Prosthetic Makeup Essay

Prosthetic special effects are illusions or visual tricks used in film, television, theatre, and video games to simulate the imagined events in a story or virtual world. This field of practical effects is more essential to horror than it is to any other genre. Prosthetic makeup consists of severed limbs to acid-spitting aliens, from expertly applied knife wounds to the walking dead, from heaping piles of spilled intestines to howling creatures of the night. They have the power to bring to life, out of this world characters in just about any time-period. Prosthetic effects makeup artists do it through the artistry of the makeup they apply and the prosthetics they create. Since the 1990’s special effects makeup has been an evolving art. During
this time cameras could only shoot in black and white, meaning that makeup had to be applied differently to how you apply it now. The main materials that were used at the beginning of the industry were putty, mortician’s wax, spirit gum and collodion. There were many famous artists who specialized in this type of cosmetology, such as Jack Pierce. Pierce created creatures for Frankenstein (1931), Dracula (1931), The Mummy (1932) and The Wolf Man (1941). Prosthetic makeup was revolutionized by John Chamber. Chambers was an American makeup artist and prosthetic makeup expert in both film and television. Some of his work included him crating the pointy ears of the character Spock on the tv series Star Trek (1966), and for his makeup work on the Planet of the Apes. Before he came into the field of makeup he was a medical technician during WWII, and that is where he repaired faces and made prosthetic limbs for wounded veterans. After Chambers service, he became the head of makeup at 20-century Fox. In 1953, he joined the NBC tv network as a makeup artist for live shows. Later he joined Universal Pictures after his first film, Around the World in Eighty Days in 1956. Moreover, he became famous for his work on the Planet of the Apes films.
Despite John Chambers work, prosthetic makeup has evolved drastically since the 1900s.
Modern day Prosthetic Artists work with cosmetology Designers and Directors by breaking down scripts and analyzing what prosthetics that are needed for the characters. They also estimate the time needed for and the cost of prosthetics with the designer or director. A makeup artist must skillfully transform the human canvas into the desired character or appearance within a certain timeframe. In this career, the artist needs to have a broad range of common skills, but can specialize in vast types of makeup and application techniques. Weather working independently or for a production company, these artists must interact with directors and cast members to help produce authentic performances. Training to get into this field typically includes an education with an on the job experience. The required education in special effects is and associates degree program in cosmetology. Prosthetic effects makeup artist median annual salary is $53,230 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). With being a special effects artist, you must deal with competition and expectations. There is a lot of competition in this career. Artists will have to do their best and show off their skills with trying to get a job in the
production.
The fact that a special effects artist applies makeup on actors and performers to aid in the characters’ theatrical transformation. The artist may be required to take direction form directors or script supervisors to ensure that the actor resembles his or her character. With competition being high he artist will also have to read the script themselves, and also take notes with designing the makeup that fits the scriptwriters specifications.