So, I'm finally getting around to making this post (uni work getting in the way, and all that). This is the look I did for the final session of the Special Effects Make Up Course I did at the National Theatre. It was suggested to us that we do character make up, and being the good English student I am, I decided to do a Shakespeare character. Now, this look stems from the fact I happened to be writing an essay on Titus Andronicus (my favourite play) and I thought, damn, that would be great inspiration for a special effects make up look, with all the horrible murders and everything.
I chose to portray Lavinia. She is the daughter of Titus, who in the middle of the play is savagely raped and mutilated - her hands and tongue being cut off. For the rest of the play she remains on stage as a constant, silent reminder of the savagery committed. It's potent. In adaptations of the play she if often shown spitting out blood after being discovered, visualising her mutilation. This was the starting point for my idea - I wanted blood all over her chin, real gross. I then had fun from there.
For this look I used Kryolan's 4 Colour SFX Wheel, GM Problood, GM Wound Filler and gelatin.
After considering the obvious blood dripping out of the mouth, I wanted to add a little more narrative to the look. Lavinia has also been savagely raped and I wanted elements of that present in the look. I started with thinking that she would have a cracked lip, from being forcefully kissed, adding to the source of the blood. I then thought that I could put a cut and a bruise on her forehead, as if she had been thrown on the ground and her head hit a rock. To finish, I wanted to put some cold sore looking things around her mouth to imply sexually transmitted diseases. And thus, my Lavinia look was formed.
Photo taken by Ellie Kurttz for the National Theatre, Youth Programme
Photo taken by Ellie Kurttz for the National Theatre, Youth Programme
I then followed similar steps to create a cut above one of her brows, again darkening it with the Kryolan Colour Wheel and filling it with wound filler. (Look at that coffee stirrer action).
Photo taken by Ellie Kurttz for the National Theatre, Youth Programme
I then mixed some crushed rice crispies in with my gelatin mix and applied it to one side of her mouth, globbing it all about making it look as gross as possible.
Photo taken by Ellie Kurttz for the National Theatre, Youth Programme
Next I used the Kryolan Wheel to add bruising to the cut forehead, starting with the purple, and blending out with the yellow. I then used a cotton bud to dribble in some fake blood.
Photo taken by Ellie Kurttz for the National Theatre, Youth Programme
I then sponged some colour on the gelatin next to the mouth using the wound filler. I used a large holed sponge to make it look patchier.
Photo taken by Ellie Kurttz for the National Theatre, Youth Programme
Next I mixed some fresh gelatin and put thin layer on the other side of her mouth to simulate boils. I waited for each layer to dry, then adding another until they looked suitably globular.
Photo taken by Ellie Kurttz for the National Theatre, Youth Programme
Next, I used the purple colour in the Kryolan Wheel to darken her temples, cheekbones and under her eyes to make her look all sick and tired.
Photo taken by Ellie Kurttz for the National Theatre, Youth Programme
Next I powdered over the gelatin that looked like a skin infection to make it look dry and cracking.
Photo taken by Ellie Kurttz for the National Theatre, Youth Programme
I then used the colour wheel to add shading to pussy boils (ewwww). I finished with the blood. Soooooo much blood. Hence the towel to catch all the excess. I literally just dribbled it out of the bottle, letting it flow where it may.
Photo taken by Ellie Kurttz for the National Theatre, Youth Programme
And this is the finished look, as photographed by the professional photographer that was brought in, Doesn't she look like a pretty lady?
Photo taken by Ellie Kurttz for the National Theatre, Youth Programme
Photo taken by Ellie Kurttz for the National Theatre, Youth Programme
I was really quite pleased with how this look came out, I think I encapsulated the look of Lavinia quite soundly. My advice? Don't piss off the Queen of the Goths, she'll make you pay.
