(Images: Focus Features)
Here at makeupdeptmastery.com, it’s time to talk about the Oscars! Coming up in just a few weeks, three films will battle out as per usual to take the prize. 2017 was an absolute killer year for makeup and hair, and in particular, the art of transforming actors into other people. The shortlist consisted of a good mix of historical makeup and fantasy character makeup. Last year favoured the otherworldly. However, it seems realism is what The Academy is liking most this year, with three standout films of realistic or historical nature making the top three.
//1. Darkest Hour
(Images: Focus Features)
Ever since the first image of Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill came out, Oscar buzz has been surrounding this film. Consequently, it’s been nominated this year with a high probability of taking home the prize. Kazuhiro Tsuji joined the project at Oldman’s request and thank god he did. The prosthetic makeup he has designed for Oldman is earning high praise in the industry as something that will live on legendarily for years to come. Darkest Hour is a perfect companion piece to Nolan’s Dunkirk and focuses on Winston Churchill’s early days as prime minister during WW2.
‘After plenty of mixing and matching — “the chin and the nose with the brow, without the brow, the eyebags with the chin but not the nose,” as Wright put it — they found the sweet spot. The engines of Oldman’s acting, his eyes, forehead, and mouth, would be prosthetic-free. The cheeks, jowls, neck, and chin would be makeup, and a small bit on the nose would give Oldman a hint of Churchill’s famous pug nose. He also shaved his head, so that a wig could get the hairline just right.’ – Nate Jones, Vulture
//2. Wonder
(Images: Lionsgate)
One that will no doubt tear at those heartstrings, Wonder is unsurprisingly the second nominee. Following suit to Darkest Hour, the lead character required a full prosthetic makeup, this time to replicate Treacher Collins Syndrome. Arjen Tuiten and crew were given a tremendous task: to design prosthetics that had to be worn by a 9-year old boy for long periods of time. Jacob Tremblay, who was thrust into the spotlight in 2015 for his performance in ‘Room’, returned to sink his teeth into the emotionally challenging role of Auggie. ~And it’s a real change for Tuiten, whose resume includes a lot of fantasy work. But he’s attacked the realism head on and won. He even had surgeons shocked that they had used prosthetics, as it seemed so authentic.
‘We had prosthetics on the chin and nose, fake eyebrows and teeth and little eye-bags that are connected to the wire. Then, when we did the first tests, we noticed that his eyes looked melted, more like a burn victim. So I came up with contact lenses that enlarged the iris and filled the white of the eyes. This helped get rid of that droopy look and made him cuter. The first time Jacob’s mother saw him with the makeup, she burst into tears.’ – Arjen Tuiten, LA TIMES
//3. Victoria & Abdul
(Images: Focus Features)
Another historic period piece has made the list this year, featuring our favourite Dame of all in this world, Judi Dench. Victoria & Abdul follows Queen Victoria’s close friendship with her servant Abdul Karim in her later years of reign. While Victoria & Abdul doesn’t offer heavy prosthetic makeups like its’ competitors, it does showcase beautiful period hair and makeup done to absolute perfection by Daniel Phillips, Lou Shephard, and team. To recreate a moment in history requires knowledge, accuracy, and attention to detail, all of which is present in this film.
‘We are just so excited and honoured to have been nominated by the Academy. For us, Victoria & Abdul was the perfect platform to showcase some ‘back to old school’ classic hair and character makeup skills. We are so thankful to be recognised. A very proud moment for us.’ – Daniel Phillips and Lou Sheppard
