Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1541402
58 • THE ARTISAN WINTER 2026 assemble the hair and make-up team for this shoot. I called on my friend and colleague, Local 706 hair stylist Camille Friend, whom I've known since 8 Mile way back in 2002. Camille came onboard as the Department Head Hair. We get along famously and collaborate harmoniously. My incredible Tron: Ares make-up team included the very talented and stylish key make-up artist, Zabrina Matiru. Core crew included Ciara Allen, Karley Stroscher, Nataly Santos, Naomi Bakstad, and a great group of daily artists. The exciting ensemble cast included Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Jodie Turner-Smith, Hasan Minhaj, Arturo Castro, Gillian Anderson, Cameron Monaghan and, in a spectacular cameo, Oscar winner Jeff Bridges, with Jeff's acclaimed personal make-up artist, Local 706 artisan Thomas Nellen, who joined us for a short time. MAKE-UP Continued from page 56 Gillian Anderson as Elisabeth Dillinger and Evan Peters as Julian Dillinger The initial challenges included distinguishing between the "in grid" (programs) vs "off grid" (sentient worlds). I believed that the characters played by Jared, Jodie, and Greta needed to have elements of "cyberpunk." I enhanced Jared's luminous and youthful appearance with good old-fashioned make-up in cream and liquid base, highlighters, concealer, contour, bronzer, cheek color, lip stain and skin care for an unblemished glow that could lead one to believe that he is "AI" rather than a live performer. References would include Blade Runner and The Matrix. Fashion influences evoke elements of Tom Ford, Armani, Alexander McQueen and Gucci with an emphasis on editorial make-up. I knew there needed to be a level of flawless, timeless style and uniformity to complement the intricate "light suit" costumes and fantastic "light cycles." Jeff Cronenweth's visionary cinematography and lighting design, filmed for IMAX, would pose certain challenges. Elaborate set pieces, theatrical lighting and state-of-the-art visual effects elements. Every make-up in "the grid" was subject to subtle and extreme changes with the use of red and blue lighting. Each frame was under the myopic scrutiny of our director, cinematographer, and producers. My team, well versed in working on all skin tones, made adjustments as required especially with many unforgiving close-ups and camera lock-offs. Attentive, detailed work on every cast member and background player, including multiple stunt performers was essential. These distinctions were especially important on Jared Leto (Ares) and Greta Lee (Eve) who we also see "off grid" in different costume, make-up and hair. This included Out of Kit trauma (beat-up, bloody, cuts, sweat, dirt, rubber dust and tears). Within "the grid," we applied flawless corrective make-up with more fashion photographic-inspired looks. For Jodie Turner-Smith as "Athena," it was hard not to channel Grace Jones, which she loved. Jodie was determined to explore having no eyebrows, so we tested it—first with lightening her brows with creme make-up, then with brow covers. The look was striking, however, not something the powers that be were loving. Shockingly, Jodie appeared the next day with no eyebrows! I had to come up with a way to incorporate this look, using eyeshadow and a thick dark blue eyeliner trying to make it work. It gave an '80s retro look and we went with it. The make-up change turned out to be a happy accident! With Jodie's input and a hair color change, Camille and I effectively largely helped create "Athena." Naomi and then Zabrina took over the daily application of Jodie's make-up. For me, this was an example of seamless teamwork. I wanted to lean into a more definitive, dramatic straight make- up on Jared Leto while also executing traditional motion picture techniques. Every touch-up, even with powder, was purposeful and deliberate in every frame. For Gillian Anderson, I went for more dramatic sophisticated almost hardened look. For Gillian, Jodie and Greta, I was happy to introduce products and formulations they were not familiar with, including SUQQU, Japan. Their foundations beautifully complemented the wide variety of skin tones our cast had. This created a feeling that Tron: Ares had its own, bespoke, make-up line. (L-R) Greta Lee and Hasan Minhaj as Ajay Singh