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MAKE-UP ARTISTS & HAIR STYLISTS GUILD AWARDS | 33 V A N G U A R D A W A R D M A K E - U P FRED BLAU, JR. Emmy-winning make-up artist Fred Blau, Jr. is considered the top expert of blood illusions and tattoo artistry by his fellow make-up colleagues. Some 40 years ago, he and his partner invented a new formula for theatrical blood used throughout the industry to this day. ey formed the company Reel Creations®, which continued to create innovative tools for the make-up pros. eir silk screen process could do massive full-body designs. ey invented body art ink that stayed on several days. eir products are the main source for cover-up, hair color, and sealer, among many other uses. In the 1950s, Blau was an aspiring young actor pursuing a theater arts degree. One of his classes happened to be in make- up, so aer taking the class and observing make-up techniques on set, make-up became his major interest. In 1964, he became an apprentice at Warner Bros. and spent many hours in the make-up laboratory experimenting with various formulas for theatrical blood. At the time, because of the new high technolog y in camera lenses, higher grade of fill used, the current antiquated theatrical blood looked and photographed like poster paint. Blau formulated a theatrical blood that actually looked like real blood—and as a bonus, it washed out of clothes easily. He manufactured this blood (then known as "7-11" blood) in his kitchen and marketed it through the local motion picture make-up suppliers. Now, aer professional reformulation, this is a major product used not only by the make-up artists but also by the costume houses and special effects. Blau was involved in the preparation of Illustrated Man,where he worked on the layout of the massive body tattoo outline for Rod Steiger and with the formulation of color inks for the tattoos. ese inks only lasted for a brief amount of time on the skin and needed a major reformulation. Because of this experience, Blau was hired for the movie Tattoo. Blau has worked on other notable films, including Apocalypse Now, Cool Hand Luke, e Great Race, Camelot, Planet of the Apes, and the TV series Charlie's Angels, among many others. He is a member of both the Motion Picture and Television academies, winning an Emmy for Spielberg's Amazing Stories and receiving five other Emmy nominations. He was nominated for a BAFTA for his work on Addams Family Values. Fred Blau, Jr. on the set of the TV series Planet of the Apes; Bruce Dern in Tattoo; Robert Duvall in Apocalypse Now; Jaclyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd, and Kate Jackson in Charlie's Angels