Claudia Practice

Even though this was in the Studio and in my own time I still felt slightly pressured to do it as quickly as I can, the whole thing would roughly take about 2 and a half hours however this time I was using a model that is also a Hair and Make Up student so she would be much more understanding and patient in comparison to my Quentin.

EQUIPMENT:

Liquid Latex
Foundation Pallet
Translucent Powder
Scissors
Blood
Woundfiller
Supra Colour
Gel
Comb

MAKE UP:

1. Applied the liquid latex and one thin layer of tissue over it.
2. Colour using white base, and foundation pallet.
3. Buffed into face.
4. Applied the colour I wanted to the eyes, cheeks and wounds.
5. Added mascara and then water and let it run down her face.
6. Applied blood and wound filler to wounds.
7. Added the cracked lip effect using blood on her lips.

HAIR:

1. Parted and straitened
2. Apply gel to smooth to head.

After speaking to my tutor about the outcome she suggested that I should move the mark on her neck up as the idea is she would be hanging by her hands and wrists, I completely agree with what she is saying as right now it looks like a slit throat. So in my final design I will move the burn/wound closer up the neck to give a more realistic impression of someone hanging. Another suggestion was to also try another technique of burns on the wrist so again they weren't so clinical, I did this (image below).
Again, I do really like this and think it is really effective but I also really like the previous one I did and the way it is deep but not quite deep enough to be a cut - so the idea that I have to is to combine to 2 techniques for my final and make it slightly less clinical but keep the depth of the wound. I will also make more the bruising around the wrists and neck more obvious as well as the swollen tired eyes.

Moodboards

SHOW MOODBOARD

CLAUDIA MOODBOARD

QUENTIN MOODBOARD

Quentin Practice

As I had however much time I wanted to do this, I was able to scrap something if I wasn't completely happy with it. This actually worked really well and I am impressed with the way it had turned out, luckily I didn't have to restart over on a lot of things. The only downfall was my model got very impatient and had to be given regular breaks (I had to let him, he was helping me out!) However, I managed to finish it and am so happy with the outcome.

EQUIPMENT:

Liquid Latex
Supra colour
Foundation Pallet
White base
Blood
Wound Filler
Gel
Comb
Translucent powder

WHAT I DID:

Hair -
1. Parted his hair as straight as I could.
2. Using wet look gel I stuck it all down.
3. Using my comb I went through the hair to make everything perfect.

Make Up -
1. Applied my liquid latex cuts on neck.
2. After they were made I covered the face, wounds and neck with a very pale foundation.
3. Buffed in.
4. Using supra colour I applied the colour around the eyes and cheek bones.
5. I coloured in the cuts.
6. Powdered.
7. Applied cracked lip effect.
8. Added blood and wound filler to wounds and blood to lips.

I had a quick read over the brief and noticed that I need to take a half body shot, luckily I saw this before doing my final look. The things that I am going to change in my final would be to make the cuts on the neck more frequent around the front and also make the bruising around it a lot more obvious as it didn't quite show on camera. I also would like to blend the contouring under the chin more. As well as taking the images in a well lit white area, like above, I might try taking them on location.

Practicing Cuts/Rope Burns

Before I worked on any model I wanted to make sure my technique looked decent so I tried it on myself to test out my exact plan. Not only that I tested it on myself to see if there was anyway it was going to cause any discomfort to the model.

EQUIPMENT:

Liquid latex
Single ply tissue
Supra Colour
Wound Filler
Fake Blood

QUENTIN'S CUTS:

Quentin's cuts are spaced out long cuts made by metal spikes that are attached to a metal circle that is gradually tighten, so not only will his neck be covered in cuts it was also have some abrasion and bruising.

1. Applied a thin layer of liquid latex.
2. Put a single ply of ripped tissue.
3. Applied liquid latex over the top.
4. Repeat steps 1,2,3 until its the height that I want it.
5. Pick at tissue with a pin.
6. Using a pair of nail scissors cut the latex and tissue to create your gash.
7. The colour the wound the way I would like it, add wound filler and blood,

Ignoring the outside of the cut where the latex had started to lift (I applied too much of it to a service area the the outside corners started to lift) I had stitched the cut up using thread. I really like tis technique but there are 2 issues. The area I will be doing this on the model: I will be doing these cuts on the neck, this might be really uncomfortable and time consuming for the model not only that it would be very awkward to try and get a decent angle on the needle. The second thing is I constantly kept pricking myself with the needle and being so close to such a sensitive area may not be the best idea. Its a shame really because it looks really effective.


CLAUDIA'S ROPE BURN

Claudia has rope burn on her neck and both her wrists from being hung and left for dead. I tried 2 different designs of rope burn to see which one looked more effective.

The first one is a single rope burn, it looks as though only 1 rope has been tied around her wrist. I do really like this one and I think it is more suitable if being hung, the only issue is, is that it is too thin to be a burn used from hanging, the rope would simply snap under the weight if it was that depth.

1. Apply liquid latex to the skin.
2. Using long thin bits of tissues apply on latext.
3. DON'T repeat as we want don't want the abrasion to be that deep.
4. Colour, apply wound filler and blood.


The next one seems as though the rope has been wrapped around the hands a multiple of times, this could work quite well as Claudia died from lack of substance from just hanging there not from being hanged in itself. Both burns would work for this idea however this burn wouldn't work if Claudia had died from being hanged as it just wouldn't have been realistic.

1. Apply Liquid Latex to skin.
2. Using a single ply thick, long bit of tissue, apply to latex.
3. Apply another layer of latex, again ONLY apply 1 layer of tissue.
4. Using a pin and scissors again, create cuts and marks on different areas and different lengths.
5. Colour, wound fill and blood.

Looking into the Deaths

Can't say that I particularly enjoyed researching into the way I chose my characters to die but I felt it was necessary to get a decent outcome and see if I had missed anything.

HANGING

More specifically, I found this quite distressing to look into, mainly because it was an account written by a post mortem doctor. 

Depending on my design I need to consider the rope used - soft fabrics will almost never leave any marks but stiff, hard rope will not only bruise the skin but also cut it. I also have to consider what side of the head the knot is, if it it on the left side the cuts and bruising will be deeper and vice versa. The bruises on the next seem to be a soft v shape bruise, like I said, depending on where the noose sat and where the knot was.

https://writersforensicsblog.wordpress.com/2011/03/31/question-and-answer-what-happens-when-someone-is-hanged/

SLIT THROAT

Although my idea isn't necessarily a perfect slit throat I still looked into what and how the cut would look. When researching I found that the blunter the object cutting the skin, the more drag and the more of a rough rip rather than a smooth slice. And because of the instrument used, my cuts will be deep but messy. 

https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080606102431AATTvsc

The whole idea behind them returning back to the house would be to haunt the current occupants so the way they looked the second they died would be the way they looked when haunting the house. No decaying of body etc when they appear as a ghost - its almost as if their body had just frozen to what they looked like. 

Horror In Fashion

Rather than just looking at the more obvious, gore side of horror I had a look into the fashion side. The side that sparks my interest. Out of the few images we were given I chose to look at Westwoods approach in her London Fashion week SS14 . The looseness of the marks interested me - you don't see it very often, hair and make up is seen as being precise and less expressive than it should be. It reminded me of just taking a brush to a canvas and simply getting lost in it - I liked it - It was different.

This was one of the looks in Vivienne Westwood's SS14 show, The make up was applied with sponges and sometimes a dense feather to create a dramatic look.

THIS WAS MY ATTEMPT

I am really happy with the way this has turned out however I feel some of my marks could have been a little bit sharper, for example around the eye. I also applied slightly too much black to some ares but quite frankly I don't think it particularly messes up the design at all but it's just not what the original looked like. I really did enjoy this lesson it showed us another route to go down if we were interested. I would of loved to go down a more fashion side I just don't think my idea would suit it all that well.

Quentin Ideas

Above is my second idea facechart for Quentin, I chose to make his face really drawn out and eyes really tired to show the extent of what Claudia has put him through, the lips will be chapped and cut with blood on them. Due to the method of torture I chose to use (Neck Torture - which is a metal device that has spikes on, it is tied round the neck, the person is ever so slightly suspended, toes just touching the floor, everyday the device is tightened causing more pain and more blood loss) the model will have cuts all around his neck, on my facechart I have illustrated that the cuts will be stitched up but I don't know if I will definitely do that.

As I had previously mentioned in my Claudia Ideas blog post, I linked my face charts with each other. I have decided to keep my Quentin ideas very similar and keep the fact he died from Neck Torture in both face charts, however in this one he had beaten and strangled Claudia until she died - which is why he has blood and bruising all over his knuckles. I think I am going to stick with idea number 1 on both designs because it seems more interesting and more complex.

You can see the similarity between Claudia's idea number 1, I really like this design because I feel it flatters both sexes which is what I want to achieve.

Same with design number 2. I feel this one would look really good and effective on the male - this sleek back, very cocky and skeezy man but also some what attractive. The only issue is is that I feel it doesn't look as effective on a female model as it does on a male. I want both models to look good so will most likely go for idea number 1.

'Awakening'
Again, I have decided to change the word to be more fitting to this idea. Previous it was 'Veiled' but I feel I have gone down a complete opposite road with this one. I chose the word 'Awakening' mainly because I felt that as Claudia was slipping away, the less power she had thus making Quentin more powerful and his power and strengths are being awakened.

Like I previously said, Quentin will be wearing a white shirt as will Claudia. 

Claudia Ideas

This is my second idea face chart for Claudia, I have chosen to keep it looking very realistic with drawn out eyes and skin with a pale face and chapped bloody lips. I have designed my look to have rope burn around the wrists and neck which is the way Quentin tortured her to kill her, this will be made out of liquid latex. The smudged make up on the face represents not only her fear but also her feeling of betrayal that has come from Quentins actions.

This is my 3rd face chart for Claudia, I found when I was designing my face charts that I designed them in pairs in regards to Quentin's as well, so whatever one I choose I need to make sure I am happy with both outcomes. I decided to go for a different death, this face charts shows Claudia being beaten and strangled to death.

Above is my first hair chart idea, again I chose to match Claudia and Quentin. I wanted to have everything completely sleek and strangely perfect, especially with what everything they went through when they died. It gives that weird aspect that American Horror Story  has.

I didn't mean for the top of the hair to look as backcombed as it does, I would like the hair stuck to the head and running down the back. I like this idea but to me is doesn't show my idea of having it completely perfect whereas because the design before has a parting, you could show the perfection through that as well as having everything neat. I think I am most likely going to go with deisgn number one because I feel it fits my idea better than this one does.


'Slipping'
 I have chosen change my word that I am relating my idea too. Previously it was 'Save Us' but due to the fact I have completely changed my idea I thought it would be best to completely change my word.
This time I have chosen the word 'Slipping'; it represents her now lack of control. Before Quentin's death she had him wrapped around her little finger, controlling his every move, what he wore, what he said etc but now I have this idea of her slipping out of control and slipping out of consciousness as she dies. This word is more fitting with this design rather than 'Save Us' and I am really glad I chose to change it.

In regards to costume I am making Claudia and Quentin both wear white shirts to maintain some continuity between both of them, everything about them will be in some what similar. Their hair will be parted and gelled in very similar ways albeit one has really long hair and my Quentin model has short hair they will both represent each other.
The reason behind me choosing a shirt was mainly taken from her interest into Saw, The Movies. Jigsaw, the leading character is particularly well dressed and she had taken inspiration form him. Not only in her attire but her distressing interest into torture techniques and different contraptions linked to pain and killing.

American Horror Story Character Development

As I said in my powerpoint presentation (below) I have chosen to do American Horror Story Series 1 (The Haunted House). Because my characters were too similar to characters already in AHS I have come up with a complete new concept. I chose to do American Horror Story because the whole show is very broad and you can be quite artistic with your ideas - however much I would love to do that I think I am going to stick with the more realistic approach.

My new idea still includes using Claudia and Quentin however, rather than being the main occupants of the house I have chosen them to be previous occupants of the house, ones that died in there and continue to haunt the current family that is living there right now. Concentrating on Claudia and Quentin's background, the story goes like this - As the brief states, Claudia is very interested in horror films, I specifically chose the Saw series. The reason being because she has an odd interest into torture techniques and wants to try some out. She tries these techniques out on her 'imaginary' (who the audiences assumes is real) boyfriend, one of her techniques (neck torture) actually kills him off. Despite her grief and sadness, Quentin comes back for revenge and eventually kills her, torturing her the way she tortured him. She is hung from her hands and her neck until she slowly dies. Not only is she in a lot of physical pain she is also mentally and emotionally hurt as she wonders why her boyfriend could do such a horrible thing.

I have to now create a new moodboard a new face chart and try and associate my word or a new word with each of my characters.

Below is the moodboard that relates to my idea as as a whole.

Ideas Presentation

Claudia and Quentin Presentation by AnnaField

After presenting my powerpoint to my tutor and my class I was told I had a lot of thins to change. My tutor felt my characters that I was placing into the series mimicked some characters already in there, so I have to think of a new way to include my characters into my story line, she also didn't like my facecharts and my ideas so I think I may have to completely re design my whole concept.

Women In Horror

Women have been in horror series and films as long at they began, all with the same character and the same ending, the victim that is saved by a fearless man who is then known as the 'hero' -helping them from the predicament that they themselves have got in.
Up until recently women have constantly been portrayed as helpless, however many modern horror visuals now show women as the villian. A strong, psychotic, persistent villian (I guess its better than the norm). Not only that but some women have been portrayed as the hero in these situations. An example is Annabelle and Gone Girl's Amy Dunne who was shown to be a complete sociopath.

Not only has the characters and positions of women changed but this idea of beauty as well. Initially majority of shows and films so these women and not only the victims, but the hot victim. A beautiful helpless girl that NEEDS a mans help. I understand that to attract a wide audience (males and females) the characters need to be particularly attractive themselves. These standards never really changed up until the last few years. From the start American Horror Story did actually cast attractive actress and actors (Jessica Lange and Dylan Mcdermott) but throughout the series, concentrating on the fifth series, Freakshow - these beauty standards were no longer. It showed beautiful people flawed, with physical mental and personal problems.










I like this idea of keeping the characters relatively good looking but with obvious ugly flaws. I think I am going to really relish on the concept of women overtaking horror and being in charge but also have a slight twist on it without making it too stereotypical either way.

Basic Character Analysis

CLAUDIA

QUENTIN

MRS LADERMAN

I decided to brainstorm the traits that were mentioned on the brief of each of the different characters just for some basic analysis and if any starter ideas would come from doing this. I am very interested in doing Claudia and Quentin as I have a few ideas that I could use as well as it fitting in well with my chosen series which is American Horror Story.