Zombie Makeup

C

cmnervegna

I know many of you hate zombie movies and anything involving zombies. But to me, it is one of my favorites. Dont know why? It just excites me. So my question is if anyone can help me find out how to make someone look like a zombie?

It can be either with makeup, or in post production. Whichever is easier.

I would like step by step instructions if its not to much to ask. Or if you can direct me to a site.

If it is makeup, i would like as cheap as it can.

Thanks everyone for all your help.
 
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You will find a lot of step-by-step guides on the internet. Use
the terms “step by step guide zombie make up” in your search. I’m
sure others will post sites for you, too. But you may find some
great information be searching.

For really good zombie make up (and I worked on some of the most
famous) it can be expensive and take a lot of time, learning and
skill. Something like this:
zombies.jpg

requires life casting, sculpting, mold making and various foam
latex's or gel efx.

However, there are simpler ways to do a nice zombie makeup.

You can buy kits with liquid latex and all the standard colors on
line and at all those Halloween stores that script up around this
time of year.

Using liquid latex and tissue paper you can create dead skin.
Using Derma Wax you can create what looks like holes and scars.
That can also be done with liquid latex and tissue paper.

Ben Nye and Kryolan have specific zombie colors. Check out the
"Woochie" catalogue and Cinema Secrets.
 
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Be careful going full gray. That will read blue on camera. That's the first thing you learn.

Start with a base coat of paint. Maybe a little pink, with dark under the eyes, and a thin red on the lower eye lid, as close to the eye as you can get. You can add very thin delicate veins in key areas. Take a look at anatomical drawings to see where veins dwell on the face. Also watch Interview with a Vampire to get an idea of the vein thing...

You can use gelatin. Heat that up in the microwave with some water, and when it cools enough, you can paint layer after layer on the actor.

In-between layers (after it dries), you can paint some more details. Then put another layer of gelatin. Let it dry, and then paint more detail. Adding dark areas for sunken eyes and sunken cheeks. Repeat for as many layers as you want...around 5 or 6 will do. A hair dryer helps speed things up.

Once the gelatin dries, but not completely, you can tear-off little bits of the gelatin, which will peel off nicely. You then paint in black in that torn area, and then red for blood.

If you want a crusty zombie, you can add layers of toilet paper after every layer of gelatin. This will make the skin looked cracked and nasty. It will also make the whole effect hard as papermache after it completely dries, so be prepared for that.

If you don't want to do gelatin, you can just paint a very light grey, with dark under the eyes (subtle), red on the lower eye lid, and other details. You can add slight blood coming out of the ears and eyes.

Makeup time: about an hour if you're fast.

Here is a clip from the 48hr film we just did, where I created the zombies. Take a look at the first one, the zombie that pulls up it's riot mask and the title comes on screen. This was done with the gelatin effect I mentioned above:

Said zombie at timecode :39

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qmvJqbYXP0

Good luck.
 
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I haven't done zombie makeup, but my favorite thing to work with for the past few years (since I first discovered it) is platinum cure silicone.. it's mixed in a 1:1 ratio, and can be applied directly to the skin. Can be thickened, can be cast, can be tinted... easy to match with actors flesh since it's translucent. There's really nothing I don't like about it -- though it's a little spendy.

You can buy Gel-10 from http://brickintheyard.com and they have a lot of cool tutorials and stuff on their youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/bitymoldsupply

Ooooo.. they have a new product! Gel-00 guess I know what I'll be playing with on my next project.. :D
 
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cmnervegna said:
So you dont need to be a pro or have any experience to come out with decent work? Because i have no experience whats so ever... :huh:
Click to expand...
Decent? I guess so. I remember my first attempts.
Looking back they were pretty horrible, but I guess
in context they could be called decent. I got better
with experience.

Your first attempts at zombie makeup will likely look
like the first attempt of someone with no experience
whatsoever. But you should give it a try. You may
surprise yourself. For me, it turned into a career.

On a side note; makeup efx, like anything is much harder
than it looks. Having talent goes a long way. Gaining the
experience (sometimes years of it) is even better. Don't
think that by knowing the materials and even getting
step-by-step instructions you will create what a pro can
create. I suggest you buy the materials and start
experimenting with them before you are ready to work
on actors and roll tape.
 
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I second what Rik said.. get the stuff, and play with it. Come up with your own style, mess around with it 'til you like what you can do. And, always, ALWAYS do camera tests.. makeup will look a LOT different under lights on camera than it does to the eye.
 
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