By Josh Jameson
This year in the art department, our goal has been to break the norms by expanding the classes and opportunities we offer. With new materials and processes available to students, we can present rare training in fields that have been overlooked by traditional art room teachings.
With an exceptionally talented senior class this year, the concentrations have been broad, showcasing a diverse display of art forms. Senior Emma Barley’s focus is film pre-production and special effects. In collaborative crossover with the theatre department, we gave added dimension to the actors' spirited performances in the tale of Aladdin with life-like facial prosthetics, including a caricatured vilified nose for Jack Boyer’s character of Jafar and fantastic blue pointed ears for Ana Cordero’s portrayal of the Genie.
Made from silicone, the facial appliances were custom sculpted by Emma and myself on life castings taken of her classmate’s faces. The silicone mimics the flex of real human skin, and once applied to the actor’s face it moves fluidly with their movements of expression as an extension of the actor. After the pieces were molded and cast, Emma meticulously applied and blended them on the actors before curtain call. The results were stunning, and actors were allowed a deeper connection with their character performances.
“Having the ears on made me feel so complete as the Genie," said Ana Cordero. "I was prepared for the part, but the ears took me to the next level. They were super comfortable, and I barely noticed they were there. I’m super into stage makeup, so having a life-casting was such a cool experience. Overall, anyone going into theater should definitely get hyped up if they are told they can do prosthetics. I know I loved it."
"The privilege of using a nose prosthetic for a character like Jafar allowed me to connect to the character and find my element with ease," said Jack Boyer. "I had never played a villain before Jafar, and the nose allowed me to further disconnect from the way I usually act, utilizing a new array of facial expressions, further embracing the new challenge and personality.”
Coming from a background of special effects, I know first-hand how difficult it is to absorb these techniques; they simply aren’t available in a traditional classroom setting. Emma has an insatiable interest in the work and is a natural for the craft. Having the opportunity to teach her these techniques this year has been a true joy. “I’ve loved learning the process of making and applying prosthetics and I can’t wait to continue expanding my knowledge into college," said Emma.
