Vincent Cunningham
The sub-genre of our horror teaser trailer is "Slasher". Make-up will play a huge factor in our teaser trailer as slasher films are grotesque through wounds, cuts, grazes, missing limbs all caused by the typical psychotic killer on the loose. These wounds convey a sense of visceral pleasure and pain to audiences from the oozing blood and flesh being ripped out of "innocent" victims. Make-up is an iconic convention within a slasher and is what makes a slasher a slasher. If there was no blood/gore, our trailer would not be classed as a "slasher" in the film industry. On the other hand, costume doesn't play such a big part in our trailer as our protagonists are teenagers, meaning they will be wearing teenage clothes. However, our target audience are teens, meaning we are engaging viewers more with the trailer, which may trigger more people wanting to see the movie. On this page I will be showing how we got from A to B, along with showing inspiration through existing media texts and YouTube tutorials on make-up and costume.
Tutorials - Fx Make-up
We though this was an informative video as it shows us how to create prosthetic by layering liquid latex. This video covers how to create the prosthetic which is ready to be applied with skin. We used this video as inspiration for some further prosthetic we may create in the future.
|
This video was helpful as it showed us how to create wounds from the product scar wax. It is easy to follow which may help us when experimenting with wounds and Fx make-up.
|
Bruises are very important when doing FX make-up as it accentuates the wound and makes it realistic. For example, if I was to create a cut with scar wax, I may use red tones within the bruise wheel to convey a sense of irritation to the skin. I may to this with a stipple (textured) sponge which replicates broken capillaries within the skin.
|
This video is effective as it shows us the different places within the face we can apply certain products to be safe. For example scar wax is safe to use around the eyes however liquid latex is not suitable very close to eyes. This gives us alternative products we may use when working with different parts of the body/face.
|
Contact Lenses & Types of Blood
Contact lenses are highly sophisticated when featured in a make-up look as it brings the character to life. We may use contact lenses on some of the antagonists of the victims featured in their dreams to convey a sense of evil. White mesh contact lenses are effective as they replicate a blind eye, creating a sinister/menacing look and may mirror past traumas antagonists may have faced in their childhood/past.
|
This blood is grotesque as it can be used in the eyes. This intensifies the gore and can be used to show damage to eyes.
|
|
|
The 2 videos above are highly informative as it shows different types of bloods and what they are used for. For example, coagulated blood is typically used inside the wound to mimic flesh and torn layers of skin within the wound. Runny blood is typically used around the wound to accentuate the gore factor and serious "damage". For my make-up looks I will use both of these blood types to achieve realism.
Products To Invest In:
|
Time-lapse & Wound Experimentation
The image to the left shows the products we have invested in to create the following FX wounds below. Some of these products have been inspired from the YouTube tutorials above.
This includes:
|
Time-lapseThe Time-lapse above shows me using the products that I listed above on two models to create different looks. To create the bullet wound I used liquid latex, cotton, bruise wheel and both runny and coagulated fake blood. To create the bullet hole I molded the cotton into a ring and layered liquid latex over the top, making sure it was secure on the models forehead. I felt having two types of blood worked better to achieve a realistic outcome as the coagulated blood acts as the ripped flesh deep in the wound rather than just having runny blood. To create depth within the wound I added black from the bruise wheel. I was purposely messy with the blood as a bullet would shoot straight through someones head, triggering a huge amount of blood to explode on the face.
|
Wounds from Time-lapse
I used the same products from the previous look to create the second look. For the gash on the forehead I molded cotton into 2 sausage shapes and layered it with liquid latex. To help blend the edges into the skin to achieve realism, I used a steel palette knife whilst the cotton was saturated in the latex. This makes it easier to shape/blend. I powdered the wound to take away its shininess and added reds and browns from the bruise wheel to add depth. The final step for this part of the face was to add the blood. I repeated these stages on the nose, however created 3 smaller sausage shapes to act as exposed flesh/bones. To accentuate the eyes I decided to colour them using the bruise wheel. These black eyes may mirror the immense amount of sleep the teenagers have had in the warehouse along with the abuse from their personal antagonist, themselves.
|
Experimenting With Blood and Blood Capsules
|
The video to the left shows us experimenting with different types of blood I.E blood capsules and runny blood. This also gave us a insight on what the bloods will look like on dark skin.
|
Cuts
Here, I have experimented with a different product to create a wound which is Scar wax by Mehron. This product was tricky to work with due to its tendency to easily stick to things. In this case, the warmth of my hands whilst molding the wax triggered it to stick. To create the wound I molded the scar wax into a sausage shape and blended the edges into my skin. I had to keep my fingers moist and damp so the scar wax didn't stick. Once the sides were blended I ran the end of a blunt butter knife down the wax to create the "cut". I then filled in the cut with Kryolan blood. To make this look more successful I should of applied an adhesive such as liquid latex to give the wax something else to stick to, rather than straight onto my skin as it started to come off.
|
This slit wrist was created using Ben Nye Scar wax. I followed the same steps as I mentioned on the left hand side, however just changes the position. Experimenting in placing wounds in different places is effective as we get to see what parts in our body experience more movement. The more movement there is, the less the product is likely to stay on. From applying the scar wax on the wrist I can say that it stays on well. The wrist its self doesn't move near as much as the hand, therefore creating a highly efficient spot for a wound. I like this product as I think it looks professional, realistic and striking through the minimal use of scar wax and blood.
|
Gash
This gash was created using 2 different types of scar wax. For the general wound I used Ben Nye, however to create texture I used scar wax by Snazaroo. This Snazaroo wax is more dense, enabling more stability for molding. I used this dense wax to create the holes on the left and side of the wound. This accentuates the gash using texture, enabling it to be more visually striking to viewers. I used fresh scab blood in the wound, which was effective as it looks realistic.
|
Bruises (old & fresh)I have experimented with my Ben Nye bruise wheel with different types of bruises such as old (dominantly yellow) and fresh (dominantly pink/purple). For the old bruise I used hints of purple, pink along with tones of yellow. The fresh bruise uses more pinks and purples. I have applied this with a stipple sponge to replicate broken capillaries within this skin. As my teaser trailer features the next day, I may include a variety of bruises over one of the victim's body, which symbolize one of the problems with alcoholism, vulnerability. We are going to depict this vulnerability in the teaser trailer through rape. Bruises are iconic for this. We are also going to use a knife signifying a phallic object to depict rape also.
|
Above shows the process of how I took inspiration from the liquid latex prosthetic video. However for this I used Liquid latex, and flour instead of liquid latex and tissue. I wanted to experiment with flour as I thought it would create gross texture, making my wound more explicit and grotesque. To create this I mixed both the liquid latex and flour on a hard surface until it turned into a paste. Then I created spontaneous lumps and bumps to create texture. Once this was done I painted 4 coats of liquid latex around the paste to act as a bottom layer for the paste to stick on. I powdered the paste and bottom layer to take away the stickiness once it was dry. Then I applied it to my skin, positioning it on my fore arm. I used liquid latex as an adhesive then placed the prosthetic on top. Using the bruise wheel I started painting dark colours in the cracks and crevices to create depth, along with reds and browns. Finally I added both Fresh Scab blood and Runny Snazaroo blood which intensified the realism, creating visual pleasure for viewers, along with highly sophisticated realistic wound,
I found these FX make-up tutorials helpful as it has helped me experiment with new ways to create wounds and bruises in a sophisticated and realistic way.
I found these FX make-up tutorials helpful as it has helped me experiment with new ways to create wounds and bruises in a sophisticated and realistic way.
Real Media Texts
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Freddy Krueger starts off in the film as an ordinary man, however he was burned alive for the murders of the children and his wife. This past trauma is captured through Krueger's face with burns, scars and flesh. We like the way different tones of red were used to replicate burned flesh and scars. He wears a glove featuring multiple blades on each finger, connoting multiple phallic objects. This is effective as it shows ultimate power and authority. In our own teaser trailer we are going to take inspiration and use multiple knifes to intensify the "rape" scene through multiple penetrations of knifes. We may also use make-up to reflect what the teens problem is with alcoholism.
|
Scream
We was inspired by Scream through the costume characterization. The 3 characters we decided to take inspiration from was the jock, popular girl/Dumb Blonde, and final girl. Each of these characters were depicted through costume. For example the popular girl was depicted through a short shirt, heels and crop top revealing her nipples underneath, making the audience a voyeur. The jock wears a baseball bomber showing his true alpha male status in sport, along with being the "hottest" guy in school. He gets all of the ladies and has got the looks. He also wears jeans and typical pair of sneakers. The final girl is masculinised through a phallic object which in this case was a gun. She wears jeans, non revealing shirts and jackets. We are going to use these classic conventions slasher to easily communicated to the audience which stock character is which.
|
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
We liked the Chainsaw Massacre because of the make-up used in the movie. For example make-up has been added to the masks to accentuate features such as the eyes and mouth. I am going to take inspiration from this and add self made prosthetics to basics masks by adding lumps, bumps to make them seem unusual and creepy. I will break off some of the mask in certain areas to reveal the killers skin. This will trigger concepts for viewers as the killers skin will be atypical. I.E their may be burns/scars etc. This may represent past traumas of the killer's life. We will also take inspiration from the killers movement, for example he thrusts with the chainsaw which is a phallic object conveying a sense of sexual symbolism. This is effective as in my trailer it will reinforce punishment for teenagers which is the sub-text beneath my teaser trailer.
|
Costume
Charlie (The Final Girl) (Alcoholism - Turn vicious, nasty, opposite) - Becomes own Antagonist
The mood board to the left shows the costume for the final girl. It is split into two sides. The left shows the costume of charlie at her true state, however when she has a drink and passes out, she experiences her inner beast, her nightmare, the thing trapped inside her body that is never revealed. The right side shows her costume when playing her own antagonist and drunken state. The problem we are trying to convey with the final girl through alcoholism is the bipolar personality switch people experience. This includes getting nasty, viscous and very angry. This feelings get released in Charlie's dream leaving a battle between her and a bad representation of herself. She becomes the final girl when she overcomes her drunken state by stabbing herself (masculinised by phallic object), enabling her to wake up finding her friends dead who were killed by their personal antagonists. Both of these characters will be played by the same person as they are meant to be two versions of one another, therefore meaning that they will be wearing the same clothes. Every time the evil version hurts herself, the true person will get physically hurt. I will use make up to create the cuts on charlie when the bad version hurts herself on purpose to hurt her true self. Charlie figures this out and stabs her self, realizing it will hurt the rebellious version of herself and get her out of the paralyzing dream and back to reality.
The final girl is a teenager, so she will be wearing black jeans, converse and a jacket. I have chosen black and red throughout the costume to represent connotations of darkness, blood, rage and danger. For the antagonist we are going to rip the jeans to intensify this rebellious attitude that never gets released by charlie when she doesn't have a drink. The name "Charlie" is unisex, showing another masculine aspect to this character, reinforcing iconic conventions portrayed previously in horror films. The mood board to the right shows further inspirations of previous final girls featured in horror films.
The final girl is a teenager, so she will be wearing black jeans, converse and a jacket. I have chosen black and red throughout the costume to represent connotations of darkness, blood, rage and danger. For the antagonist we are going to rip the jeans to intensify this rebellious attitude that never gets released by charlie when she doesn't have a drink. The name "Charlie" is unisex, showing another masculine aspect to this character, reinforcing iconic conventions portrayed previously in horror films. The mood board to the right shows further inspirations of previous final girls featured in horror films.
Josh (The Jock) (Alcoholism - Emotional state, thinking about his "EX")
Taking inspiration from "scream" we are including the "jock" in our teaser trailer called "josh". He is the alpha male and is the best at what he does, sport. He gets all of the "hot" chicks as he is the "hottest" guy in school. To the left shows the costume for the jock featured in our teaser trailer. We decided to dress him in black jeans to connote representations of negativity and death. The white t-shirt contrasts with this, representing representations of binary oppositions - life and death. The red baseball bomber is effective as it represents blood, danger, rage, aggression that is soon to come by his antagonist. He is going to be wearing some sort of trainers, sneakers weather it is nike trainers or old school vans. The nike trainers are maroon, representing blood. Alcoholism forces josh into his emotional state leading him to cry, wine about his EX girlfriend he cheated on multiple times and abused physically. This is going to be the antagonists that hunts him down in his dreams.
Josh's "EX" Molly (Josh's antagonist)
Josh's EX is itching for her revenge as Josh reveals his emotional state through alcoholism. She wears all black to represent the negativity and darkness josh put her through whilst being in a domestic violent relationship with him. She will be wearing black jeans, black jacket and black boots. She will have multiple cuts around her face representing the both physical and emotional damage josh caused her. Each cut represents every time josh cheated on her, along with the black eyes I will create on her face. Bruises are an iconic way to represent domestic violence. The weapon she uses to attack josh is an axe. Her intoxicating swings mirror the swings josh used to through at her.
Emma (The popular girl - Dumb Blonde) - (Alcoholism cause - Vulnerability, rape)
Emma is the so called popular girl/dumb blonde. She is a girly girl wearing a full face of make-up everyday to impress her boyfriend, the "hottest" boy in school, the jock. They are the "perfect" couple. The mood board to the left shows the type of clothes Emma will be wearing. She will be wearing revealing clothes unsuitable for their adventure to the abandoned location such as, a short skirt, high heels, revealing lace tops, reinforcing the dumb decisions made by dumb blondes. These revealing clothes will force the audience to view the girl as a heterosexual, making them a voyeur to future close-ups of her legs. This is effective as we are going to manipulate our audience through costume, make-up and camera shots. The colour scheme of clothes will be red and black, again representing connotations of blood, rage, negativity and death, however also romance and sexual pleasure when with the jock. The problem this character faces with alcoholism is vulnerability. She drinks so much she cannot control situations going on around her. To show the dangers in this we are having her antagonist (male killer) stab her repeatedly in the abdominal area to reenact rape. She is going to be killed first within the trailer reinforcing the stereotype that the dumb blonde is always killed towards the start of the movie. To the right I have gathered images of previous dumb blonde's/popular girls featured in movies to get an idea of what type of girl we are trying to create.
The Rapist (Charlies Antagonist)
For Emmas rapist we decided to use a mask taking inspiration from the masks used in Chainsaw Massacre. I will customize a basic mask to enhance the eyes and mouth including adding self made prosthetics to add a more creepy look. I will create burns and scars on the face beneath the mask and break parts off the mask to create missing areas. This will reveal the killers skin mirroring past traumas the antagonists has been through in the past, this helps trigger concepts for viewers. I will use a white contact lense to intensify this look. He will be wearing wellington boots, black jeans and a dark grey sweatshirt. These colours are dark representing death along with the jet black jeans. The boots signify that he is ready to get messy. He carries a knife as he likes to penetrate people. The subtext for him penetrating Emma is teenage punishment. This penetration also marks the transition/rebirth from childhood to adult hood as he is also penetrating her vagina, reenacting popping a females "cherry".
Overall, I feel confident on what my characters are going to look like in our teaser trailer as we have deeply thought about costume and make up, along with experimenting with different wounds and deciding what stock characters our cast are going to portray through costume (the jock, final girl and popular girl).