Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1500442
22 • THE ARTISAN SUMMER 2023 MAKE-UP B Y D E B O R A H L A M I A D E N A V E R D E P A R T M E N T H E A D M A K E - U P Black Adam is one of those films as a make-up artist you wish for, especially aer my first meeting. ey wanted to do most of these looks practical make-up! Practical make-up are the words we long to hear in today's world of computers and CGI … especially coming from being a technically challenged artist (computer failure). Don't get me wrong. I love to watch these films and with today's progression of visual effects. It's amazing, but what can be created with the chance to do practical make-ups in a film like is rewarding and challenging, especially in 125-degree heat. Putting together the right team is really key. Just surround yourself with amazing artists so each person can feed from the other—the integral core of a make-up department. We had to pull out all the stops for this one. Loving what we do certainly comes in handy when you're creating an abundance of special characters and you have a director who has a huge imagination and lets you conduct with full freedom and enjoys everything he sees. Black Adam is not only fun, it was like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride embracing every challenge that was thrown at us. I can only thank my amazing department time and time again. ey were with me all the way. To create the ancient slaves—we conducted several tests using powder pigments mixed with adhesive prosthetics and transfers. We had more than 35 make-up artists team up to apply on 150 background actors. Applied in a layering effect. Prosthetics were used under to add bulk to the sand mix. Scaring and lash marks were applied. Open cuts and wounds all applied daily. Tattoo pigments enhanced highlighting and shading gave dimension by creating a crackled effect. Head wounds and lacerations were also combined. e biggest challenge was it all worked outside in approximately 110 degrees Fahrenheit in a huge sandpit. What a beautiful scene it was and well worth all the work that went into it. Special thanks to Andre Freitas and Matt Sprunger Continued on page 24 BLACK ADAM for coming up with several options for all types of skin. Simply genius! Much appreciated was all their hard work! Local 798! Our wizards were designed according to their special powers, also using prosthetics and markings. Hand-painted designs and Henna tattooing. e ancient warriors and guards—were sunburned creating damage, scarring, branding and tattooing, distressing the skin nails and teeth using blackout/gold/silver mouth pieces. e pharaohs' wives—creating Henna designs. Using coal eyeliner, jewels, powdered pigments, each wife was to look unique and reflect the region they came from. We dipped fingertips into gold leaf pigments to reflect wealth and design elaborate facial painting. Our modern-day mercenaries—we applied Pros-Aid transfer scars, wounds, tattoos and disfigurement, including cle lip. Sun damage, aging, weathering on both teeth and nails were made to achieve a tarnished look. Hours were spent on these primary featured characters. Lead actors wore natural-looking make-ups utilizing highlighting and shading to reflect the elements of the city. Scarring, tattoo cover and weathering were applied. Hundreds of background performers were processed and not one went untouched. Distressing, facial hair (lace pieces and hand laid) were applied to reflect the world they live in. Two worlds: ancient and contemporary. Our big reveal was our director wanted one actor to play three characters (character transformation). Ishmael: straight make-up reflecting the elements of the environment. During the reveal, we applied pentagram-shaped scarring. His chest lined with hieroglyph scars covering arms and legs reflecting his ancestry. e pharaoh: full- face silicone prosthetic transformation sculpted and made by Matthew Mungle and Mike McCracken! Matthew started off bringing to life the director's vision with Photoshop. We went back-and-forth with design ideas! Matthew and myself tested the original design by sending forth for our director's approval. On the day we were waiting, our actor Marwan began to create and become the pharaoh feeling his own vision