jason Donovan, Ricky Wilson, Marti Pellow). It was a daunting experience but I’m doing it again this year!
Q
. If you could pick one film to work on, what would it be?
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. The Hunger Games, without a doubt. I love the creative and avant-garde makeup.
Q
. Do you have any favourite make-up artists?
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. I love Pat McGrath and Lan Ngyuen. My favourite special effects artists would have to be Nick Dudman and Neill Gorton. They’re both really good at what they do and have lots of TV programmes and movies to their names.
Q
. What are your favourite products to work with when doing special effects make-up?
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. There are too many to mention! Alongside the ones I mentioned earlier, I also like my skin illustrator palette, rigid collodion and Tuplast, a gel that dries hard that you can use to make blisters and boils that is really effective.
Q A
. What tips do you have for aspiring make-up artists?
. Be passionate about it. If you don’t have to determination to go all the way with it you will struggle with the competitive nature of the industry. Also, be prepared for working long hours and outdoor locations. No one warns you that you might be stranded in a field in the middle of the night pouring blood over your actor three or four times to get the shot right!
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Tutorial What you’ll need Liquid latex Tissue paper Foundation Facepaint: black, white Fake blood
Makeup brushes Makeup sponge Stipple sponge Paint palette (Contacts - optional)
The Terminator
For something a little different; transform yourself into the ultimate cyborg assassin with this tutorial. You can omit the tissue and just use liquid latex, in which case build up layers and pull apart with tweezers to create a torn skin effect. Add a red contact lens in one eye to complete the look.
Build up the skin by adding layers of liquid latex and 1 ply sheets of tissue, torn into strips. Form the basic shape for your cyborg’s exposed face; I chose one that covered most of half of the face but you can pick certain sections instead. Be careful with liquid latex when going near the eyes.
Blend in the wounds with foundation. In a paint palette, distribute a small amount of black paint in two wells and add different amounts of white paint to make different shades of grey. Having dark and light shades will add a 3D dimension to the look. Colour in the wounds and add detail with fake blood.
Add in final details with black facepaint, such as lines and dots to mimic a robotic appearance. Using a stipple sponge, hide the edges of the wounds with fake blood.
The best products for SFX
Guide
(on a budget)
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You don’t have to break the bank to recreate popular film and TV make-up looks. While professional kits will in turn make your make-up look more realistic, there’s no reason why you can’t start building up your own kit with products purchased online. They work just as well and are affordable enough for you to practice until you’ve perfected the art of special effects make-up!
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Liquid latex £8.95, 250 ml It may seem like an expensive product but because a little goes a long way, it is definitely good value for money.
Scar wax
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£3.49, 18 ml Reusable if you don’t paint over it. If you’re allergic to liquid latex this is the product to use: create anything from scars to boils and warts.
Face paint
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£3.85, 18 ml Snazaroo is an excellent brand for facepaint and the brand has a multitude of colours to offer. Don’t be put off by the small volume, each one lasts months.
Stipple sponge £3.45, 2 pcs Stipple sponges add a great spatter effect to wounds and injuries, dipped in a small amount of fake blood. They can also be washed and reused.
Manicure set £2.28 This set contains the perfect tools for shaping wounds or tearing away latex and tissue.
Fake nails £1.89, 300 pcs If you can’t get your hands on fake teeth, fake nails are the next best thing. These ones are long so they’re ideal for cutting down into jagged edges for zombie teeth, or fangs for vampires.
Sponges £1.50, 20 pcs These sponges can be used to apply liquid latex, foundation or facepaint and can also be washed and reused.
All these products, or their substitutes, are available on eBay and Amazon for either free or cheap delivery. Remember to check for allergic reactions before using products like liquid latex.
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Tutorial What you’ll need
Liquid latex Tissue paper Fake nails Foundation Facepaint: black, red Fake blood
Makeup brushes Makeup sponge Stipple sponge Manicure set (Contacts - optional)
How to zombify
This is a classic look that needs no introduction. If you’re ever in the mood to transform yourself into the undead, follow this simple tutorial. Surprisingly enough it is a versatile look; you can add more teeth and cover your mouth, or take some away and have just a few dangling from your jaw.
Separate the tissue paper into 1 ply sheets, and rip up into fairly uniform Try and use plain tissue paper. It’s not glamorous but cheap toilet roll is best for this pieces. Build up layers of tissue and liquid latex; this will act as the skin. Allow each layer to dry slightly before moving on to the next one.
The nails are easier to glue on if you turn them Prepare a long strip of tissue paper for the gum, and brush with liquid over and fill them up with liquid latex. It takes a long time to dry but they’ll be more solid. latex. Trim the fake nails down to regular tooth size and fix to the ‘gum’, and wait for it to dry before attaching along upper jawline with liquid latex. Use scalpel from manicure set to create wounds on face.
yourself in 4 easy steps
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Using a hair-dryer at this stage is useful as it can take a while for all the layers to dry fully. Once it has all dried, blend the tissue and liquid latex mixture into the rest of the skin with foundation. Colour in the found with red facepaint, and add in detail with black.
Finish off the look by adding fake blood inside the would, and using a stipple sponge and extra fake blood to create a spattered look around the wound and face. Wear contacts to add to the effect. Enjoy!
I use two different brands of blood: one to fill wounds and a darker one to add around the face.