Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1541402
42 • THE ARTISAN WINTER 2026 realized I'd need a Hudson sprayer to make that process more efficient. Bjorn also went through cases of mineral oil to keep his skin shining over the tattoo cover. By the third day of filming, I was applying the make-up on my own under Kazu's watchful eye. The gradual handoff helped, especially given the nuance of the brow prosthetic, which is partially glued to DJ's eyelids. We brought on Chase Cardinal as my make-up assistant to help with prep, cleanup, materials, set organization, and tracking the shooting schedule. Wig application and styling were handled by Mia Neal, Department Head Hair, and Bjorn applied the goatee when needed. In total, we did about 43 applications—sometimes layering prosthetics to create post-fight swelling. DJ was a dream to work with: professional, respectful, and always fully committed. One day in particular stands out as a testament to his dedication. It turned into a marathon with four separate make-ups. Because of location constraints, we began with a subtle post-fight swelling look (built over the MK prosthetics), then went "clean" for the regular MK look, and later, around 11 p.m., moved into the most extreme swollen post-fight version. We hadn't tested this look beforehand—it had been sculpturally approved by Benny, but Benny felt it lost some