Friday, November 26, 2010
Prosthetic Application Day
Congratulations to all the students. You all produced some wonderful work.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Weird Science
All systems were go as we near our final weeks and lead up to major exams. We are learning new skills everyday - the measuring and making of a bald cap using a Redhead block and liquid latex.
We also worked on continuity and breakdown of a script for TV and film work. This is a very involved process and extremely important for work practices. We did a mock script breakdown and then each chose a character from our script to make up. We made notes and makeup charts, took photos, and then we each had to recreate another persons work using these notes. We had a hair lesson with the lovely Tanya, revising our skills and practicing for our practical hair exam. Our major art works were also due and we were all very amazed at the skills we each displayed, thanks to Jane’s careful tutoring in the elements of Art.
We also spent some time in the studio with Nick and Paul over these weeks doing the airbrushing of our prosthetics using various techniques with the airbrush, such as noodling. splattering and misting of the paint. We layered our colours using acrylic paints and saw our pieces come to life. Prior to air-brushing, the boys showed us how to patch any holes in our pieces using a Pros Aide and Cabosil mix, called "Bondo". There is a real science to this prosthetic business! Our pieces are now ready for the big day - the application of our foam latex pieces onto our Actors so they can come to life.
We also worked on continuity and breakdown of a script for TV and film work. This is a very involved process and extremely important for work practices. We did a mock script breakdown and then each chose a character from our script to make up. We made notes and makeup charts, took photos, and then we each had to recreate another persons work using these notes. We had a hair lesson with the lovely Tanya, revising our skills and practicing for our practical hair exam. Our major art works were also due and we were all very amazed at the skills we each displayed, thanks to Jane’s careful tutoring in the elements of Art.
We also spent some time in the studio with Nick and Paul over these weeks doing the airbrushing of our prosthetics using various techniques with the airbrush, such as noodling. splattering and misting of the paint. We layered our colours using acrylic paints and saw our pieces come to life. Prior to air-brushing, the boys showed us how to patch any holes in our pieces using a Pros Aide and Cabosil mix, called "Bondo". There is a real science to this prosthetic business! Our pieces are now ready for the big day - the application of our foam latex pieces onto our Actors so they can come to life.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Special Effects
Moving right along from high fashion, we plunged straight into the gory, grotesque and very fun special effects component. Starting off with burns, bruises, cuts, grazes and scars, we moved into the more in-depth and detailed work of open wounds, bullet holes, decomposed flesh, sunburn, blisters, dead bodies and accident simulation.
We went through extensive product knowledge, experimenting and playing with new products - in order to know what products worked well with each other and what products worked the best to achieve certain effects. The fun has only just begun…
Mariel McClorey -Student
We went through extensive product knowledge, experimenting and playing with new products - in order to know what products worked well with each other and what products worked the best to achieve certain effects. The fun has only just begun…
Mariel McClorey -Student
We’re Baaack!
The two week production break flew by and we were all really excited to be back. Professional makeup artist Garry Sutiz inspired us with high fashion looks and new products and techniques to try. With this motivation and creativity we felt confident about our professional photo shoot with Gavin Douchkov.
It was a long and potentially stress filled day due to the tight schedule we needed to stick to, but with Louise’s guidance, Gavin’s photographic direction, and of course the lovely models who gave us their time, it ran really smoothly. We were all extremely proud of the quality of the work that we managed to produce… the photos speak for themselves! A great addition to our professional portfolios.
During this last fortnight we also completed our wig knotting assignment with wig maker Penny Clements. She taught us the correct way to apply and maintain the moustaches we had made, as well as the techniques used to apply stubble. Candy looked great as a man!
Crystal Davies – Student
It was a long and potentially stress filled day due to the tight schedule we needed to stick to, but with Louise’s guidance, Gavin’s photographic direction, and of course the lovely models who gave us their time, it ran really smoothly. We were all extremely proud of the quality of the work that we managed to produce… the photos speak for themselves! A great addition to our professional portfolios.
During this last fortnight we also completed our wig knotting assignment with wig maker Penny Clements. She taught us the correct way to apply and maintain the moustaches we had made, as well as the techniques used to apply stubble. Candy looked great as a man!
Crystal Davies – Student
Exams & IMATS
The last week of term came around all too fast as we prepared for our exams. We spent time researching, practicing and dressing any wigs that we may require and going over our notes for the written component.
Tanya came in to show us GHD (hair straightener) work, as well as lots of clever styling "tricks" with the GHD.
The exam day was great fun and a welcome respite from the nerves leading up to it! Crystal even managed to apply her new GHD skills in her exam piece for film character "Elizabeth Bennet" from the BBC's Pride and Prejudice.
We were invited to help on the MEG stand at the International Make-up Artists Trade Show (IMATS). This was the most wonderful experience as we were able to listen to some amazing speakers, acquire some great show make-up specials and cheer on some past students to victory in the student prosthetic competition. A great finish to a hectic and fascinating ten weeks.
Candy Burgess – Student
Tanya came in to show us GHD (hair straightener) work, as well as lots of clever styling "tricks" with the GHD.
The exam day was great fun and a welcome respite from the nerves leading up to it! Crystal even managed to apply her new GHD skills in her exam piece for film character "Elizabeth Bennet" from the BBC's Pride and Prejudice.
We were invited to help on the MEG stand at the International Make-up Artists Trade Show (IMATS). This was the most wonderful experience as we were able to listen to some amazing speakers, acquire some great show make-up specials and cheer on some past students to victory in the student prosthetic competition. A great finish to a hectic and fascinating ten weeks.
Candy Burgess – Student
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
MEG wins British Horror Film Festival
We were just informed that MEG won the "Best Special Effects" award at the British Horror Film Festival for our work on the film Needle.
Needle also won awards for “Best Cinematography” - Stephen Windon and “Best Supporting Actress” - Jessica Marais.
More to Come...
www.thefilmfestivalguild.com
Needle also won awards for “Best Cinematography” - Stephen Windon and “Best Supporting Actress” - Jessica Marais.
More to Come...
www.thefilmfestivalguild.com
Friday, October 22, 2010
MEG wins LA Screamfest
SCREAMFEST LA October 8-16th - showcased some cool Horror flicks at Mann's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. The competition was very strong (over 20 great films) which included some big budgeted films including Black Death (Sean Bean), Mirrors 2 (Nick Stahl) and Altitude.
John Soto and Deidre Kitcher premiered their film, NEEDLE, at the festival and received a great response. Screamfest LA is a wonderful forum for Horror and Genre Films to gain exposure on an international level and is one of America’s biggest Horror Film Festivals.
At the awards ceremony, our company Make-up Effects Group won the BEST MAKE-UP category for the work we contributed to Needle. Thanks to the great make-up team we had; Katherine, Justin, Gab, Grant, Alex, Minch, Kala and Rachel.
Congratulations to John & Deidre for bringing Needle together. It is the second film of theirs Make-up Effects Group has collaborated on.
Check out the cool award.
www.screamfestla.com/winners2010.php
www.dreadcentral.com/news/40391/screamfest-la-awards-winners-announced
www.needlemovie.com
John Soto and Deidre Kitcher premiered their film, NEEDLE, at the festival and received a great response. Screamfest LA is a wonderful forum for Horror and Genre Films to gain exposure on an international level and is one of America’s biggest Horror Film Festivals.
At the awards ceremony, our company Make-up Effects Group won the BEST MAKE-UP category for the work we contributed to Needle. Thanks to the great make-up team we had; Katherine, Justin, Gab, Grant, Alex, Minch, Kala and Rachel.
Congratulations to John & Deidre for bringing Needle together. It is the second film of theirs Make-up Effects Group has collaborated on.
Check out the cool award.
www.screamfestla.com/winners2010.php
www.dreadcentral.com/news/40391/screamfest-la-awards-winners-announced
www.needlemovie.com
Sunday, September 26, 2010
IMATS Studio Visits
During the Sunday morning of IMATS, Paul gave special guest note speaker Gino Acevedo and his actor muse Jed Brophy (LOTR Trilogy) a tour of the MEG Master Class facility. Two highly regarded artists in their own right with years of experience and credits under their belts. They were blown away to say the least and it was great to have them come through the studio.
It was also wonderful to have Cheryl, Heather and Jennifer from Make-up Artist Magazine visit us and get the VIP tour, following a wonderful and successful Trade Show weekend. After our two amazing wins on the weekend, the Make-up Artist Magazine team wanted to see where our student’s learn and get a feel of the creative and inspiring space. They took heaps of photos as they clowned around like little girls in a giant toy shop! Nick, Paul and myself were very pleased to show them around the make-up room and the workshop facilities. They were very impressed with the facilities and how we were running our classes, and of course the level of the students work.
We would like to say thank you for taking the time to come and visit us.
Last but not by any means least, it was an honour and a total dream come true to have the great Tom Savini drop into our studio later in the week. He hung around with us for a couple of hours talking about make-up, films, the industry and “Vamp Pirates”. Tom is a great guy, the original Special Make-up Effects ‘Wizard’ long before it was common, and an inspiration to us both from an early age. It was so bizarre having him in the studio, remembering 30 odd years ago reading his fantastic books…. wow how the time goes! We had lots of laughs!!
It was also wonderful to have Cheryl, Heather and Jennifer from Make-up Artist Magazine visit us and get the VIP tour, following a wonderful and successful Trade Show weekend. After our two amazing wins on the weekend, the Make-up Artist Magazine team wanted to see where our student’s learn and get a feel of the creative and inspiring space. They took heaps of photos as they clowned around like little girls in a giant toy shop! Nick, Paul and myself were very pleased to show them around the make-up room and the workshop facilities. They were very impressed with the facilities and how we were running our classes, and of course the level of the students work.
We would like to say thank you for taking the time to come and visit us.
Last but not by any means least, it was an honour and a total dream come true to have the great Tom Savini drop into our studio later in the week. He hung around with us for a couple of hours talking about make-up, films, the industry and “Vamp Pirates”. Tom is a great guy, the original Special Make-up Effects ‘Wizard’ long before it was common, and an inspiration to us both from an early age. It was so bizarre having him in the studio, remembering 30 odd years ago reading his fantastic books…. wow how the time goes! We had lots of laughs!!
IMATS Prosthetic Competition Winners
IMATS came back to Sydney last weekend for the 2nd year running. This time around they ran their Student Make-up Competition - Saturday was the Fantasy Character Make-up Competition and Sunday was the Prosthetic Make-up Competition. By submitting their portfolios to the IMATS committee, 8 students were chosen for each category from the hundreds of applicants.
Polly McKay and Alice Bauires, two graduates from our January Master Class made the prosthetic section.
Congratulations to both as, Polly was the 1st place winner and Alice came in 3rd place, 2nd was Chikako Kitadata from Japan who trained at Cinema Make-up School in Los Angles. We are very excited and proud of their achievements and the beautiful work they produced.
The competitions are not that simple as the ex students are only given a theme for the competition (Grimms Fairy Tales) but do not know what type/look of prosthetics they will be handed. It shows amazing initiative and creativity to be able to establish a direction and character on the spot.
A huge thank you to all our past graduates Polly, Alice, Gavin and Jacinta for the amazing work done at our booth. To our models Aaron and Lachlan and present students Crystal, Candy and Mariel, for all their hard work over this long weekend.
It was great to meet so many of our make-up contemporaries and let them see our student's wonderful portfolios and introduce them.
We look forward to working with the many new students that signed up on the weekend and guiding them on the amazing new career path they have chosen.
Check out the cool photos on the link below.
www.imatsshow.com/photo_gallery.php
Polly McKay and Alice Bauires, two graduates from our January Master Class made the prosthetic section.
Congratulations to both as, Polly was the 1st place winner and Alice came in 3rd place, 2nd was Chikako Kitadata from Japan who trained at Cinema Make-up School in Los Angles. We are very excited and proud of their achievements and the beautiful work they produced.
The competitions are not that simple as the ex students are only given a theme for the competition (Grimms Fairy Tales) but do not know what type/look of prosthetics they will be handed. It shows amazing initiative and creativity to be able to establish a direction and character on the spot.
A huge thank you to all our past graduates Polly, Alice, Gavin and Jacinta for the amazing work done at our booth. To our models Aaron and Lachlan and present students Crystal, Candy and Mariel, for all their hard work over this long weekend.
It was great to meet so many of our make-up contemporaries and let them see our student's wonderful portfolios and introduce them.
We look forward to working with the many new students that signed up on the weekend and guiding them on the amazing new career path they have chosen.
Check out the cool photos on the link below.
www.imatsshow.com/photo_gallery.php
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
1920’s & 1940’s Make-Ups
We traveled through time and entered the world of the roaring twenties! Louise talked us through a demonstration on how to apply the “smokey eye” look, the authentic way, not to be confused with the modern adaptations that usually include blues and greens. We also found that by covering the brow and penciling in a thinner, curved 20’s brow, combined with altering the lip shape and accentuating the “cupid’s bow”, we were able to completely transform the face shape and overall look of one another.
It was another ‘Victory’ as we entered the 1940’s and created a look that was “natural, with a little support”. It was a fantastic opportunity to put the skills learnt in Tanya’s hair class into action by recreating the Victory Hair Rolls.
Tanya showed us how to create the 1920’s Marcel Wave - a technique that requires A LOT of patience. We each had a go and tried our best but agreed that we need to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!
We also had a very relaxed day, letting our creativity flow, working on our paper mache masks. I must say they look AMAZING!
Crystal Davies - Student
It was another ‘Victory’ as we entered the 1940’s and created a look that was “natural, with a little support”. It was a fantastic opportunity to put the skills learnt in Tanya’s hair class into action by recreating the Victory Hair Rolls.
Tanya showed us how to create the 1920’s Marcel Wave - a technique that requires A LOT of patience. We each had a go and tried our best but agreed that we need to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!
We also had a very relaxed day, letting our creativity flow, working on our paper mache masks. I must say they look AMAZING!
Crystal Davies - Student
Friday, September 3, 2010
IMATS Sydney 2010
Make sure you get down to Darling Harbour on the 18th & 19th September for the International Make-up Artists Trade Show. We'll have our Master Class booth set up so drop in and say hi. We can answer any questions you have about the Make-up Effects Group Master Classes Course and you'll see some cool make-up demonstrations from ex students. It's a great event with plenty to see.
http://www.makeupmag.com/
http://www.imatsshow.com/index.php
Looking forward to hearing Keynote Speaker - the one and only TOM SAVINI. One of the greats of our industry and a major contributing influence on both Paul and Myself finding our way into this amazing industry.
Congratulations to Alice Baueris & Polly McKay for their selection into the 2010 Student Make-up Competition - Prosthetics Category. Two very talented Make-up Artists who passed through our Master Classes at the beginning of the year. Two very creative and focused individuals who have a wonderful future ahead of them in the Make-up and Effects Industry. Good luck ladies and enjoy the journey.
http://www.makeupmag.com/
http://www.imatsshow.com/index.php
Looking forward to hearing Keynote Speaker - the one and only TOM SAVINI. One of the greats of our industry and a major contributing influence on both Paul and Myself finding our way into this amazing industry.
Congratulations to Alice Baueris & Polly McKay for their selection into the 2010 Student Make-up Competition - Prosthetics Category. Two very talented Make-up Artists who passed through our Master Classes at the beginning of the year. Two very creative and focused individuals who have a wonderful future ahead of them in the Make-up and Effects Industry. Good luck ladies and enjoy the journey.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Period Make-up & Sculpture Detail
We are now learning to apply our make up skills to Period makeup for film. The last few weeks we have learnt the correct techniques for applying the different types of foundation and our skills have been tested this week with the need to produce an authentic Egyptian look as well as a design typical of the 1800’s.
The students were again reminded about the importance of careful blending as we applied a very dark base to our models for the Egyptian look. Achieving the correct eyebrow line, using the gold and blues of the time and perfecting the eyeliner design proved to be quite a challenge. However we rose to the occasion and produced some lovely “Cleopatra’s”.
We had all done a great deal of research for both the era’s and had great fun discussing our results particularly as to the reason for beauty spots and decorative designs on the white based faces of the 1800’s. Mariel tried her hand at recreating a horse and carriage design on her model, which was a great success! We dressed and wigged up our models, applying the hair preparation skills we had learnt in previous weeks, and took some excellent photographs of the results.
This week saw us take a great leap ahead with our sculptures. It was very exciting to finish the first stage of sculpting and move on to adding finer details to the faces such as skin pores and fine wrinkles. The boys showed us various techniques (and a few nifty tricks) on how to achieve the detail and we were thrilled to see how much these things changed the look of our characters and really started to bring them to life. Soon we will be able to add the flashing to our sculpts, that will bring us closer to making the actual mould. We can’t wait for that day!
Candy Burgess - Student
The students were again reminded about the importance of careful blending as we applied a very dark base to our models for the Egyptian look. Achieving the correct eyebrow line, using the gold and blues of the time and perfecting the eyeliner design proved to be quite a challenge. However we rose to the occasion and produced some lovely “Cleopatra’s”.
We had all done a great deal of research for both the era’s and had great fun discussing our results particularly as to the reason for beauty spots and decorative designs on the white based faces of the 1800’s. Mariel tried her hand at recreating a horse and carriage design on her model, which was a great success! We dressed and wigged up our models, applying the hair preparation skills we had learnt in previous weeks, and took some excellent photographs of the results.
This week saw us take a great leap ahead with our sculptures. It was very exciting to finish the first stage of sculpting and move on to adding finer details to the faces such as skin pores and fine wrinkles. The boys showed us various techniques (and a few nifty tricks) on how to achieve the detail and we were thrilled to see how much these things changed the look of our characters and really started to bring them to life. Soon we will be able to add the flashing to our sculpts, that will bring us closer to making the actual mould. We can’t wait for that day!
Candy Burgess - Student
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