Cats, Cirque, Wig Knotting & Sculptures

Utilizing the tools and techniques we have learnt regarding high-lighting and shading, product knowledge, colour theory and the basic differences required between theatre and film make-ups, we delved into completing a basic theatre make-up on each other. We then moved onto our Cirque Du Soleil make-ups, which we all found fun and challenging, made all the better by having friends and family sit as models for us. Behind the beautiful colours and bold lines of a Cirque make-up, we discovered lies lots of technique in regards to working with a white make-up. The process of powdering your make-up as you go to ‘set’ the base, really was emphasised with this kind of work, as white doesn’t hide any mistakes at all! Hair designs were completed and costumes were chosen for the final photo shoot so we could really see our creations come alive.

Wednesday saw us in the workshop refining our sculptures as we get ready to make our moulds. As far as we thought we have come, there is still a long journey ahead of us in refining our designs and detailing our faces. Skin texture, expression lines, wrinkles and over all composition, as well as making sure any technical faults with our pieces need to be addressed. The whole process of choosing a character and sitting here for weeks on end creating it has completely changed my appreciation for the craft. I’ve always picked apart the technical side of films but now knowing and experiencing all the painstaking work that goes into the tiny details of the special effects, it seems that simply enjoying a film is beyond me now. All I will ever wonder is “what materials did they use to make that?”

Thursday and Friday were both mammoth days that saw us finally bringing to life our ‘Cats’ character and commence our wig-knotting component. Talk about baptism by fire!! Thursday was fun but intense, as we used our knowledge of white base make-ups and applied it to our ‘Cats’ make-up. Wigs and costumes on - why go to Broadway when you can create it in your own classroom? When our wig making teacher Penny came by on Friday we already felt like there was no more room in our brains to learn, especially after she showed us the rather painstaking demo of what it takes to make a wig. We couldn’t believe that you have to knot hair ONE STRAND AT A TIME into the lace to make a hair piece... was she being serious!!!?? As we all moaned that we would never be able to do it, one by one we all got the technique down pat, I myself even found it oddly enjoyable!!

Mariel McClorey - Student