Mise-en-Scene Makeup and Special FX: Post Production Research and Filming

Makeup and Special Effects: Research and Filming Process

In order to make our film realistic we had to use makeup to create cuts, bruises and strangulation marks. Firstly, having prior knowledge of costume makeup, we thought it would be most appropriate to use a bruise wheel, consisting of different shades of foundation and dark eye shadows. This would ensure that the protagonist's face would appear tired and cold in the opening scenes and eventually later on in the film opening, frail to make her appear dead.

In order to do this, firstly we used a white foundation along with other white base products to act as a canvas for the rest of the makeup we would then put on top. To create the fatigue illusion, firstly we used a thin piece of tissue to stick onto the under eye and cheek bone. We used Ben Nye's Spirit Gum as a safe Special FX adhesive to ensure that it would not come off. Once this had dried we concealed the tissue with the white foundation before combining a range of warm toned eye shadows to her under eye to create a bag illusion. In addition, to achieve a dirty and further accentuate her tired worn down appearance, we used bronzer to scatter on her clothing to make it appear dirty as well as using a contour stick to carve out her cheekbones and also her collar bones to create a skinnier and more frail look. We then used a blue eyeliner to create thin veins along her hairline to make her appear stressed out whilst in hiding, before adding blue eye shadows to the corner of her lips to tint them, adding to the illusion that the protagonist is cold and worn out. Finally, we used pale powders and talcum powder to her face in-between different shot takes to keep up the pale aesthetic.

As for the neck bruising, after having done some online research into haematoma resolution, we decided to use colours that have a red undertone to ensure that the bruising appeared fresh and also we used a scattering effect so that it resembled a realistic strangulation. 

For hair we left it completely natural in terms of styling however added hairspray and back combing to make her look messier and worn down.

As for our antagonist, despite the fact that we had planned for him to only appear as quick straight cut shots in our opening, we still decided to add dark eye shadow tones under his eyes to make his eyes appear smaller and more hooded which would make him look slightly scarier. Moreover, as for his hands we swept again dark toned eye shadows and pale powder around his fingernails to make them appear dirty and un-kept.