A couple of years ago, I discovered a very easy way to quickly use digital rendering to help personalize makeup worksheets. For years (and I mean decades) everyone has been using the generic forms included in the Richard Corson Stage Makeup text book.
Well, it's generic for sure, but generically European in bone structure; it assumes the golden ratio and a narrow nose. It's mindfully gender-less. Yawn. The last time I taught stage makeup, I realized I could take photos of each member of the class, trace their faces in a drawing app, and import that drawing into a custom-izable form (below). Surprising no one, the clarity of the design came shining through! Indeed, I realized it helped foster a more inclusive classroom as most folks are asymmetrical, not to mention, students of color were not stuck with the default "slim white person" outline.
As we start fittings for The Grapes of Wrath this week, and as the show needs to look as organic and as real as possible, we've decided a dedicated wig and makeup designer is not necessary and the performers can be largely self-sufficient. That said, I will be creating a worksheet for each of them so they know what to do and which products to use as several characters will need age makeup and some hair guidance. In fact, this week we are hosting Jerrilyn Lanier from Bridging the Gap to give a job talk, freshmen basic makeup tutorial, a cast consultation on the November show (Water By the Spoonful), and some period hairstyle guidance for the women who have textured hair in the Grapes of Wrath. She is so generous with her expertise on social media and we are all looking forward to her visit!
