Are we there yet?…………
Well, we think we’ve completed the last “final pickup shoot” for the Elindil’s Secret movie…..time will tell I guess! The day was perfect as far as the weather went – chilly morning start for makeup in the bush picnic area but a little bit of sun, promising a more comfortable day than many we have endured during the previous winter months of shooting. After the main group set off to scout the area for filming in the first location, I set up the makeup “studio” in the picnic clearing and got to work. It’s a strange feeling doing it all again after such a long break, but fun all the same! After the basic makeup was applied we headed off to the first site for filming – next to the very fast flowing river and braving the leeches – fun times indeed!
After several takes I went back to the clearing to set up the sfx makeup for Pete. By now the sun had risen completely and we had a bit more warmth as I attached the wax “mould” for the main wound area and applied cuts and grazes to Pete’s face and neck. Glad we didn’t have any tourists coming along at that point – they might have wondered what they had stumbled onto! 
After doing most of the work in the clearing we set off for the second location for the remainder of Pete’s scene. I can only show pics of the first stage of makeup application, the finished product will been seen once the film is released! Once on location, I applied further blood products to complete the effect and the camera started rolling. We had some great additional action from a random fly which landed on the “body” at the most appropriate moment, adding some authenticity to the scene! Pete did a great job of not flinching as the fly crept over his face to investigate. All wrapped up by mid morning and the rest of the crew headed off to finish some other shots not needing makeup, while I headed back home to face the task of cleaning up after my daughter’s 21st the night before.
Additional info: here’s the youtube link to footage now able to be released for your enjoyment
Backyard Blitz
It’s funny how things that have been on the “to do” list for ages suddenly get done when you have a deadline! Our youngest daughter is turning 21 and planning a Mexican party at home so the motivation to clean up a grotty area of the back yard suddenly got no. 1 priority. After 15 yrs (and many happy memories) the old swimming pool got the heave ho and we now have a massive area to entertain. 
Getting the pool down and cleared away was one weekend’s worth of work, the second weekend blitz was to get the hundreds of pavers laid and landscaping done!
With only “girl power” to assist, Andy bravely marshalled the troops and we got it done – over 350 pavers, 3 metres of gravel, 1 metre of soil, 1 metre of sand, 1 cubic metre of rocks and five trees. We still have a few small projects to complete (like a decking area over the gravel section) but the worst of it is done and we will be ready to party Mexican style on friday night! Ole!
Final Reshoot of Elindil’s Secret…(is there such a thing?!)
Been advised we have a final pickup shoot for the film Elindil’s Secret – 15 months after that last “final pickup”. Yep, getting the distinct John Farnham feeling here….! Oh well, at least I get to have a “play” with some of the sfx makeup I have been learning about this term and as a bonus we get to hang out with some of our fabulous cast and crew again 
As the pickup shots are part of a fight scene, it will involve my sfx kit and the inevitable blood work! Now all I have to do is work out the sequence of actions and get the wounds right – all very easy when you do it in a makeup studio. The challenge will be to get it done in the bush – as per usual on our ES film shoots – making do with whatever limited equipment we can cart in and combating the elements! Fun times! 
Going out with a Bang!
Our final sfx class last night produced an amazing variety of works – from fantasy creatures to car crash and domestic violence victims. Everyone produced amazing work and our instructor said it was the best sfx class she had worked with. Our task was to use at least three of the sfx elements we had learnt and produce a believable scenario for the effects created.
Mine was a car crash victim – suffering facial injuries as a result of hitting the steering wheel and cuts from broken glass. The 3 main elements I used were latex, gelskin and dodge wax, but I also used rigid collodian for some of the cuts. Step by step photos were taken to show the process of applying the products.
First the base colours were done to create the skin “discolouration” like bruising, then the dodge wax for the broken nose. Next I applied the gelskin for the head laceration and while that was setting I applied some colour and “fresh scratch” to the nose and other areas. Next I applied the latex to the cheek for the glass cut – the latex was applied in 3 layers then “torn” to look like ripped skin. In between all of these applications I also coloured each new piece to match skin tones or to look “damaged”. I applied rigid collodian to several areas to create cuts and applied “fresh scratch” over the top. Next was the tricky part – fixing the “glass” fragments in the forehead and cheek cuts. I used spirit gum to glue the toffee pieces in place then applied all of the blood products to create a thoroughly goey effect! Andy made a very convincing “victim”!
