Maxfactormama’s Weblog

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81gDUrZYe_4

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!

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!

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”!

Sfx class tonight was about cut throats and bullet wounds. Pretty confronting stuff but fascinating all the same for the budding makeup artists in the class. Andy was the model for the instructor so he had to endure having his throat “cut”, which required a lot of patience and sustained neck tension! Using wax for the top section of the wound and a combo of latex and cotton/tissue for the bottom edge, it was a tricky one to get right. As a result of my model being used as the demo for the throat wound, I decided to do my technique for this session as a split forehead – so Andy had a slit throat as well as a head wound and to finish him off I did a bullet entry wound to the temple. Fun night!

Bullet entry wound

Next week being our final week, we have to come up with a scenario to use at least three of the main techniques we have learnt – think I’ll do some research from “All Saints” most traumatic injuries!

Continuing our series of disgusting skin ailments at sfx class last night we did a series of burns using a variety of mediums – using latex and gelatine to create different types of burns from superficial to full thickness.

My willing model was Nicole (from my work) and she patiently endured having the stinky latex applied to her nose and cheeks to recreate serious sunburn and blisters.

Next we mixed up a batch of gelatine to create “gelskin” and applied that to the arm, which had been coloured to create the basic burn. Working with gelskin is messy and a bit tricky but eventually I got the sculpting right and then proceeded to colour and tint the goey mess! Adding a touch of realism, we put in some fake “pus” and wound filler to complete a really disgusting creation.

Being on holidays is great but inevitably there are 101 jobs that need to be done and not enough time to get them all finished! Due to the recent storms we had a large gum tree come down in our front garden – fortunately missing all of our recently planted shrubs and silver birches but creating a bit of a mess all the same. As always, Andy to the rescue with his trusty chainsaw! Looking on the bright side – we have next year’s wood supply provided…..just have to cut it up, split and stack it, clear away the debris etc etc etc……..!

Last night’s sfx class was about cyborg makeup. It was probably the  most work-intensive one so far in the course. Matt very willingly lent me his face to “maul”! I think this will become the new profile pic for his facebook page

This makeup used a lot of products – including dodge wax, latex and blood products so it was costly as well as time-consuming (took approx 1.5 hrs). The techniques involved an application of dodge wax to frame around the area to be “ripped” and also a section with latex and tissue to create a “flap” of torn skin. These pieces were then coloured and tinted to look like damaged skin before blood products were applied. The area inside the wax was coloured to look like metal – using a combination of grey, white and silver supracolour and a small amount of black for the definition details. I’m happy with the overall result, although I think it would have been improved with a red contact lens and Matt wanted his eyelid taped back to give a more “pop-eyed” look! Still we had fun – it did seem a shame to have to remove it after the class.

Last night’s SFX class introduced us to a new use for common household products – using chicken bones and latex we created a disgusting 3rd degree burn with exposed bones (lots of goo and blood action here). Next we did a cold sore starting with a “blister” with Tuplast then using good old Special K crumbs I managed to create a really festy looking cold sore on Andy’s lip! (“give us a kiss luv!”) Who knew breakfast cereal had so many uses? Ewwww!

Next week is the Cyborg makeup – think I’ll enlist the help of my son Matt for this one

After another session in sfx makeup class ( doing amputations ) Andy had a fun time having his finger “amputated”! For those with weak stomachs – look away now!

It is strange for me to get so involved with such a gorey medium because I’m not into Horror flicks but it is fascinating to be able to create dramatic looking effects with makeup. Once you get past the nausea it’s quite easy really! The technique involves taping the finger into the palm and creating a wax ring to glue onto the end of the exposed knuckle joint. This becomes the “torn” edge of the amputation. The wax must be sealed with Kryolan sealor before applying colour and blood products. The edges are frayed and thinned out to look like torn skin, then coloured. The inside of the hole needs to be packed with wound filler and other blood products . I also added a couple of small rice bubble pieces to look like bone fragments – eww!

In addition to the amputation we also had a go at a broken nose – just for “fun”! This also used dodge wax with a similar technique of glueing the wax shape onto the skin with Spirit Gum and sealing with Sealor before colouring and adding blood products.

next week will be more “fun” with disgusting skin diseases using common kitchen ingredients….who knew “Special K” had more value than just nutrition?!