Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1545191
Eyrn: Having a library of prosthetic wounds is always something that I like to have as a part of my bag of tricks, and it seems to work really well for me in the past with other jobs that we've done. BGFX has such a beautiful assortment of injuries. We tried to get most of our prosthetic designs dialed in at the very beginning of 2024, so they were ready to go at a moment's notice, since we were filming all eight episodes together. Speaking of updates from previous seasons, the Duffers really wanted to have a new version of all the bloodwork for Season 5. A lot of fans know there is blue and red saturation in the series, which can be challenging for blood coloration, but this season also added in the Technicolor world of Henry's mindscape, so everything had to be tested in different lighting scenarios and adjusted, as well as The Demogorgon blood. We wanted to make sure those colors popped with our injuries in any lighting scheme. What's your favorite look from the final chapter? Mike: Besides the obvious—Vecna—I think one of my favorite make-ups would be on Alex Breaux, who played Akers, our season's punching bag. The script said that during the fight with Hopper in the lab, he gets hit in the head with a glass full of liquid. Taking a cue from some facial acid burns that I had seen online, I approached the design not knowing if it was acid or some kind of Upside Down secret sauce. I was really happy with the way it was filmed and that it didn't heal over during the course of our timeline. It started to have some yellow viscous fluids flowing out of it. It was fun to play with that make-up over the season. What's it like to be part of a global phenomenon as you close the chapter on the experience? Eryn: Keeping everything a secret with tons of crazy paparazzi and social media for the whole year was a challenge! Above and below: Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna Barrie Gower, Duncan Jarman, and Mike Mekash apply make-up on Vecna