Research - Inspiration - The Blonds Fall '13

The Blonds FW 13. (2013). [image] Available at: http://fakebrandy.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/horror-films-from-designers-blonds.html [Accessed 7 Apr. 2016].

In this collection, the make-up features bold cat-eye make-up, nude lips and messy blonde hair. I feel that this look is inspired heavily by the blonde women who frequently featured in Alfred Hitchcock's horror films. The look is over dramatised for a high impact look and contrasts against the black and red colour scheme used throughout the collection.
Not only do I find the hair and make-up inspiring to a classic blond bombshell often used in such genre, but also the splattered blood used to shock and juxtapose with the hair and make-up.
Something which I feel is notable to the look is that all the skin tones that feature are pale, but yellow tones in the platinum hair tend to feature more when the skin is ever so slightly darker. I feel that this is to match the tone of the hair closely to the skin so that they blend together and make the clothes stand out more against them.

The collection follows Horror from a large spectrum, from Gothic Horror with classic concepts such as Vampires, Mummies and  Psychos and then direct inspiration from modern horror with films such as 'The Shining', 'Pscyho' and 'The Birds'. I hope to use this collection as inspiration from the two briefs as due to the horror influences being both old and new.

Research - Photography

Flickr, (2010). Return of the bloody girl. [image] Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bassqee/4727844785/in/photolist-8cMrxg-dfvuCD-cjgmYm-4JEgp4-L5tfT-hG65Gb-ofsEno-a5xSjA-ngt1Pp-6gSwq-nvbghc-qmZ87f-9U4d6Z-edQmAZ-9A4ei2-9AJCtp-5yzBN7-rEerSi-4CzdyS-A5eTGr-pFFyux-8U7HX9-ofjsYw-e3SXE4-6HyguB-mfFa29-pMmCrC-8LBrEE-aha9DS-5JzycH-bcCEDi-ehtMZx-4CYzUL-5PdmKh-J86gt-98PTSN-hkJ6KM-aeW9Mq-4mXvoz-7BbCLe-97JzCo-8ZzQkj-4CU6zJ-5mYQ95-hx8Qk5-5RzUkk-2yxrY6-3m2N8b-bEF26t-n1mUrv [Accessed 8 Apr. 2016].

"Return of the bloody girl" by Colin Stebbing

I used Flickr as a way to find photography from people around the world to find an image that I feel reflects the story line I am reflecting in my Claudia and Mrs Laderman work.

As the storyline I am reflecting is one where a young and supposedly innocent girl has impulsively murdered her boyfriend, I felt this image really reflected that. I do not plan to have my Claudia character to be as excessively bloody as this, and I don't feel it is quite realistic enough for a Tv series. The mood I feel this image gives, with the youth combined with psychotic is a strong link to the intention of my work. I also like the use of blood on her hands as well as her face as I feel that it suggest that the murder was raw and impulsive, rather than thought and correctly executed.

Research - Horror in Music

Wolf Alice - You're a Germ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpomZoueWa0

[screen shots]

I've chosen to look at the music video for 'You're a Germ' as it is a video that uses traditional Horror themes including Psychos, Zombies, Clowns, etc.

In video, it is set in a cabin-like house in the woods. The story line repeats itself over and over, but each time the characters try to escape the inevitable, and regardless of a new strategy each time to try to escape their fate, something new comes along and they fail. I feel that the message behind the video is that there is a path set out in life and regardless of the choices you make, what's supposed to happen will happen. 

The inspiration I draw from this video is the new take on each traditional horror character type, and their interpretation of their appearances while still making the characters recognisable and also maintain their 'Horror' aspects.

I feel like the main female character is styled deliberately to make the audience sympathise and connect with her and this is something I would like to bring to my Claudia character as a way to give the audience the wrong impression about her character in the series as they later find out she is in fact the antagonist.

Technical File - Gothic Horror hair lesson 2

How to:

- Create a zigzag parting using the end of a pin tail comb down the middle.

Take each half of the hair and put them into tight pigtails.

- Curl the hair in the hair in each pigtail using curling tongs, alternating the direction of the curls so that they don't all face the same direction.

- Backcomb the hair in the pigtails and pin the hair into a messy and roundish shape.

Evaluation:

Overall, I am not that pleased with the outcome. I really struggled with making a zigzag parting and am aware that i'll need to practice this technique. I also feel that the bunches do not looks as big and messy as they should have, although I am aware that the intended visual outcome would have been easier to achieve with much longer hair. I also would have liked to have put the pigtails in a higher up position on the head.

Technical file - American Horror Story hair

How to:

- Part the hair in a side parting.

- Directional set the front section of the hair with heated rollers in a downwards direction.

- Brick set the mid section of the head/hair with heated rollers in a downwards direction.

- Set the bottom section of the hair in a normal set, but setting it in a upwards direction.

- Once the hair has cooled, dress out the hair, keeping the top section separate and dressing out the rest, pinning the ends up and round in one large barrel curl.

- Take the sides of the front, and bring it around and dress the ends into curls.

- Dress out the side fringe into a curl(s).

Evaluation:

Overall, I am really happy with my outcome. I am pleased with my own interpretation of the style with the use of pin curls etc and think that the outcome of the finish is quite refined. If I were to do this hairstyle again, I would spend more time refining the barrel curl at the back/bottom. 

Project Progression Evaluation (Brief 1)

Overall, I am quite happy with the outcome of this project. Although at first I found the continuity aspect of the brief to be a stressful thought, I found that when doing it, I did it with much more ease than I had anticipated. My favourite part of the brief was coming up with a design. I was advised at the beginning of the project that as I had chosen to do a Vampire character, that I should aim to not do something expected, which I feel I have achieved.

Within my design, I decided to use a prosthetic piece. I have some experience in prosthetic application, and decided to further my skill by braving it. I felt a prosthetic would be logical for this specfic brief as it makes continuity even more achievable. I found it dificult at first to source the prosthetic I was looking for, but after some research, found a seller who was willing to make 3 pieces for me (1 for practice and 2 for the seperate assessments). Another hard aspect of this was achiving exact placement each time, even with continuity photos.

For the hair element of the assessment, I found that timing was one of my hardest aspects. Although I am fairly confident with styling hair, I am not very good with time management. I felt that my lack of confidence with achiving a detailed hairstyle in assessment conditions held me back and made me play it safe with my design.

Assessment Part 2/2 Evaluation and Photos

Overall, I am quite happy with the outcome of my second assessment. Last time, I feel the red looked slightly more subtle on the eyes and lips. I also feel that the prosthetic was slightly lower down and more central compared to the first time. It was also slightly better blended which meant it had looked more effective. The skin was also slightly more matte and the contour was slightly stronger.

This time around, my model washed her hair on the day of the assessment, rather than the day before, and this seemed to make the hair lift much better from the heated rollers. Therefore, the hair appears fuller and more lifted and different to last time.

For my second assessment, I took into consideration to make the clothes the same - Same shirt, bow and earrings. I feel this additions have helped to create a similar appearance to the previous assessment.

For the taking of my final photos, I used a different studio which created slightly different lighting and angle.

During the assessment, I found my continuity photos very helpful, particularly with hair placement to help it sit in a similar way. My design helped me to remember areas that require shading and highlight to help match with the prosthetic. I feel that my application techniques were very similar to my previous assessment which meant that I recreated this design with ease.