Backstage

Day: special effects for film

Special effects for the realization of mask by Visitor

by on Nov.20, 2013, during Special Effects, Events


V Visitors (1984)

What would have happened in the world during the developmental period if the reptiles had had the better of the mammals ? The planet would probably be populated by a race of hominid more similar to that of the monkey lizard.. E’ what he wants us to believe the series V-Visitors, in which an alien race presents us with terrestrial human form and promises of peace.
As well as the present, however, in a friendly manner conceals double purpose (the desire to eat us!) also the appearance of the aliens is changeable: a mask hides what are their true appearance..

V-Visitors has been a cult series, that enchanted, impressed and frightened thousands of viewers, since his arrival in Italy on TV 1, in 1984.

I wanted to try to re-look made almost thirty years ago by the make-up of the series, with the same technology available at that time (plaster molds, latex masks).
That's how it came out!


Attrice truccata tipo Visitor, con maschera in silicone verde realizzata su misura

Maschera in silicone da lucertola applicata al viso, Visitors (1984)

The realization of the makeup:
I started taking the imprint of the face of Julia (my model) using water and alginate.
Qui sotto la potete vedere paziente e per niente infastidita mentre aspetta il suo destino 😀



I filled the mark with chalk rapid, that helped me to develop the first of its positive face.
I reused after its footprint to create the false mask of human, that once torn, revealed the appearance of extraterrestrial.
I modeled on the positive plaster, are availing of plasticine, the huge mask Visitors, based upon the images found on the web.
This model was then sprayed with plaster dental, in order to make a good impression even the texture scales.
The mask is then Visitors been realized in liquid latex prevulcanized, for stratification, irrobustendola wherever appropriate, because once applied maintained the form.


Modello di maschera realizzato in plastilina, su calco in gesso

Maschera tipo viso umano in silicone, appoggiata al calco

The application process was quite simple: once glued the mask from the face of alien Giulia, and finished the edges, I applied the color, verde e oro, to remember the scales of reptiles.
Everything was finished with a glossy powder to give shine and life to the Visitor.
I applied around the human mask, suitably cut, to give the idea that it had been torn away from her face.
In this case, the whole thing was fixed with bobby pins to the hair of Julia, previously collected, and covered with a wig with front tulle (attack film).


V Visitors (1984)
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Make Up and Special Effects for Video Virtual Promoter

by on Nov.04, 2013, during Beauty, Special Effects, Events, Make Up


Violet recita per video promozionale Tetra Pak, in cui interpreta un personaggio simile a Sette di Nove di Star Trek

Dettaglio del trucco e applicazione protesi sul viso di Violet, per creare l'interfaccia neurale

During the realization of a video presentation “Virtual Promoter”, taken care of by the Keep In Touch of Mantua for the fair Ecomondo Rimini, I was commissioned to create makeup and special effects on Violet, to give her a look that recalls the character of Star Trek “Seven of Nine”.

Violet, who starred several scenes in front of the camera, had to have a look cybernetic, with a sort of neural interface on the eyebrow, to attract the attention of visitors to the stand Tetra Pak presenting a futuristic look.

The Making of make-up
Before you start to make up your face I was in charge of coverage of the eyebrow, of which had to be installed interface. After combing the hair of the eyebrow and standardized, I applied a piece of shell cap mat then faded.
At this point I created a nice trick beauty uniform over the entire face, paying attention to the chiaroscuro.
Finally I applied and colored prosthetic part, previously made of latex and cold foam, for optimum mobility on the face.

Scatto di backstage durante la ripresa del video di Virtual Promoter per Tetra Pak.
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Cuts and Wounds with special effects

by on May.14, 2013, during Special Effects, Make Up

Francesca, vampira, gioca a carte con Mery che punta il suo sangue.

Not only the sensitivity of the wedding makeup, or the charm and sweetness of make up fashion & glamour on these pages, but also a bit’ of blood and nastiness.
The idea of ​​Frank and Mary to see each other with a little’ of blood on him has been reworked by me and Gabriel in a rather minimalist (away from the atmosphere pulp and splatter horror films the 80s and 90s) domains in which realism and conceptualism.
In 'play your game’ (Pictured above) Mery is playing his life in a game of cards with the always fascinating vampire Francesca, and the opening bet of the game comes down fresh from her wrist.

The make up of the characters in the scene is light and almost neutral: has always been made with funds made fat light, neutral colors, eye shadows red and rosé, colored contact lenses to make it look flat and bright, and all helped to make the atmosphere quite surreal.

The wounds were instead made by molding: In fact, the model made of plasticine, I got the impression with a silicone rubber for polyaddition. Then I created a movie on the footprint in cap mat you can easily blend with the skin, sucessivamente and I filled it with bondo, which has maintained transparency.
The result is an effect of extreme realismoin which the prosthesis has no edges and whose color blends naturally (thanks to semitrapsarenza) with that of the complexion.

Mery, dettaglio taglio su polso

Other scenes from the set:

Francesca, ferita sul collo
Francesca, ferita sul collo
Francesca, ferita sul collo

Models: Francy Albicans, Mary Poppins
Photography: Gabriele Bertolini, Stefano Sacchi

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Not only vampires on Halloween !

by on Nov.09, 2011, during Special Effects, Events

..old, during the month of October because the demands of cosmetic dental implants have multiplied, and specifically:

Teeth zombies:
As you can see from the photo of the model, different from that specified in tutorial, to make these prostheses I just shaping the tips of the teeth existing mold. The result was a faster implementation and a much thinner implants, that if one side makes it more fragile and delicate, the other makes it even more comfortable and more subtle.
The prosthesis is double, because it was made for the upper jaw for the lower, maintaining a good chance of closing the mandibular.
It should be noted that increases the realism by adding small details of color and a good polishing.

Dentiere da Zombie, superiore ed inferiore Positivo in gesso modificato con Pongo






Vampire teeth:
A small variation on the classic theme of 'vampire teeth'.. I reached the second incisors as well as the canines, and did a little’ sull'attaccatura top of the central incisors to make them bad. The root of the canine was discovered and moved higher up to simulate a greater length of the tooth.
Since the realization we are not bound by specific design, every time you create something new and different, thus adapting the model to the trends of the moment or to a specific request, as in the case of replicas for imitators, cosplayers, etc..

Dentiera da vampiro, con incisivi e canini allungati Positivo in gesso e modello in plastilina






Cosmetic prostheses real:
 These false teeth’ have good coverage of aesthetic realism used to make a more pleasing smile that present a problem ugly (Attention: This is NOT a medical implant / but a simple cosmetic dental prostheses. It is therefore intended as temporary cover for use in a movie set, for cosplay, or in the theater, for the time necessary to acting / role of the).
Not create any difficulties in speech but NOT can be used for food and eating / o bere, sleep.
Membership in the mouth is guaranteed by the bill, that is being made on the calculated, fits perfectly with the underlying tooth, without requiring the need for glues or other fastening devices. It is sufficient to remove it gently pull it down. This is cleaned by washing with an antibacterial soap is not colored or neutral color and a mouthwash that contains no alcohol (without letting in immersion) and let it air dry then.

Protesi cosmetica Positivo in gesso e protesi in resina di dentatura cosmetica
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How to create a fake nose for theatrical use latex

by on Oct.12, 2011, during Special Effects, Events

Here are step by step illustrated instructions on how I made the noses for a few characters of the Palio of Pomarance.

Since this is a play which did not require the likely make-up make-up film, and being the nose part of the face little flexible and deformable, I thought it was not necessary to use latex foam to achieve this type of prosthesis, but could also work well on liquid latex precured.

The first step in the realization of the prosthesis was then the study design (the whole show was created and developed around a comic) and the creation of the model.

naso in gesso e modello di naso in pongo calco di naso in gesso e modello di naso in pongo

Even with the positive provision of a nose (my! 🙂 ) plaster work on, and that I used as reference for the size, for convenience I made a table of all PVC (my kitchen cutting board).

After the modeling phase of the clay (Here I used the very common Pongo) and recreated a thin orange peel to simulate the effect of the skin, I used the cutout of the base of a bottle to surround the model and create a containment for the casting, as well suited in size, and then I poured the plaster to get the impression.

At this stage it is important to ensure that small air bubbles inevitably present in the water / gypsum leave, thus avoiding that create imperfections to the mold. To do this, fully paid after the plaster into the mold, just beat vigorously on the basis of which it supported the model, creating vibrations.

naso in gesso e modello di naso in pongo calco di naso in gesso e modello di naso in pongo

Obtained the mold and removing the model pose, which will leave the imprint 'clean', you can proceed to the first molding.

To do this you must pay a minimum amount of liquid latex mold inside, and then moving the same to make the latex go to cover only the areas concerned, preventing or oozing from the mold is at the bottom.

The mold should be left to air dry (if you want you can speed up the processs with a hair dryer) and at the end all be exposed to the latex powdered with talcum powder or neutral boron-. This will prevent the latex from sticking to itself during the extraction.
Generally a single layer of latex is very thin and is not sufficient to ensure that the prosthesis has achieved the required consistency, to make it more rigid, you can create other levels following the first, but left margins after 'climbing’ the distance 1/2 mm from the edge of the previously created, to ensure that the edges, remaining thinner, risultimo invisible once pasted.

stampo in gesso contenente lattice liquido stampo in gesso con lattice in attesa di asciugatura

Once you reach the desired thickness, powder for remembering everything well, you can proceed, by lifting a corner of the latex and shoved under a brush full of talcum powder, to pull the nose of the mold.
What should be done by becoming aware that the objectivity achieved not fold on itself, sticking beyond repair.
Below is presented as a separate noses from the plaster, ready to be applied and colored.

naso in lattice estratto dallo stampo naso in lattice estratto dallo stampo
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