Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1058399
Widows M A K E - U P B Y M A K A L A A D E V I A N A N D A DEPARTMENT HEAD MAKE-UP I was Department Head Make-up for director Steve McQueen on two previous projects: Shame and 12 Years a Slave. Steve is an artist and holds himself and others with the highest regard and expectations. On a Steve McQueen film, all of us are operating at our peak performance, and it is extremely exciting to be part of a blending of such a creative force. I remember when we were in our first production meeting with all departments, I had just arrived from New Zealand. I should have been jet lagged, instead I was supercharged from the electricity that was generated by both Steve McQueen and the DP Sean Bobbitt. Steve was describing one of the stunts. A young African man was to get into a car accident while driving and the air bag would open up. "Kalaadevi," Steve said, "I want him to have a broken nose and have black and blue eyes … very swollen." "Yes, got it," I replied. I could visualize the image he had in mind. Then I added, "How powerful, with dark skin, white powder dusted across the face, and a line of burgundy blood dripping down over." Steve looked at me and smiled, "like a painting." While filming, we did not have the time to do the shot, but I had many opportunities to illustrate faces in paint medium for Steve. To go about creating the looks of the characters, I read the script, visualize the actor and then I begin drawing. When I first meet with the director, I come with drawings and color studies. It is the same when I meet the actor. CONTINUED ON PAGE 56 Clockwise from top left: Viola Davis; Viola and Cynthia Erivo; Colin Farrell; Robert Duvall; Elizabeth Debicki Photos: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation