Q&A: Hollywood Special Effects Show's make-up artist David Brown

The Hollywood Special Effects Show is an interactive family production which takes audiences behind the scenes of their favourite movies to see how incredible special effects are created for the screen.

David Brown is a special effects make-up artist with vast experience on productions such as Game of Thrones, Guardians of the Galaxy and The Dark Knight Rises.

What first inspired you to become a make up artist?

DB: I had been working in costume for several years and had gotten to a point where I wanted a change. I was watching the special features of a movie and there was a section on makeup. I thought it looked interesting so I looked into courses.

What is involved in the preparation for film make-up artistry in the lead up to a shoot? I imagine it takes months of planning?

DB: Depending on the size of the film it can take months to prepare. As a designer there is the job of script analysis and a lot of paperwork to get the ground work done. Meetings with the creative team of the movie will refine the designs and ideas to within the concept that the director envisions. Then it is into the workshop to take lifecasts of the actors, sculpting the creatures, aliens, ageing onto the lifecast. Moulding all of this in fibre glass and after some hefty cleaning of the moulds injecting it with silicone. Sometimes all this prep is done a few months before filming begins so that a stock of prosthetics can be built and then whilst filming is happening more pieces are being made and painted ready for application at a later date.

How long does it take to apply the make-up on the day of a shoot?

DB: Time is always an issue on set as every minute costs a lot of money, usually as a makeup artist who is applying you are given a time to complete the makeup, sometimes on smaller movies you are asked how long it will take. A small and very simple piece can be applied and painted in 5-10 minutes but the longer the better so you have more time to work on it. Full character makeups can take up to six hours to apply, the start time for these makeups will be early morning 1am or 2am to get ready to begin filming around 8am-7pm and then an hour or so to remove the makeup.

Do actors often contribute into the creation of the look that you give them?

 DB: Yes, having a meeting with the actor is always beneficial when creating a makeup, especially if it is restrictive in some way. The movement of the character may inform on how the piece is sculpted and thus how it is applied to allow the actor to perform without feeling restricted. We aid the actor in creating the character they are playing so a dialogue needs to take place to make this collaboration as effective as possible.

What is the most extreme make-up you have ever created for the screen?

DB: I was part of the team who applied the ‘Drax the Destroyer’ makeup on Guardians of the Galaxy. There were five people applying and it took five hours every day. There were some crazy aliens in that movie and I was lucky enough to have a hand in creating several of them.

What advice would you give to aspiring film make-up artists about starting in the industry?

DB: Personally I think there is no true way into the film industry, hard work and determination are your biggest assets.

There are colleges which teach makeup to a high standard, research them and see if any of them are for you. If you are looking to get into special effects makeup specifically I would recommend taking some short courses (such as Stuart Bray’s) which will give you immediate practical skills and some experience and understanding of the processes involved in creating and applying makeup. Practice and build a small portfolio so that you have something to show, then contact workshops and designers offering yourself as work experience and if you’re alert, curious and respectful you will learn a ton of skills, tips and tricks from the people you meet. It can take years to build up a momentum in the industry so it is something that you need to have a passion for. If you have that, go get it.”

The Hollywood Special Effects Show is at the Wycombe Swan on Monday, October 26.