Picture the images you’ve seen in cinema, often these will
be your favorite actor or actress in a pivotal role looking flawless, however
there’s much more than meets the eye, no human being walks in front of a camera
looking the way Hollywood actors do. This impeccable look can be attributed to
the hair and makeup department of the films production team, and more recently
special effects that can transform a normal looking Andy Serkis into the Gollum
we know and love. During a visit to the Museum of the Moving Image, you’ll
stumble upon a portion of their collection dedicated to the costume department
of film, a place where the reality of Chewbacca or The Elephant Man is
revealed. Not only does this department deal with extravagant displays of
transformation but also subtle ones, such as Orson Welles transformation from
young, pioneering news man to old and believably different man. This portion of
the exhibit walks you through the steps of a bust that is used to alter an
actor’s appearance to the product that is applied to their face to deal with
the harsh lighting of a film set. Although they note that much of these
practices have changed since they were first implemented, it’s noted that many
are still used to this day. When examining the displays they have, it becomes
apparent there is much more than we think going on in front of the camera, it
isn’t only just an actors believable portrayal of a part, but the impeccable
detail and utensils that go into creating their appearance, and this is just
another portion, a further testament, to the complex completion of the moving
image.
-Vincent Briffa
