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www.LearnProstheticMakeup.com Designing creature characters

n this feature we will take a look at design for creatures and fantastic characters for film and television. The initial designs will usually be informed by a brief from the script storyline or from production. This

may be very specific or-more usually-quite vague. The artist then fills in the gaps with their creation, gradually fleshing out the concepts for approval.

The designs will help the producers and directors imagine the finished work as well as establish how best to approach the final job.

Designs can vary from quick thumbnail sketches, fully rendered illustrations, maquettes (small-scale sculpted versions) as well as full size mock-ups put together quickly to establish the look. A lot depends on budget and time restrictions as well as the scale of the project.

There may be many hoops to jump through before designs are approved, as there are a number of considerations involved. These include the cost of actually building a particular design, practicality and whether the design will end up being a performer in a suit, a puppet, purely CG (digital)-or a combination.

For bigger productions there may be toy and merchandising issues to consider. If the face of your creature is going to be on a gazillion lunchboxes, stickers and posters this time next year, then you need to do the job right. There is a lot of focus and consideration that goes into design.

They can also be used to sell a pitch or idea within a movie when negotiating how to proceed with a particular sequence.

I

Jordu Schell is a creature & concept artist, whose credits include Planet of the Apes, Hellboy, and Avatar. These images of his work give you an idea of the standard of skill a talented artist can achieve. Check out more of his work on his site at http://schellstudio.com/.

Image © Jordu Schell

Image © Jordu Schell

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At this early stage, good designs will express character and gesture, as well as simply what it will look like and physical proportion.

Looking at the incredible work by Jordu Schell (above) and Carlos Huante (left) you can understand just how valuable great designs and renderings can be to planning and securing a project.

Sketches and ideas may be scanned and turned into fully rendered illustrations using traditional means or, more increasingly, with Photoshop and Painter software allowing for multiple variations and adaptations to be created.

As well as digital 2D illustrations, digital sculptures will sometimes be produced in programmes such as ZBrush and Mudbox. These programmes are to sculpture what Word is to writing, and the approach to sculpting is exactly the same as with clay, creating form in real time.

Once the design is finally approved, the process of manufacture can begin. Usually with appliances they are sculpted on a copy or cast of the performer who is to wear the finished appliance(s). This cast is known as a lifecast.

Next time we will take a look the different kinds of techniques, materials and technologies involved in lifecasting and moulding in order to create a prosthetic makeup!

Carlos Huante is a concept designer and artist with credits including Men in Black, The Mummy and X_Men: The Last Stand.

Check out his site to see galleries of illustrations, sculptures and his book ‘Monstruo’: http://www.carloshuanteart.com/

Resources Jordu Schell runs a workshop in LA and also teaches sculpting classes. Check out his podcasts where he discusses all things cool to do with movies, effects, computer games…it’s N.E.R.DCAST! Carlos Huante creates designs for movies and shows, and also has released the books Monstruo & Mas Creaturas, as well as a couple of instructional movies on DVD/download.

Learn Prosthetic Makeup workshops-1 & 3 day courses. Sculpt, mould, apply. Click here for more details.