Quentin Storyboard- Character and Design Inspiration

Quentin Inspiration by hayleybennett featuring glamorous makeup

For me, my Quentin character is a weak, easily influenced young boy that has no say in anything, especially when it comes to his and Claudias relationship.  I want him to look sad, tired and his style to be very dark which reflects the emotional state he is in.

Claudia Storyboard- Character and Design Inspiration

Claudia Inspiration by hayleybennett 

When creating this storyboard, I wanted to focus more on the ideas I had purely for the character of Claudia, rather than just the idea of Gothic Horror.  As I said in my mood board post, I want Claudias look to be sleek, dark and harsh to reflect her controlling personality.  Therefore, I have included a lot of dark, sleek and sultry make up and hair inspiration. As well as including details to do with nails and posing. 

Claudia and Quentin...Gothic Horror Fashion and Make Up Moodboard

To start off our new Project, which will be based around re-creating characters Claudia and Quentin for a Music Video, I created a Gothic Horror inspired mood board.  I  have chosen images that have given me ideas for my designs for Claudia and Quentin, as well inspiration for styling, lighting and artists whose music and music videos I've found relevant to the term 'Gothic Horror'. 

Pinterest Inspiration- General Gothic Make Up and Hair Styles

I find Pinterest to be a really good place to find both general and more focused inspiration for my Make Up and Hair Designs.  These few images are some that caught my eye on Pinterest, these and more can be found on my Pinterest under the board 'Gothic Horror'. Here is the link to my Pinterest Page: http://gb.pinterest.com/hayleybennett50/ . 

All of the images below incorporate a style of Gothic Make Up and Hair, that I feel can be used on both a male and female character.  The use of blacks, deep purples and dark reds really help to emphasise the idea of a 'Gothic' style.

What is Gothic Horror?

When I first think of the word 'Gothic', thing like dark colours, blood and mystery come to mind.  However this is just a general overview of Gothic Horror, when actually Gothic Horror elements are found in fashion, make up, art, films and many other things. The elements of Gothic Horror will also be very different depending on what genre you are looking into. 

Gothic Horror Film Genre:

"Atmospheric Gothic Horror is based on supernatural creatures such as ghosts coming back from the dead to seek revenge. There are are bountiful amounts of graveyards, haunted houses, and victorian influences."

Available at: How would you define the gothic film genre?. 2014. (Online) Available at: https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070906010638AAkKWi5.

When thinking of Gothic Horror in films, just like this quote I think of ghosts, graveyards, castles.  I would expect something mysterious or unusual and scary to happen within the film and the characters to be evil, sly and dark.  However, in most Gothic Films there is also a softer character, a person that is the good guy/girl. There style would usually reflect their personality. 

Gothic Horror in Fashion:

'Gothic fashion is a clothing style marked by conspicuously dark, mysterious, exotic, and complex features. It is worn by members of the goth subculture. A dark, sometimes morbid fashion and style of dress, typical Gothic fashion includes a pale complexion with coloured black hair, black lips and black clothes.  Both male and female goths wear dark eyeliner and dark fingernail polish. Styles are often borrowed from the punks, Victorians and Elizabethans.  Goth fashion is sometimes confused with heavy metal fashion and emo fashion.'

'Gothic-inspired clothing has always been a favourite amongst young teens looking to express their moods and personality, and this very distinctive genre of style can be seen as a source of inspiration for several modern day fashion editorials. Gothic style encompasses a variety of different elements which come together to create an overall dark and edgy feel. Utilising elements such as dark colours, strong and edgy makeup, and deeply emotional expressions, these editorials have all used the Gothic style as an inspiration for their collections. The beautiful part of these Gothic-inspired editorials is that each of them seem to have incorporated more than just one style of fashion. Whether it be Victorian Gothic couture or glamorous Gothic ensembles, the blend of Gothic style with other genres of fashion make for beautifully striking collections.'

Available at: Gothic fashion - (Online) Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_Fashion

To me, Gothic Fashion incorporates lots of dark colours but also lots of unusual patterns and textures.  I think of Lace, Ribbon and delicate, but dark jewellery, such things as chokers and big, stone rings. 

New Project: Claudia and Quentin

Recently, we have been set a new project to create 2 characters, a girl named Claudia and a boy named Quentin, who will appear in a music video.  We were given descriptions of both Claudia and Quentin to start our research and design process.

Claudia is a young girl in her 20's, she was left alone a lot as a child, meaning she had little parental guidance.  She doesn't really leave her kitsch style home, and has an unhealthy obsession with Horror Movies,  she spends most days watching them.

She is an AGORAPHOBIC, and models herself on the female figure of the horror movies she watches, changing her style in both hair, make up and styling to the different girls in the film each day.  Even though she seems quite guarded, she can also be seen as quite humorous sometimes. 

Quentin is Claudia's imaginary boyfriend, so is a constant disappointment.  He doesn't change his style often, but when he does…it again is influenced from characters from horror films.  Quentin seems very weak, and is firmly under Claudia's thumb. 

My thoughts on Claudia and Quentin

To me, Claudia is a very twisted girl, with a dark, almost sultry style.  She is controlling, and this is portrayed within her style using sharp, sleek shapes and dark colours. 

Quentin is a weak boy, with a rugged style, that is not at all polished. 

Miss Havisham and Estella Final Evaluation

For our Great Expectations Project, we were asked to re-create the characters of Miss Havisham and Estella.  With this project, we were given the chance to learn new Special Effects skills, which I have really enjoyed doing.  With the use of new products, we have created cuts and bruises, these are just a few of the new things I have learnt.  I have really enjoyed learning these new Special Effects skills, as I had not previously had any experience in this, and it is a stepping stone to start really improving my knowledge and skills used in Make Up for TV and Film.  With regards to hair, we learnt a lot of Victorian techniques and really focused on creating big shapes, that would look striking when photographed.  Again, I feel as though I have improved, I didn't feel as though hair was my strong point, but with plenty of help and encouragement from Seema, I feel confident in approaching and executing a design that incorporates big shapes.  

Make Up Studio: Dirtying Down

Products Needed

Kryolan Colour Tube

Supracolour Palette

Fake Dirt

Brill Cream/Dry Shampoo

Coloured Hairspray

Blackened Teeth

1. Open the mouth and dry the tooth with a cotton bud.

2. Apply the black onto the tooth and keep the lip raised to allow the colour to dry.

3. Shade around the edges of the teeth to create a 3-D effect.

4. Always check the teeth throughout the shoot and have toothpicks to hand.

Dirtying Down

1. Apply any moisturiser to areas that will appear the dirtiest on the skin.

2. Rub on fake dirt or spray coloured hairspray to make the area darken on the skin.

3. Always remember to use the correct dirt or colour for the surroundings that you are shooting the model in.

4. Apply water or moisturiser to make the roots of the hair appear greasy, as this is the area that becomes greasy first. You can also use brill cream.

5. Spray dry shampoo on the hair to make it dull.


Always make sure you have dirtied down any areas of clothing that need to be dirtied down.

Creating a Sleek, Polished Ponytail

Products and Tools

Round Hair Brush with Vents

Heat Protective Mousse
Pin tail Comb
Paddle Brush

Hairspray
Strong Bobby Pins
Hair Bands
Hairdryer

     

1. Firstly, work out the condition your models hair, this will determine the products you need to use when creating your style.
2. Section the hair, apply mousse to each section, then blow-dry to the hair down, to create a straight, sleek finish. 
3. Repeat this process, starting from the bottom and working your way up, until all the hair is sleek and straight. 
4. Spray some mousse into your hand, and dab your pin tail comb into the mousse.
5. With the comb lightly coated in mousse, brush all the hair backwards, making sure there are no fly aways or bumps in the hair.
6. Next, blow-dry over the hair, still in a backwards motion, making sure it looks nice and shiny.
7. Using a round brush pull the hair back, quite tightly, into a sleek, polished ponytail.
8. Secure this with a hair band, then take a small section of hair from the ponytail and wrap this around the hair band, so the hair band isn't showing, secure this with a bobby pin. 
9. To finish the style, spray with hairspray if necessary. 

Creating Wounds using Gelatine/ Wounds Created in Moulds

Products and Tools

 Bowl of Hot Water

Gelyak/ Gelatine

Wound Moulds

Round, Fluffy Brush

Fine Translucent Powder

Supracolour Palette

Vaseline

Prosaide

1. To create your gelatine wound using the mould, choose the wound shape you want to create from your mould, place a small amount of Vaseline around the area so that the gelatine doesn’t stick to much when removing it from mould.
2. Add warmed gelatine or gel yak to your chosen mould and place in cool area until set.
3. When removing the mould from the plastic, powder the edges with a round, fluffy brush and  gently pull up the gelatine wound until it peels away slightly from the sides, this will avoid the gelatine from breaking.
4. Once you have removed your wound from the mould, place a small amount of prosaide where you want to place your gelatine wound, this will secure it and hold it into place.
5. With warm water and a cotton bud smooth the edges down, this will create seamless edges, blending it into the skin and make it look more realistic.
6. Taking your supra colour palette, add some colour to your wound.
7. To finish it off, add some reds and browns around the edges to blend the colours into the skin. You can also add some fake blood.
8. Lastly, powder the wound (if desired) to remove shine and create a matte effect.

My Estella Re-creation Outcomes

Overall, I was pleased with my Final Estella Outcomes.  The Make-Up and Hair both photographed nicely in both Black and White and Colour Photography. Here are the final images...

Black and White Images:

These are the final Black and White Images of my Estella, I was happy with the Make Up, although I would have liked the bruise under the right eye to be a lot more prominent, as this was hardly picked up at all under the lighting. Another element I'm happy with is the use of the red lip, as this really allows the lips to have more definition than if a pale colour was used, as well as allowing the lips to stand out and be the main feature of the look, which was what I was aiming for.  If I was to create the look again, I would also make sure to give myself a little extra time to polish the look, especially the hair, as the camera has picked up a few fly-aways around the top of the hairstyle. 

Colour Images: 

The Black and White images are timeless and classic, but I also really like the Colour images I captured too.  With the colour images, you can see the slight bruise under the right eye a lot better, which I'm pleased about.  As well as this, you can really see the tones of colour in the hair, and the true colour of the lipstick I decided to use.  Again, if I was to improve anything, it would be to create a bit more of a polished look, I think the finishing touches are really important, and I should always give myself time to go over my creation before photographing it. 

Miss Havisham Outcomes (2) - Continuity Images

Head Shot

Profile Shot

Close Up Shot

These are my second images of my Miss Havisham re-creation.  Overall, I'm very pleased with how the hair and make up looked.  The skin, redness around the eyes and sore/cracked lips are very similar to my first set of images, and as these were the main elements of my look, I feel as if they show a good level of continuity.  If I was to change anything, it would primarily be the lighting of the photos, as these photos look slightly brighter than my first set of photos.

Estella Final Make Up Design

For my Final Estella Make Up Look, I wanted to create a design that captured her natural beauty but also that incorporated subtle elements of her injures from her abusive husband, to link in with the fact that my view of Estella is one where she is misunderstood and vulnerable.  To create the look I would create a flawless base, with a soft, subtle eye and a pinky, red lip…this is very girly and elegant which would work well with the Hair Design.  However, to one side of the face I would subtly add a scar and some bruising, to show that although she may be beautiful and have a soft side to her personality, she is also going through a lot of pain.  

Estella Final Hair Design

For my Final Estella Hair Design, I wanted to create a soft, elegant hairstyle as to me, Estella is a very misunderstood character and I wanted the hair to reflect this.  To portray this side of Estella, I thought I would create a style that incorporates soft waves, especially around the front of the head, as I don't want the style to look too harsh.  To create the look, I would first curl the hair, apart from the front sections, in an upward motion to create a bouncy curl rather than a ringlet. I would leave the majority of the hair down, although pulling one side of the front back, maybe into a plait, and leaving the other side down in soft curls to frame the face.  I also thought about using accessories such as butterflies, to again emphasise the idea that Estella has a softer personality than first perceived. 

Estella Make Up Inspiration...

For my Estella Make Up look, I wanted to keep to the theme of natural, subtle beauty.  As my main words for Estella were misunderstood and romantic, I wanted to keep the make up really simple, with a pop of colour on the lips, to particularly bring out the 'Romantic' aspect.  To get some inspiration for my  designs, I turned to Pinterest, Pinterest has been so helpful in finding inspiration for this project as there is such a variety of images. 

The main aspect of this image that caught my eye was the pop of colour on the lips,  the red/orange colour really stands out with the simple eyes.  As the Victorians weren't exposed to many Make Up products, i'm sure they used minimal eye make up.  However, I am aware they used rouge on the lips and cheeks.  To bring in these Victorian elements, I will use a pop of colour on the lips, but maybe more of an orange toned red to give it a slight contemporary twist.

The flawless base from this Make Up, is what I hope to create for my Estella re-creation.  I see Estella as a young, misunderstood character, so a pale, flawless base would help to portray this.  This is also portrayed in the photo below, this picture also shows the matching colour that many Victorian women used on their cheeks and lips. 

Estella Hair Inspiration...

For my Estella Hair Design, I want to keep it quite minimalistic, with soft detailing around the front of the face.  I don't want wall the hair pulled away from the face, as I think this will create quite a harsh look, whereas I want to keep the look very soft and romantic to portray the misunderstood side of Estella's personality. 

I am using this picture for inspiration, purely because of the soft waves framing the face.  I really like this style, and will definitely be incorporating into my final design.  This style of curl/wave is a lot more dainty than a ringlet or marcell wave, and will be perfect for a romantic hairstyle. 

To keep to a slight Victorian theme, I thought adding a high bun would be a good option as this gives the style a bigger shape than simply having the hair down, as up-dos were very popular during the Victorian era.  By creating a bun, I also thought I could bring some of the hair from the front of the style and pin this loosely back, to create a style that flows nicely. 

Another element I would like to use in my Estella design, is some kind of accessories.  This adds a feminine touch to the style, and after all, Estella did sometimes come across as a fairly feminine woman.  For my design, I would like to use bows, or butterflies, which will give my look a unique edge to others. 

Image Credit: All images available from Pinterest. 

Estella Character Research

Miss Havisham’s beautiful young ward, Estella is Pip’s dream lover hroughout the novel. He loves her passionately, but, though she sometimes seems to be a friendly character, she is usually cold, cruel, and uninterested in him. As they grow up together, she repeatedly warns him that she has no heart and faces some tough trials and tribulations. 

As Estella grows up, she also goes through a painful marriage where she was beaten and battered which left her emotionally scarred, almost like Miss Havisham. 

Despite her cold behavior and the damaging influences in her life, ensures that Estella is still a sympathetic character and does still show that she has a softer side.  Estella’s long, painful marriage to Drummle causes her to develop along the same lines as Pip—that is, she learns, through experience, to rely on and trust her inner feelings. In the final scene of the novel, she has become her own woman for the first time in the book. As she says to Pip, “Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching. . . . I have been bent and broken, but—I hope—into a better shape.”

Image Credit:  Estella - Great Expectations 2012 Fan Art (32894208) - Fanpop fanclubs. (Online) Available at: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/great-expectations-2012/images/32894208/title/estella-fanart. Accessed 1st March 2104. 

Image Credit:  First look at BBC's Great Expectations. (Online) Available at: http://screenterrier.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/first-look-at-bbcs-great-expectations.html. Accessed 01 March 2014.