Males makeup- research

Makeup used for males in movies

Now that I finished the female makeup research I almost forgot about the males. In our movie the only male we have is the detective Marc Black. Detectives in mystery normally have this dark and grungy look to them.

Batman

One of the most famous examples of a detective with that dark smokey makeup look is Batman. For most detective movies they look semi tired and depressed for the most part. So in our film I wanted to achieve the same look with our detective. It can be classified as looking either emo or grunge.

How I Do My Emo Makeup 2024

• The tutorial begins with fundamental steps: having a clean, shaved face and optionally moving hair out of the way.
• The creator admits to skipping some traditional makeup steps such as primer, highlighting a casual, minimalist approach.
• Uses Revolution Concealer (shade F2) and a cheap Beauty Blender (described humorously).
• Applies powder after concealer, using affordable products like Target’s Fit Me powder.
• Emphasizes “less is more,” but ironically applies concealer quite liberally.
• Prefers using a brush for eyeshadow rather than fingers but admits to finger application at times.
• Eyeshadow application involves using only a few colors from the palette, mainly pink/red tones and blue.
• Eyeliner is applied on the waterline with a smudging technique using fingers, embracing imperfections.

How does this help the film?

This helps me in understanding how the detective should look. Also it helps me be able to understand how to get that grungy/emo look for the detective while making it look almost natural towards the detectives character. This will help the audience identify who the detective is and what type of detective they will be. Like Batman this detective will be extremely smart and well-equip to handle different situations like the murder at the party.

picking the makeup style for our film- planning

 Planning out the Makeup Needed in our Film

As discussed in my last blog post I will be doing 3 main looks the no-makeup look, clean girl look and the dark femme look. These will help the audience have a visual of how each character is even before they speak. In this blogpost I wanted to look at how to actually do the makeup looks.

How to achieve each makeup look

Dark femme

Dark feminine makeup tutorial🖤🥀

• Tapping foundation instead of dragging prevents cakiness and primer lifting
•  Blush placement on cheek contours enhances maturity and sophistication
•  Contouring temples and cheekbones lifts the eyes and sculpts the face, creating a fox eye effect
• The eyeliner technique elongates the eyes horizontally, avoiding a rounded, doe-eyed appearance
• Incorporating subtle glitter in the inner eye corner adds dimension without overpowering the dark makeup
• Emphasizing natural features like moles adds a personal and authentic touch to the final look

With this tutorial I can now achieve this makeup look in my next blogpost. These are a summary of the tips that are needed to achieve this look.

Clean Girl Look

 

the ultimate clean girl makeup routine *beginner friendly*

• Avoids heavy foundation or full-coverage makeup that feels mask-like or cakey.
• Focuses on enhancing natural skin appearance rather than covering it up.
• Suitable for those with dry skin or concerns about makeup creasing, especially around smile lines and under-eye areas.
• Emphasizes a “glazed donut” effect for well-prepped, hydrated skin.
• Uses eye patches to reduce puffiness and dryness.
• Applies moisturizing serums and creams (Anua rice intensive moisturizing milk, Mixoon bean cream) and sunscreen (Better Screen UV Serum by Kes).
• Skin should look dewy and well-moisturized before makeup.
• Skin should look dewy and well-moisturized before makeup.
• The creator stresses not to overapply concealer or foundation, as heavy layers lead to an unnatural, creased appearance.
• The skin tint is preferred over foundation for a lighter, more breathable coverage.
• Emphasizes layering mascara carefully to avoid clumps and smudges, with different formulas for upper and lower lashes.
• Encourages viewers to personalize the look by adding highlights or adjusting blush intensity.

This tutorial helped me understand what to do to achieve this look and also what could make this look not so good. With this knowledge I will be able to achieve the look in my next blogpost.

No-Makeup Look

No makeup, makeup look 💄

• Concealer Application: Targeted placement of concealer is crucial to naturally lift the face.
• Blending Technique: Using a damp beauty blender to blend concealer upwards helps achieve a subtle lift.
• Product Highlight: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is used as an example, implying its suitability for this technique.
• Avoid Heavy Contour: This method provides an alternative to heavy contouring, promoting a natural finish.

Core Concepts

•  Natural Lift: Achieved by light, upward blending of concealer rather than contouring shadows.
• Precision Placement: Applying concealer on specific “exact spots” enhances facial structure gently.
• Tools: A damp beauty blender is preferred for seamless blending and a natural effect.
• Apply concealer to designated areas on the face 
• Blend the concealer upward with a damp beauty blender.
• Avoid adding heavy contour to maintain a natural look.

Although this tutorial did not specify where to put the makeup she did show her face in the video so achieve the same kind of look will not be difficult. Now I will be able to do this makeup look in my next blogpost.

How does this relate to the film?

As stated in my previous blogpost makeup is important when identifying a characters personality even before they speak. In many movies and films the makeup the character wears directly relates with how they act in the show. These videos helped me understand the key concepts of each makeup style and what to avoid while achieving them. So now that I am equip with the knowledge in my next post ill be practicing and using the techniques on some participants to make sure I am well prepared for filming days.

 

makeup needed in our film- research

 What type of makeup look do we need for our film?

In our film the characters must have casual makeup as they have just come from a house party. So I will pick a makeup look that is both casual and also give a mystery vibe of a bolder makeup.

Types of makeup 

No-Makeup look

This is best for:

• Daily wear
• All skin types

Still from Girl with a Dragon Tattoo

This character barely looks like they are wearing makeup. Mostly this look is used for creating a casual atmosphere or to highlight a persons natural face. But in our film I would use this look to create a casual atmosphere.

Clean Girl Look

This is best for:

• Everyday wear
• Natural beauty lovers
• Creating casual atmospheres

Still from The Girl on the Train

You can see this characters light blush and slightly colored lips. This makes the makeup look barely there just a slight touch up enhancing facial expressions.

Dark Femme Makeup Look

Best for:

• showing confidence
• creating suspicion
• Making the audience intrigued
• Shows a character having hidden motives
• Indicating a character to be dangerous or deceptive

Still from Black Swan

This makeup is known for looking bold as seen here. Defined by smokey eyes and sharp lines exaggerating the face and allowing for the person to have a mysterious or seductive look. This would be one of the best makeup looks out of the other 2 when indicating maybe that person is the killer. This combined with the other two will allow for people to understand the character traits of each person in the film.

How does this help the film?

This helps the audience get a sense of the characters personality even before they can speak. As the type of makeup a person wears almost always indicates how they act. The softer almost no makeup looks indicates a person who might be shy or kind but the darker more seductive looks are best for indicating a characters confidence. A combination of these in our film will help the audience better associate a look with a person as sometimes outfits are sometimes not enough.

names for characters- planning

 Picking out names for the characters in our film

Our film is a murder-mystery. After gaining knowledge about names in my last post I have begun to pick the names out. In our film we will have 9 characters who we will be following. The people who attended the party, the detective, and the victim. I wanted to be able to pick names that appeal to our genre while also being unique enough that they are memorable. I will be using teddy bears in place of the actors so I can state what their name is and also how their character will behave in our film. I decided to use this website (https://www.lovetoknow.com/parenting/baby/gothic-girl-names) in order to find nice names for the characters.

Characters and their personalities

Host of the party

The host is the victims best friend who was the closest person to the victim among the people at the party. The host will be names Cecelia Weston. The name Cecelia means unseeing, which plays into how the host did not expect to find her best friend dead in the bathroom. If this was more than an opening it will be shown how she is always sort of spaced out and closed off after the death of her friend.

Detective

The detective in the movies name will be Marc Black. In mystery movies with detectives Black is a popular last name so I decided to pick it. It's not considered to be a stereotype but it is a bit generic but for the character and how they act I believe that this will be the best last name for them.

Party goer 1

This characters name is Aurora McKenna. This character is known to be very bright and smiley. Always smiling and bringing happiness even in times of sorrow. 

Party goer 2

This characters name will be Quinn Weston. She is headstrong and has a fiery personality. She is distraught at first after hearing about the death of Lenore, but quickly this shifts into blaming the other people at the party.

Victim

This will be the victim whose name is Lenore Rivers. Lenore is a name commonly associated with sadness which is true to this character (because they are dead) but also because this character (if this was more than an opening) would've been revealed to be a shy and closed off person. Who was only close to the people at the party and closed off towards everyone else.

Party goer 3

This is another person who was at the party her name is Maeve Hayes. She is a kind girl who was the least closest person to the victim so when Lenore winds up dead she was very shocked. She is also the most suspected by Quinn because of her lack of closeness with the victim. After Lenore's death her relationship deteriorated with Quinn because of the lack of trust.

Party goer 4

This characters name will be Hazel Reese. Hazel has been Lenore's friend since diapers. Although they have drifted apart after attending different colleges they have still maintained a close relationship. After being informed into what happened she was in disbelief. How could this happen in such a short amount of time? And who could've killed her is all she could think about.

Party goer 5

This characters name will be Carmilla Sinclair. Carmilla is a weird girl always off on her own accords. It was actually surprising that she attended the party at all knowing that she always avoids parties.

Party goer 6

Zara Parker is the "mom" of the friend group. She always makes sure everyone is accounted for and has what they need. Kind and considerate in most situations. 

What does this mean?

This means that now I can pick a color to associate with each person. Also based on their personality will also help me visualize how they should act in the interrogation room. Like maybe one is just breaking down crying, while another could be sort of arguing and shifting blame onto another person. But this now helps me envision each character and how they will appear in our film.

Names for character- research

 What names could symbolize in our film

Our film is a murder-mystery so as the director I wanted to choose names that match the characters personality. Unfortunately, this is just a film opening so we won't be able to see their true personality yet but their names can play a huge role into what people think of that character. So first I wanted to research what not to do when choosing names to be able to avoid horrid names and pick nice ones for the characters in the film.

How to create STRONG character names | Writers Start Here

How are names important?

Character names are crucial because readers encounter them repeatedly, shaping their perception of the characters and story world. Also, poorly chosen names can break immersion or create unintended humor.

Different genres have distinct challenges in naming:

• Fantasy and science fiction often struggle with hard-to-pronounce or overly complex names.
• Thrillers and romance sometimes use overly generic or stereotypical names.

Our film has some thriller aspects so generic names may be the best picks as stereotypical names can cause issues.

What to avoid

• Totally flat or generic: Names that feel interchangeable and lack personality (e.g., common thriller names like Jack Reacher or Jason Bourne).
• “On the nose” names: Names that are too literal or symbolic, which can feel forced (e.g., Peta from The Hunger Games representing a baker).
• Uniquely bad spelling: Altering familiar names with unnecessary changes just to appear unique (e.g., “Mallerie” instead of “Mallory”).

Common issues when choosing names

• Flat/Generic Names: Overused, interchangeable names lacking distinction. For example: Jack Reacher, Jason Bourne. These names commonly cause reader disengagement due to lack of uniqueness
• On-the-Nose Names: Names that overtly reflect character traits or professions. For example: Peta (baker), Steel (blacksmith’s son). These names cause reader distraction or loss of immersion
• Forced Spelling Variations: Changing known names to be “unique” but awkward or confusing. For example: Mallerie, Jaxon. This often feels artificial and breaks the flow while watching the film (also can cause audience to forget the name)

Practical Character Naming 

• Identify core traits or themes of your character (e.g., stoicism, calmness).
• Use translations or synonyms in other languages for inspiration.
• Search cultural or historical name databases relevant to your character’s background.
• Check for potential conflicts or famous associations via online search.
• Consider nicknames for storytelling dynamics and character relationships.
• Adjust as needed to balance uniqueness, watchablility, and thematic appropriateness.

What are my takeaways?

Names are very important when identifying characters and to avoid issues its good to use names common for those genres. However, do not pick names that are to common as it can cause the audience to immediately know what type of character that person will be like/ what their role would be. It's best to use common but not stereotypical names for that genre. So with this knowledge in my next blog post I will be able to accurately pinpoint names that I will be using for the characters in our film!

planning out the type of instrument and the vibe of the music- planning

 In my previous post I picked out Musescore as my app of choice. Now I have to decide what type of instrument I will be picking to pay in the background of our film. In a previous blog I went over the sound used in murder-mystery's and now I have come between 2 different options guitar and violin. In our film I want there to be suspenseful music playing in the background the entire time. Starting off soft but as the plot progresses the music will also get louder. Then at the climax (finding the body) I want it to be at the loudest part.

So I wanted to research well how do I do about this?

How To Design Dark and Scary Sounds (For Producers / Composers / Musicians)

What is needed

This video explores advanced sound design techniques for creating scary, dark, and horrifying ambiences beyond traditional music theory like chords and scales. The focus is on manipulating audio reverse effects, reverb, pitch shifting, and time-stretching to craft unsettling atmospheres ideal for music composition, film, or video game sound design. Which is exactly what I want to give in our opening.

Core Concepts and Techniques

Backmasking (Reversing Audio):

• Hiding secret messages by reversing audio clips; the message is only decipherable when played backward.
• Historically done with physical tape or vinyl; used by bands such as The Beatles and Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).
• Reversed audio naturally sounds eerie due to unnatural sonic characteristics.

Reverse Reverb:

• Adding reverb to a clip and then reversing it creates a swelling effect that leads into the sound source, producing a truly horrifying and uncanny effect.
• The effect works well because it sits in the uncanny valley of audio, sounding almost like human speech but distorted enough to unsettle the listener.
• Example: Used in the old DOS game Heretic for magical character sounds.

Backwards Reverb Leading into Forward Speech:

• Technique involves:
• Reversing a dry vocal track.
• Adding reverb to the reversed track.
• Reversing the reverb-laden track again.
• Result: only the reverb is reversed, which feeds into intelligible forward speech, creating an ethereal or ghostly vocal effect common in movies and games.
• Can be applied to singing, guitar, piano, or other instruments.

Blending Backwards Reverb:

• Using reversed reverb segments as supplementary layers blended with the original track to enhance mood subtly.

Experimentation with Reverse Audio:

• Different instruments respond uniquely to reversal; guitar harmonics and wind chimes often yield interesting results.
• Emphasizes the importance of experimenting to discover new textural possibilities.

Phonetic Backward Speech Reconstruction:

• Attempting to mimic the backwards phonetic sounds of words, then reversing that to produce distorted but recognizable forward speech.
• Technique notably used by filmmaker David Lynch in Twin Peaks to create unsettling soundscapes.

Slowing Down Audio (Pitch and Time Stretching):

• Slowing audio lowers pitch (an octave drop at half speed) and can transform innocent sounds into eerie textures.
• Software like Ableton Live (re-pitch function) and Paulstretch can be used to manipulate speed and pitch for ambient or disturbing effects.

Combining Techniques with Melody:

• Playing a melody backwards and recording it, then reversing it again to produce the original melody notes with unusual timbral characteristics.
• Adjusting the performance (e.g., playing an octave higher and faster) combined with slowing down the final recording can enhance weirdness and creepiness.
• Examples:
• Dream Theater’s “Misunderstood” uses this reversed performance technique.
• The Beatles’ “In My Life” employs the opposite approach, recording slow and low then speeding up for a distinct sound.

Takeaways

• Reverse audio techniques can transform ordinary sounds into deeply unsettling textures, essential for horror-themed sound design.
• Reverb manipulation, especially reverse reverb, adds a ghostly, uncanny quality that enhances fear and mystery in audio.
• Slowing down and pitch shifting are simple but powerful tools to create atmospheric effects.
• Experimentation is critical; not all sounds work backwards, but some (like guitar harmonics and wind chimes) produce unique results.
• These techniques are accessible with any audio software, including free or mobile apps, making them practical for creators at all levels.
• Applications include enhancing video game audio, film sound design, vocal effects, and musical composition.

How Can This Be Applied To Our Film?

After knowing the vibe was going to be suspenseful I looked up this video. This video has given me a clear understanding into how to achieve this type of vibe. I'm going to use the violin in combination with the piano to create the most unsettling vibe that I can. Also this can be used alongside the app to compose a score that is suspenseful and unsettles the audience.

How to use Musescore- Research

 Musescore

After downloading the app I wanted to get an idea on well how to use it. So I decided to watch a tutorial.

MuseScore Step-by-Step Guide: Make Piano Sheet Music FAST

Key Features and Steps

Installation and Setup

• Download MuseScore 4 from musescore.org.
• Installation is straightforward; open the program to start.
• Create a new score by selecting the instrument (e.g., piano keyboard) and entering title and details.

Score Preparation

• Edit text fields by double-clicking; delete unwanted subtitles.
• Modify time signature using the time signature palette.
• Add pickup measures by adjusting measure properties (e.g., eighth-note pickup).
• Add allegretto tempo text attached to a note or rest using text palettes or shortcut (Command + T).

Note Input

• Enter note input mode by pressing N.
• Select note durations via number keys (keypad preferred):
• 4 = eighth note, 5 = quarter note, 6 = half note, 7 = whole note.
• Dotted notes entered by adding a period (e.g., 5 + period = dotted quarter).
• Input notes by typing their letter names; octave adjustments done with Command + arrow keys.
• Chords entered by holding Shift to stack notes on the same beat.
• Rests entered by typing zero (0).

Adding Expressions and Articulations

• Dynamics (e.g., piano) added by selecting notes/rests and choosing from the Dynamics palette.
• Text expressions (e.g., “cando”) added via shortcut Option + E.
• Slurs created by selecting notes and typing S; toggle slur position with X.
• Staccato marks added with Shift + S or from articulations palette.
• Fingering numbers added from the fingering palette or quickly by shortcut (Control + Command + S) for faster input.

Formatting and Layout

• General style and page layout adjusted via Format > Style.
• Page scaling alters overall size.
• Beam properties palette allows connecting beams.
• Stretch function modifies spacing between notes.
• Layout palette elements can be dragged to measures to adjust spacing above or below staves.
• Elements can be hidden by selecting and typing V.

Editing and Navigation

• Deleting measures requires selecting and pressing Command + Delete; deleting notes alone does not remove measures.
• Adding measures can be done before, after, or at the start/end of the score.
• Lyrics added via Command + L, progressing syllable by syllable with the space bar; multiple verses supported.
• Transposition done through Tools > Transpose, by key or interval.
• Copy/paste repeats for saving time.
• Quick note changes done by selecting a note (not in input mode) and typing a new letter.
• Undo function (Command + Z) is essential.

Playback and Review

• Playback controls located top right; drag to reposition.
• Space bar toggles play/pause.
• Tempo and other playback settings adjustable.

How does this help?

This helps me better understand the website so that I will not make as much mistakes when starting to make the sound for my production. Also so that I know important shortcuts and what each element means in the app.