Special Effects and Character Makeup
Special Effects and Character Makeup tests character design, skin-safe materials, continuity, and realistic aging, injury, or fantasy effects. Expect bruise color theory, prosthetic adhesives, fake blood, and removal safety.
Core rules
- Start with a character backstory: age, environment, injury timeline, and lighting. Continuity photos protect consistency across scenes.
- Use cosmetic-grade products on skin. Never use acrylic craft paint, industrial adhesive, or non-cosmetic blood on a performer. Patch-test adhesives and ask about latex allergy.
- Bruise colors progress from red-purple to blue, green, and yellow as healing advances. Match the effect to the stated timeline.
- Prep skin, apply prosthetics with the manufacturer's adhesive, blend edges, and remove with the correct solvent. Avoid harsh pulling.
- Keep blood products away from eyes and mouth unless labeled safe for that use. Use single-use applicators and do not share product from a contaminated container.
Worked example
A zombie character is three days post-transformation. Reasoning: fresh red blood alone reads as a recent injury. Use a pale, dull base, subtle gray-green hollows, a bruise with purple and yellow edges, and limited dark blood at the mouth. Photograph front and profile for continuity.
Traps
Using craft paint or hair glue, ignoring latex allergy, making every effect fresh red, failing to continuity-check, and removing prosthetics dry.