Apply and remove special effects to change the performer’s appearance
Overview
This standard measures your ability to apply special effects make-up and bald caps to alter performers' appearance for productions.
It involves carrying out the necessary tests to check for harmful skin and scalp reactions and ensuring that performers are comfortable during the application process. It is about assessing whether different skin and scalp types are well suited to the special effects make up materials and bald caps intended for use.
It includes taking the appropriate action when special effects make up or bald caps deteriorate under shooting conditions and considering the appropriate health and safety regulations.
This standard is applicable to all roles but is most applicable to the role of hair and make up assistants or special effects technicians.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- position performers for special effects application to minimise personal discomfort
- inform performers of the special application stages and invite their questions
- test special effects make up and bald caps to be applied to the performer's skin and scalp for adverse reactions
- prepare the skin and scalp for the type of contact material used
- apply special effects make-up and bald caps in a manner that ensures they are sustained under different shooting conditions
- take action in the eventuality that special effects cause adverse skin or scalp reactions or disintegrate under different shooting conditions
- apply bald caps ensuring that the fit, tension, and texture is as advised by the relevant person
- airbrush skin caps and other skin areas to the required colour and skin tone
apply selected special effects make-up in the required sequence, using the techniques advised by the relevant person
apply or paint tattoos as directed and confirm that they achieve the required creative effect
- remove applied or painted tattoos in line with production policies and guidelines
- confirm that the finished special effects attain the design criteria of the production
- remove the special effects make-up and bald caps to minimise the performer's discomfort
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
the design requirements as communicated to you by the relevant person
the time and budgetary constraints of the production schedule
- the difference between special effects make-up and hair and basic, corrective make-up and hair
- how to test for adverse skin and scalp reactions
- what actions to take where special effects make-up or bald caps deteriorate or cause adverse skin reactions
- the methods of skin and scalp preparation
- different shooting conditions and how this can affect special effects make-up and bald caps
- how to apply bald caps to the correct fit, texture and tension
- the techniques of airbrushing and how to apply it to skin and manmade fabrics
- make-up application techniques
- the productions requirements for the design
- the techniques to paint tattoos freehand and to apply with use of stencils or transfers
- how to remove tattoos with appropriate methods and materials
- how to remove special effects make-up and bald caps carefully to minimise the performer's discomfort
- the health and safety legislation, policies, and guidelines applicable to the application of special effects make-up and bald caps