“If the audience didn’t believe in the tattoos, we were dead before we even began,” says director Guy Nattiv of “Skin,” a reality-based drama about white supremacist Bryon Widner, who renounced those beliefs and his body-covering markings.
So Nattiv tapped Emmy-winning makeup maestro Stephen Bettles for the job — a massive project that Bettles says required 14 face and 39 body tattoos just for actor Jamie Bell, who stars as Widner. Working on an indie budget, Bettles created 175 hand-drawn designs that often had to be reapplied daily on a cast that included Bell, 12 other principals and up to 165 additional characters.
“I got the original script and did a breakdown of 51 pages of makeup and tattoo-related notes,” says the British-born, L.A.-based Bettles. “That’s about five times the amount you’d normally see. Saying this was the most extensive job I’ve ever had — that’s putting it mildly.”
Bettles, who...
So Nattiv tapped Emmy-winning makeup maestro Stephen Bettles for the job — a massive project that Bettles says required 14 face and 39 body tattoos just for actor Jamie Bell, who stars as Widner. Working on an indie budget, Bettles created 175 hand-drawn designs that often had to be reapplied daily on a cast that included Bell, 12 other principals and up to 165 additional characters.
“I got the original script and did a breakdown of 51 pages of makeup and tattoo-related notes,” says the British-born, L.A.-based Bettles. “That’s about five times the amount you’d normally see. Saying this was the most extensive job I’ve ever had — that’s putting it mildly.”
Bettles, who...
- 7/24/2019
- by Randee Dawn
- Variety Film + TV
It’s a true story that seems almost too tidy: a Neo-Nazi attempts to escape the white supremacist movement after finding a good woman who loves him and believes he can change, but his attempts are thwarted by both his ruthless skinhead family and the scores of “white power” tattoos that cover his face and body. The real-life experience of Byron Widner bred the 2011 documentary “Erasing Hate,” which focused on Widner’s months-long process to erase his tattoos and prove his worth to society, but Guy Nattiv’s narrative feature “Skin” is consumed by the years leading up to Widner’s apparent redemption.
Finding a leading man willing to undergo the necessary physical and mental work was daunting. Producer Oren Moverman had the bright eye to cast Jamie Bell, but the actor was initially resistant. He’d just come off making “Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool” and admitted...
Finding a leading man willing to undergo the necessary physical and mental work was daunting. Producer Oren Moverman had the bright eye to cast Jamie Bell, but the actor was initially resistant. He’d just come off making “Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool” and admitted...
- 9/8/2018
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
We love the makeup artists and hairstylists here at Monsters and Critics. Where would NBC's "Grimm" be without Barney Burman, Stephen Bettles and company? Or Nick's "iCarly" and "Victorious" without Michael Johnston, Patti Brand, Maria Valdivia and Melanie Mills? Or ABC's "Once Upon a Time" without the work of Debra Wiebe and Sarah Graham? Not to mention the film greats for the craft, Oscar winners like Bill Corso, Ve Neill, Howard Berger and Greg Cannom? It's time to celebrate all the hardworking folks who make the characters come to life and aid the actors in their transformation, as the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild will celebrate 75 years. From the press release: The Make-Up Artists...
- 10/12/2012
- by April MacIntyre
- Monsters and Critics
Fangoria got a chance to sit down and talk with Barney Burman, the makeup designer and creator for Grimm, who’s in charge of the many monsters that Nick, Monroe and company have to track down. In the interview, he talks about Lon Chaney Jr., and the Burman makeup dynasty, his career and the show’s monsters. It’s good stuff, so I just brought you the good stuff. If you want the full article, go here:
In charge of these shocking sights is Burman, one of the Burman makeup dynasty: “My dad’s dad made the prosthetic nose and the cane for The Wolf Man with Lon Chaney Jr., and made the pieces for Jack Pierce.” Although it’s where he wound up, Burman says he didn’t initially plan to enter the family business. “When I was a kid, I wanted to be Lon Chaney; I wanted to...
In charge of these shocking sights is Burman, one of the Burman makeup dynasty: “My dad’s dad made the prosthetic nose and the cane for The Wolf Man with Lon Chaney Jr., and made the pieces for Jack Pierce.” Although it’s where he wound up, Burman says he didn’t initially plan to enter the family business. “When I was a kid, I wanted to be Lon Chaney; I wanted to...
- 8/13/2012
- by Andy Greene
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
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