Context:
For the second part of my Final Major Project, we will be collaborating with Performing Arts to create the hair and makeup for their adaptation of Peter Pan. I originally thought that I was going to be creating a makeup look based on Tiger Lily because I was first told that she would be a character- unfortunately I learnt that Tiger Lily is not going to be in the performing arts show, so I will be creating looks for The Lost Boys and Pirates. Some of my other classmates will also be doing makeup for The Lost Boys, which is why I will also consider the makeup for The Pirates- This will also be beneficial if I am asked to do the makeup for more characters, which has happened before in out film and TV project. Doing my research this way will also help me improve and manage my time keeping skills.
My mood board only had pictures of the lost boys as reference but in my assessment in class I practiced a pirate so that I know what I will do the day of the performing arts collaboration.
The Practical Assessment for this part of our Final Major Project will take place on April 23rd.
Research:
I already have some experience in creating a basic stage makeup look from my second project, so I know that the base has to be slightly darker than the actor’s skin tone to look natural underneath stage lights, the contour doesn’t have to be completely blended because it needs to be seen from the back of the theatre and that it would be a good idea to use white face paint underneath the eye to make the eye seem bigger- again so that it can be seen from the back of the theatre.
For the lost boys and pirates, I don’t think a full face of makeup is generally necessary because of the nature of the characters but I will create a base layer of makeup regardless. I will still create a stage eye so that it keeps the stage makeup effect.
(Examples of stage eyes that I have created before)
For the Lost Boys, I looked at depictions of them from the movie Hook- which was better for inspiration because it is live action. I will use dirt powder to make them look like they have been living in a forest hideout and hairspray to make the hair look greasier. I probably won’t need to be too concerned about their costume because that is being handled by a different department, but I will still need to communicate with the wardrobe department and actors so that I can know the best way possible to do their makeup. This will also apply to the pirates.
For The Lost Boys I will use makeup to make the actors’ eyes wider and possibly contour if I need to work on a female actor look male, I will also not use any hair laying techniques because The Lost Boys are all young. I will use dirt powder to make them look dirty- as someone would look if they lived in a forest hideout with no adults to guide them.
In the movie Hook (my main reference for inspiration of my looks), it is clear that the other pirates are significantly dirtier and not as well taken care of as Captain Hook. I am not creating a makeup look for Captain Hook, but this comparison picture between him and his crew is good for me because I now that I will again have to use dirtying down techniques as well as breaking down the skin to keep the comparison. I will also need to communicate with my classmates who are doing the makeup for Captain Hook, Smee and the other pirates so that we are all aware of the contrast we need to make and how we can create our looks to a high standard.
For some of The Pirates, I will need to use hair laying techniques to make it obvious that their characters are older than the rest of the cast. I might use the makeup technique of aging (which I have some knowledge of) and adding scars to the actors’ faces using a very light concealer for their skin tone. I may also showcase my skills in creating bruises to add more to the effect of roughed up pirates.
Problem Solving:
I originally thought of using water to make the Lost Boys’ hair look greasy, but the water would dry very quickly under the hot stage lights. I changed my method to include hairspray because when it dried it would still have the effect of greasy hair that I would like to create for these characters.
Also, I was originally planning on creating a look for Tiger Lily- but I learnt that she wasn’t in the show so I had to change the characters that I was creating looks for.
Planning & Production:
To begin planning for this look I asked one of the performing arts tutors who would be playing what character (this is how I found out that there was no Tiger Lily in their show). I then completed my research into what characters I would be creating looks for; this included looking at reference images and re-watching the movies to get an idea of how the characters act as it could help me add to my overall look based on how specific characters act.
| Contouring & Scars | Changing Face Shapes & Adding Scars |
| Stage Eye | Stage Makeup |
| Blush | Drunken Effect |
| Base makeup | |
| Dirt powder | Unkept Effect |
| Mascara |
I will also add hairspray to the hair of my models to continue to make them look unkept.
Practical Skills:
(This step by step includes the improvements my tutor had me make)
First, I completed the skin prep on my model and added a base layer of foundation, concealer and contour, I then set the face with translucent powder.
Then I added a lot of blush to my models cheeks and nose to make them look drunk (Pirates in fiction drink a lot of alcohol).
After that, I added the stage eye to my model by adding white face paint on their waterline, lower lashes and underneath the eye before setting it with powder and using a black liner pencil around the new eye shape.
Then I used a white liner pencil and brown eyeshadow to create the scar on my models’ forehead, then I added mascara to complete the makeup.
Finally, I added dirt powder to the face and neck and added hairspray to my models’ hair to make it look greasy.
Presentation:
On the day of the show, I will make sure that my station is always as clean as possible and clean my brushes thoroughly in between clients.
Evaluation:
My tutor said that I did a very good job in this part of the Final Major Project, I was told that I needed to add more dirt powder to the neck and go over the scar with a white eye pencil as well as shading it to make it look more life-like. These pictures were taken after these improvements.
Reflection:
Overall, I liked how this look came out and I think I did a lot better in this part of the project. I think I could have improved my pirate look if I practiced hair laying to be able to properly differentiate the pirates from the lost boys.