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Have you watched Black Swan yet?

I had to download it in order to see it (I know, shameful, I will watch it again once it opens here and I will buy the DVD). At first I didn’t get it, it was just this huge blur of emotions and apparitions and stuff happening. However, the second time I saw it, I really did understand why people say it’s beautiful and I’m sure that it will be even more beautiful in HD.

Anyways, there are three things that I can talk about while keeping this post spoiler free (to preserve GeNmA’s sensibilities intact :P). One is the fact that Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis looked amazing in the movie! They spent six moths toning their bodies to make them look like actual ballerina bodies, wow! The second is the ballet costumes designed by the Rodarte sisters, they are out of this world, I specially like the Black Swan costume. The third and last is the make up in the movie. While it is nothing out of this world, I really like the contrast between the white swan and the black swan.

Now, I don’t really post things written by someone else, but I got this in my mail way before I watched the film and I thought that you would enjoy reading more about the make up design process.

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Q: How does a makeup artist prepare to work on a film? Do you receive guidance from the director or collaborate with the costume designer/art director/key hair stylist on the makeup look?

Margie: When I begin working on a film I speak to the director and all of the creative team if possible.  The directors inspiration and vision really drives the process and I try to deliver that vision in makeup.

Judy: As I read the script, I try to envision the characters, taking into account their background (age, personal history, affluence, profession). As I see the plot develop in the story, I make note of how these events might affect their appearance.  When I’m designing the looks for a film, it’s very important to consider the director’s visual style and tastes. Occasionally, I get to collaborate with the costume or production designers. I always try to find out how the actors will be dressed, as that can have a significant influence on the makeup look.  While our designs are often created independently at first, I find that the hair stylist and I work very closely to be sure that our looks fit together and bring the characters to life.

Q: How long does it typically take for you to prepare to start working on a movie like Black Swan?

Judy: I spend a lot of time drawing and doing practical makeup tests. Depending on actor availability and camera tests, it could take three to four weeks of preparation.

Q: How does a makeup design contribute to building a movie character?

Judy: What I’ve always loved about makeup design is its contribution to the actor’s performance. Makeup helps to create the character visually. I feel that I’ve done my job well when an actor can walk onto the set feeling like the embodiment of the character that he or he is portraying.

Q: Can you give a step by step explanation as to how the Black Swan look was created as well as the products that were used?

Margie: We applied a pale ivory foundation with a white cream highlight on the forehead and cheekbones. To create the swan eyes, we used M·A·C Chromaline in Black Black.  Using M·A·C Pigment in Silver combined with Mixing Medium, we applied feathery brushstrokes over the Black Swan’s eyes. The lips were lined with M·A·C Lip Pencil in Vino and topped with M·A·C lipstick in Dubonnet. We then lined the under eye with a thin line using M·A·C Chromaline in Red.

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Q: Does the makeup have any relation to the makeup in the traditional version of the Swan Lake ballet?

Judy: Not really. The ensemble dancers wear what might be considered a traditional theatrical eye makeup, but our rendition is more dramatic.  It’s practically an opera makeup.  Besides that, the only other relation might be that we did portray the Black Swan as a sinister dark foil to the more angelic and innocent Swan Queen.

Q: The ballerinas’ performance makeup in the movie is especially dramatic and visually arresting.  What inspired the dark romantic makeup look?

Judy: The look was inspired by the story, and by the director, Darren Aronofsky I felt that he was looking for something dramatic and visually striking, so all of the intensity was focused in the eyes. Margie Durand realized that there were elements of our beautiful set design that should play a role in our makeup. Thus, the delicate silver branches that played across the swan’s faces came to be.  The ensemble swans and the Swan Queen are delicate and romantic with a soft pink lip color, whereas the Black Swan is dark, sharp, and, angular.

Q: A ballerina has an incredibly active job, and in Black Swan, the characters wear both body and face makeup. What products did you use in the film that you were certain would hold up to the lights, movement and perspiration?

Judy: We used Mehron pancake makeup with a spray sealant to ensure that it wouldn’t rub off on the costumes. We also used M·A·C Paint Pots, M·A·C Powerpoint Eye Pencils, and M·A·C Pigments.  In addition, we applied the Illustrator Palettes by Premier Products, which are alcohol based pigments that are virtually water proof and rub proof.  On the fingertips, we used tattoo inks by Skin Illustrator by Premier Products.

Q: What challenges did you face when designing and applying the makeup?

Margie: It was a challenge to makeup the Black Swan as the White Swan and then switch back to Black Swan during the long filming days.  Both makeups had to be retouched because of the strenuous dancing for the close-up shots.

Judy: It would have been a huge problem if any of the makeup rubbed off onto the costumes, so we had to do many tests before we came up with the right combination of products – especially for the hands. The only other challenge was conveying to our team the application techniques, as it really was an operatic style of makeup. The shaping of the eyes and painting the whole eye in cake makeup is unusual for modern makeup artists. Most people are a bit intimidated by pancake makeup and they dismiss it as “old fashioned,” but it can be really beautiful if done properly. In the end, the whole team worked really hard and did a stunning job.

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Q: Did you use any products in a non-traditional way?

Judy: We mixed the M·A·C Pigment in Silver with Ben Nye Final Seal to create a waterproof liquid. We then used this metallic liquid to paint our delicate silver branches across the little swan faces.

Q: Black Swan makeup tutorials have popped up all over the Internet.  Why do you think makeup fans are fascinated with this look, even before the film’s release?

Judy: What’s not to be fascinated with? The look is intense, alluring, and sexy with a bit of danger mixed in. Frankly, I’m flattered and pleased that there has been this much interest in the Black Swan makeup.

Q: How can the everyday woman translate the dramatic Black Swan makeup into an evening look?

Judy: There are a lot of aspects to this makeup that are standard elements for a classic beauty makeup. The highlights and contours along the cheekbones, nose, jaw line, and the pout of the mouth can all be adapted to a contemporary makeup. I also think one could incorporate the dramatic eyeliner – the angles and the intensity – into a very seductive, catlike smoky eye.

Margie: Think 1920’s vamp makeup: create the smoky Black Swan eyes with slender, silver eye liner applied under black wingtip liner and add thin wisps of silver liner over the eyelid, too. Rim the waterline with black liner and top it off with full, feathery false eyelashes. Apply a very matte foundation with contoured cheekbones and a hint of shimmery blush on apple of cheeks. Lips can be matte or glossy in dark eggplant, wine and even black colours!

Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise

I leave you the official trailer for the movie. It opens in Mexico on February 11th.

Kisses!

On Tuesday, I met up with my friend V (from German class) to go to the movies. Originally I wanted to see Narnia (because of Ben Barnes, I have a huge crush on him), but my friend M reminded me that I hadn’t seen TRON yet, so I suggested TRON and we watched TRON. (I’m a terrible storyteller :P)

I saw the whole movie with my mouth hanging open (no kidding and I didn’t even watch in 3D, seriously). The story is fantastic (no spoilers in this post because I suck at reviewing stuff), the effects, the suits, the make up, the motorcycles, the lighting, everything is just so out of this world. Seriously, there are no words to describe how much I liked this movie.

So what did I like the most about TRON Legacy?

The make up!

Yes, the make up. While most people took in the lights, the effect, the motorcycles or how good Olivia Wilde looked in her suit, I noticed the make up. Don’t get me wrong, I liked everything but now that I’m on my make up kick (with the lashes and the eyeliner and waiting until I get paid to order Sugarpill [freelance life sucks sometimes] ) it just stood out more. Personally, I liked Quorra’s look for everyday wear and the Sirens’ look for evening/clubbing. I just like dramatic make up like that.

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I read in this Q&A with Rosalinda da Silva (the lead MUA for TRON) that the designs were kept monochromatic as to blend in with the sets and costumes. The point of the make up was to make it blend with the background as to not over shine other elements, like the lights on the grid. The Sirens’ make up in particular was meant to make them look like sex goddesses, this was achieved with 3 layers of false lashes and exaggerated skin tones. I would have never guessed that, I just focused on the strong eyes and the huge lashes (you all know I’m on my lash kick).

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Yes, those are contacts as well. The Sirens’ were given extremely pale or extremely light skin colours. The whole point was to have them look the same, but it didn’t work with the actresses that they had cast. Also, I quite like the dark eyebrows with the super light hair. Did you notice that there were no shadows in the grid? I didn’t!

You can check out the Q&A qith the lead MUA for the movie to know more about the make up in this movie. I’m looking for TRON inspired tutorials as I type :P.

The fashion!

It’s no secret that the costumes in TRON: Legacy are AMAZING! My friends can’t stop talking about Jeff Bridges’ trench and I can’t stop thinking about Olivia Wilde’s boots. A lot of people like the Sirens’ heels, but I didn’t like them, I don’t like framed heels (they are just weird).

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Just the fact that the costumes light up is amazing in itself. Did you know that the battery life for the costumes was 12 minutes? Yes, 12 minutes! There were over 300 costumes made just because of that. They had a monitoring system to see which costume’s battery was about to die.

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The costumes were inspired in motocross and they wanted then to be form fitting but not be bulky like the Batman costumes. They were designed using the actors’ digital body scans and ZBrush, they were digitally sculpted over the actors’ bodies. The lightning patterns in all the costumes is super symmetrical, except for Quorra’s to show that she was different.

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Hurley Tron Legacy Collection

It’s no wonder that, with costumes as awesome as these are, a clothing line is inspired. The Hurley Tron Legacy Collection echoes the colours and lines from the movie. I particularly like the girls’ collection. It’s full of things I would wear and while it is not super affordable (Disney merchandising + popularity = high-ish prices), I would certainly splurge in a thing or two.

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It’s too bad that they don’t ship to Mexico u_u. I need that dress in my life, like ASAP.

You can learn more about the costumes in this Q&A with the costume designer.

Have you watched TRON: Legacy? What did you think about it?

Kisses!