Aging and Character

In my last two posts, I looked at what I am comfortable to call masterpieces of extreme aging.  In these prosthetic makeups, the actor/character is transformed into a recognizable version of himself, fifty years or so into the future.  The magic of aging can, however, be used differently, when a young or middle-aged actor is changed into a elder character, but one that fits hardly at all with his normal appearance.  This can be done to create historical characters or fictional ones.  In this post, I share four examples of prosthetic makeup used for these purposes.

Before doing so, let me put on my philosophical hat alongside the fan-of-makeup one.  This will annoy those of you who are sensibly here for the examples and not the windiness/wordiness of theory.  But it's on my mind that, so far, I have tried to draw the most dubious of lines between outstandingly professional and competent makeups on the one hand and, on the other hand, those that have a kind of magic, ones in which the finished character comes alive and in which, as the title of blog suggests, the makeup artist is in a sense "playing God."  Two kinds of skeptical doubt haunt me about this.  One is that perhaps there is no such line, that I am not looking as critically as I might at the works that seem to me magical.  The other kind of doubt is that the line exists but is wholly subjective, that you, as reader and perhaps seasoned makeup artist, do not share my reactions and enthusiasms.

For many years, Thomas Foldberg and Morten Jacobsen partnered in their successful studio, Soda Effects, based in Denmark.  A few years ago, they formed separate enterprises---and both are flourishing.  Among Thomas Foldberg's incredible recent work are IMATS demonstrations and age makeups on Pal Sverre Hagen.  For the Norwegian comedy program Sostreme ser pa TV, which has to date had three series of episodes, he transforms the stars, Jon Oigarden and John Brunget, both in their 40s, into elderly sisters, Beatrice and Gry, whose differences of opinion and manner give the show its edge.  The makeup is essential, of course, to the stars' 100% credibility.  Here is Jon Oigarden as himself and Beatrice:

And here is John Brungot before and after transformation as Gry::

(Eat your heart out, Mrs. Doubtfire.)  Thomas collaborated with Asta Hafthorsdottir on the creation of these characters, often having to work at arms' length because of covid restrictions.  Asta was responsible for the makeup and hair design, Thomas for the prosthetic design and fabrication.  They were joined in the process of makeup application by Ida Astero and Terje Rodsjo.  The photos of finished work are by Thomas.

Another of my favorite, utterly convincing sets of transformations was devised by Frederic Laine for Jean Dujardin, Oscar winner for best actor for The Artist, which also captured best picture.  Fred designed and carried out two age/character makeups on Jean in 2016 and 2018, with the collaboration of his colleagues at CLSFX Atelier 69 in Paris.

And I can't resist sharing an in-process shot of the second makeup:

In the November post, I'll veer away from aging makeups into some favorite sinister characters. In the meantime, I'm eager to hear your thoughts and comments.  Comment on this page, or let me know at thomas.morawetz@law.uconn.edu.   Be well.