Will Computers Replace Special Make-Up Effects? Written by Paul Thompson
The success of movies like Avatar had make-up artists wondering if special make-
CHANGING WITH THE TIMES
up effects would slowly disappear. We
over the world, and we are so excited by what our students accomplish. That is the amazing part about MUD: We can quickly
watched as computer-generated imagery
MUD has taught special make-up effects
change or expand a curriculum based on
infiltrated almost all films, at times replacing
ever since we opened our doors twenty
what is happening in the industry.
the need for sets and costumes. The use
years ago. In a lot of ways, we focused on
of animatronic masks and puppets were
effects more than we did beauty make-up.
dramatically reduced. Would computers
During the early days of MUD our beauty
spell the end of special make-up effects?
class was only four weeks long, and we
The short answer is no.
had two special make-up effects classes
Special make-up effects are done in small
for a total of fifteen weeks. Since that time,
shops and by individual make-up artists.
Around the same time as the release of
we have evolved and changed with the
We want to make sure our students have
Avatar, there was a rash of bad movies
industry. We used to teach animatronics
the tools to compete and create amazing
with an overabundance of special effects.
as part of our first special make-up effects
effects. I recently had the pleasure of
It seemed moviemakers were creating
course. MUD was one of the first make-
working with instructional specialist Vanja
spectacles just because they could. These
up schools to offer silicone gel-filled
Djuran at our MUD Studio in Milan. We
CGI-heavy films often felt soulless and left
appliances to our students. When gelatin
taught students how to apply silicone gel-
moviegoers wondering why they should
prosthetics stopped being used in the
filled appliances and foam latex appliances.
care about the characters. In the last
industry we adjusted again. Today, MUD’s
The characters created were inspiring. The
couple of years, directors and actors have
curriculum is much more balanced with
students learned so much in such a brief
demanded more to work with.
twelve weeks of beauty training and twelve
period of time.
ARTISTS READY FOR ANYTHING
weeks of special make-up effects training. Today, filmmakers are using more practical
It is an exciting time in our industry
types of effects, such as complete make-
When we launched our MUD Studios and
as we grapple with our place among
ups and fuller sets. Movies like Star Wars:
started offering a MUD education at our
digital technology and changing market
The Force Awakens heavily promoted this
partner schools we focused on beauty
preferences. Our students are prepared
way of filmmaking to the delight of fans.
make-up. We felt that students in these
to meet the current demand of creating
More and more filmmakers are following suit,
smaller markets would benefit more from a
realistic characters that audiences can
and we are enjoying a time where special
beauty education. However, certain markets
connect with. Today they can learn the skills
make-up effects are more dynamic than ever.
demanded meaningful special make-up
that were once reserved for students going
Advances in materials and techniques ensure
effects courses. In response, we launched
to a school in Hollywood. I look forward
special make-up effects will have a place
a thirty-five hour special make-up effects
to seeing even more practical effects and
deep into the twenty-first century.
course in Europe, which slowly evolved
much more immersive storytelling in the
into a more comprehensive seventy-hour
years ahead. •
course. This class is now available all
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