Makeup in the cinema and theater make-up - the secrets of the profession

The theater is a magical place where the laws of reality are violated and unusual events and startling reincarnations take place. The image required for the role is created using costume, lighting and, of course, makeup. What is included in this concept and what secrets are hidden behind the changes in the appearance of the characters?

History of Makeup

In some way, the actors' faces were painted in Ancient Greece. The predominant color in which the theatrical make-up existed in those years was white. Antimony (for allocation of eyes in black color) and occasionally rouge were also used. Modern make-up is done on a fat basis. It includes lanolin, white petrolatum, beeswax, mineral dyes and special pigments. If in ancient times and in the Middle Ages, the skin's health was of little concern to the actors who applied toxic paints to create the image, now the makeup for the face is developed taking into account that it does not harm or minimize it.

From Halloween to blockbuster

Based on the definition of the concept itself, make-up is the art of changing the appearance of the actor. For this, special compositions, wigs, plastic stickers are used. Also, the makeup itself is called make-up, which is used in this process. These are specially designed compounds that can be on the face for a long time without changing the color, texture and density of the overlay.

If you decide to create an unusual image for Halloween, you can easily find on sale so-called aqua-grime - water-based paints that are applied with a brush and easily washed off. This is the simplest option, so to speak, the mass market in this area. Grim theatrical involves the use of resistant formulations on a fat basis.

Theater and cinema

The creation of the image will differ depending on where the actor is involved - in the play or in the television series. If, when shooting a movie, the face of a hero can be shown close-up, in which the smallest details are visible, then in the theater it will be necessary to select all of his facial features so that they can be distinguished from a great distance. It may also be necessary to give the actor a likeness to a particular character. The make-up theater, unlike the one used in the cinema, is much sharper and more intense, and when viewed closely, it may even look repulsive.

In this art there are many directions and techniques, each of which is applied for a specific purpose. Professionals distinguish two main types: conditional and realistic make-up for the face.

Features of a realistic makeup

The concept of realistic means that the created image needs to be as close as possible in appearance to the role being played, that is, similarity or correspondence is achieved. Depending on the tasks, the realistic make-up is divided into several areas: portrait (for the role of historical characters, artists, famous personalities), national (when, for example, a European needs to be played by a representative of another race), age (creating an image of an older or younger person , Than the actor himself) and characteristic (based on the knowledge of physiognomy and creates an instant impression of the character's character). For each option is chosen its own palette.

Theater make-up, called conditional, is used to study simple and understandable images and often focuses on the allocation of one part of the face. These may be images of Pinocchio, Baba Yaga, Piero and others. To create such images, in addition to paints, liquid latex is used, a substance that dries quickly on the skin and becomes elastic, so that it can be shaped into it. In this latex in color is similar to human skin. When plastic make-up is used, the theatrical image turns out to be especially realistic.

The subtleties of the profession

The work of the make-up artist is not limited to banal application of paints. Any make-up artist should know the basics of anatomy and facial structure - for example, drawing wrinkles, you need to do them exactly in those places in which they should be physiologically. It is also necessary to know the laws of distribution of light and shadow and take them into account, creating an image so that the stage lighting does not blur, or vice versa, does not coarsen the face of the actor.

It is important to know the features of the color palette, based on which makeup is created. The theatrical make-up artist is aware of how the paints work - light tones visually increase, thicken and approximate the objects selected by them, and dark tones narrow, thin, visually remove the object. The classical palette consists of 12 primary colors - white, black, blue, green, red, bakan, ocher and shades of the skin - light beige, light brown, brown, natural and tan. In the working case of a professional make-up artist you can find tubes with gold or silver paint, multicolored pencils for body art and much more, because each next image can be unpredictable.

Let there be light! What will it be like?

An important point in the work of the theatrical make-up artist is to take into account the color shades of stage lighting. Professional make-up artists constantly consult with the stage staff before taking on the paints. Depending on how the scenery changes, the saturation and color of the scene varies, from bright to semi-dark, from soft blue to bright red. Professional make-up takes into account all these moments when creating an image of the hero. Red light will highlight the makeup of the eyes and make the face pale, green will give a deadly look, and blue will turn into a purple hue.

Applying makeup is a fascinating creative process, the result of which is always unique and unique. This art is at the junction of anatomy, painting and sculpture and does not cease to develop day by day.