Ever wondered how actors transform into completely different avatars? we let you in to their secret ufffd 3d make-up

Ever wondered how actors transform into completely different avatars? we let you in to their secretu00a0-- 3d make-upu00a0u00a0

We have watched them inu00a0 the Ramsay Brothers flicks (who can forget titles like Veerana, Purana Mandir or Bandh Darwaza), and have always wondered how they do it, despite knowing it's tricks. Now we finally get an inkling about all that gory make-up as two visiting international 3D make-up artists spill the beans.

Annechien Braams

Attie Tabak has been training 3D make-up artists since, in her words, 'ages'. Her Indian friends call her the Picasso of make-up world, a title she brushes off modestly with a smile. Her colleague Annechien Braams reacts to compliments with a 'used to' languor. But there is nothing unenergetic about their hands. Give them the tools of their trade and they'll weave magic relentlessly.

Romance with grease paints
Between them, these two Dutch maestros have more than 50 years of experience, out of which a substantial portion was dedicated to prosthetics and special effects make-up. "It has been 35 years since I started doing this. I don't even remember the films or plays I have contributed to," says Attie. No matter how much one prods, she refuses to come out of her amnesic stupor. "Well, I do remember The Phantom of Opera though, that was interesting work," she finally discloses. "You have to look forward and imagine things. Instead of remembering one's works of the past, one has to dream of things which never existed," adds Annechien.

Silicon dreams
But how do they put these dreams into practice, how does the director's vision become fantastical characters with eccentric noses, elephantine ears and large beady eyes? "It's a lengthy process. A life cast of the actor's body is made, followed by detailed sculpting of the new features, moulding of the sculpture and finally pouring in the final pieces," explain Attie. "The final product is a prosthetic made of foam latex, gelatine or silicon which is fixed on the skin and then painted. The entire process involves head casting, sculpting, mould-making, hair-punching, painting and lots of detailing," says Annechien.

Lure of the elephant god
So is it a very lengthy process of imagination on steroids? "Yes, we take inspiration from day to day people, watching their physical features and mannerisms closely which we translate into our art works," says Annechien. But creativity doesn't thrive on studying people in the streets alone, it sometimes means digging up the dead. Attie is also an anthropologist who studies history and past civilisations in order to create the character. And for the artist in her, India seems like a gold mine. "The features of gods like Ganesha, Rama and Buddha are very appealing, I would love to work on something revolving around them," she says.

Making up a better world
But life for these two is more than merely creating fantastical characters out of thin air. Attie has been actively involved in acts of social change. "Street children in Uruguay were into sniffing fluids until we started involving them in street theatre. The colourful masks lured them and they became the first street clown group of Uruguay," she says. Her love for changing the community has taken her to places like Algeria, Turkey among others, where her skills evoked the same positive results. She cites an example: "In Amsterdam, the lesser fortunate women became make-up artists, empowering themselves. If you have the passion no matter what your trade is you can contribute to a better society."

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