2)  Don't act the "emotion", act the action.  Think of the verb, not the adjective. 

 

TonyDi

 

Hey Joe,

 

WELL........that's just it...you see I'm always involved in so much stuff I rarely have TIME to do anything I WANT to do or plan to do unless it's literally MONTHS in advance.  HOWEVER, I AM STILL rolling this around behind my eyes in that big huge space that is supposed to contain gray matter (such as it is) and I have a 'rough' outline done with many modifications yet to come in THAT before I could even begin writing the text portions which will also have to be modified when the photos would be done.  AND as I think I said before, I MAY end up doing a series of DVD's instead of a book - MUCH quicker, easier and gives a "visual" demo of HOW to do it and can contain much more information that a written text.  AND it's easier for people to follow, to watch and see how it's done and to allow them something that they don't have to sit there and try to decipher by reading and applying what it is they read.

 

SO YES, it IS coming someday and YOU ALL will be the FIRST to know it when it's available.  I am past the year wherein I said I was going to do it and have only gotten to that rough outline.  But it's time I got me butt in gear and got something rolling in that regard.  One of the things I have issue with is finding willing victims who can serve as guniea pigs for this outrageous idea.  I DO want to do a makeup transformation in several different ways on a high school aged person to give them ideas how NOT to and HOW TO do makeup to age a youthful face effectively for playing older roles.  As you all know, it's often in the choice of actor or actress which gives you the BEST results in that regard.  They can still be young...they just need the kind of face that can best be made to look older than they are.  It's a lot about facial anatomy and bone structure, plus so much more.

 

ANYway, thanks yet again for prodding.  I NEED that constant heckling to get me on the ball and "git 'er done" so it's a reality and not a pipe dream.  So thanks for asking.  All I can say is it will get here eventually.

 

TonyDi

 

BY THE WAY I LOVE the title.  Can I use it with credit to YOU for coining that?  "Making Up Warm Props" ....!!!! HAHAHA!! I THINK THAT is A GREAT title and piques a little fun.  I HOPE to make it a bit humorous as well as anecdotal too.  So much to do, so many ideas.

 

Thank god for emoticons or I'd never know what you are saying!  I love it!  I love your posts even when it takes me a while to figure out aussie jargon.  You have great insight and advice - Thank you!  -d.

 , I MAY end up doing a series of DVD's instead of a book -

 

 

 

 

Hey Joe,

 

Well I just saw this so I went to check out what this was.  Frankly, and I know I'm going to sound like a pompous ass, THIS set SUCKS especially for $179.00 for the set.  Seems like a LOT of money that really STILL displays makeup work that is STYLIZED, MUCH MUCH to heavy handed and geared toward a wider variety of things that I simply think this woman is NOT qualified to do. Her horror makeup, or her FX makeup work is amateurish, most of her stuff that is shown on that ONE page, is FAR too heavy handed, unrefined, unblended, unfinished in my estimation. And to charge $179.00 for 6 DVD's might not SEEM excessive for the "amount of information you get" - sadly when it's no better than it appears on the surface to be, then in MY wallet it's just not worth it.  This is the SAME kind of thing that the last book I purchased drew to my attention. THIS woman - with her doctorate degree - is a COSTUMER who is into makeup too. And if you notice she is an ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR - not even a full fledged professor who has been teaching it for only 10 years (and she's likely not too old like this next one either - just thinks 10 years qualifies her). And her references for the histories are like from 1898 and 1916 - old ideas, old concepts which she is trying to apply to modern techniques and styles?  Sorry I don't buy that at all.  Even her LAST DISC SHOULD be the first - with studies in anatomy and other basics that BEGIN the process - not end it.  Like the last book I bought which promotes some other "associate professor of costuming" at some Michigan or Minnesota college - who THINKS she knows what good makeup work is - is all about self promotion using her otherwise impressive credentials to push off on the poor unsuspecting public of users - actors and teachers or whatever - amateurish approaches to makeup for theater.  I mean I'm sorry, costumers are NOT makeup artists.  This is that age old issue of....."I had two semesters of makeup instruction in college so I'm a makeup artist" OR ........ "oh I KNOW how to do my own makeup"!!!  And I'm sick to death of it.

 

NO I don't possess college degree in costuming or makeup (NOBODY that I know of anywhere EXCEPT a couple colleges in CA - produce degrees in makeup work).  Even the makeup schools for FX and such, are so basic that most people who go to those schools have more money than brains. I mean, one school I know of particularly charges $27,000 dollars for a course in SPFX.  SOME of the people who have come out of those schools do well.  MOST do not.  It's NOT the instructors - they're all qualified makeup artists who are top-notch. IT's the school itself that promotes a makeup artist mill as THE WAY to learn to do the work and that you WILL get hired.  HOGWASH.  THE INDUSTRY is suffering severely from over-glut of artists UNQUALIFIED to do the work - when in fact, the work is hardly there to have anymore.

 

And with theater makeup artists - well they're a dime a dozen and they all usually have the same problem - "I had two semesters of makeup instruction in college so I'm a makeup artist"!!! NOT!!!  But you can't tell anyone that or you become (as I have far too many times) a pompous ass who "thinks he knows it all"?  Heck, I've been doing this for almost 50 years and I STILL am learning - so I have no delusions about what I know and I certainly don't go around with my makeup kit on my shoulder. I HAVE gotten lucky that most people who know my work and know what I AM capable of hire me more and more to do the work.  AND THAT is the fact that I enjoy.....well that and the money that comes from a lifetime of learning and ability.  BUT JUST BECAUSE she has a doctorate degree (in costuming I'm assuming - or theater) WHY people put more stock in THAT just because she HAS that credential is beyond me.  Are people just THAT stupid??  I just don't know.  MAYBE it means I need to get off my ass and get MY work out there and selling if I can and if it would.  IF these idiots can get their JUNK sold, surely to God I can too.  I just need to do it and get it out there to know.  Something to be said for not wasting one's time getting it done.

 

AT any rate, I will still use your title with credit to you.  I DO still love it - "Making Up Warm Props".  CLASSIC Title and with anecdotal stuff plus solid instruction I hope I can make something like this work.  I'm bound and determined or at least to die trying.  Thanks for the heads up.  I KNOW I can beat that $179.0o price tag EVEN to advanced makeup people who are beyond amateur status.  EVERY makeup pro WAS an amateur - it just takes TIME and PATIENCE and INSTRUCTION.  I learned my makeup work on the job.  My other interest of Special Makeup Effects which CAN apply to theater in many, many cases, was learned from one of the best of the best in Hollywood who is an academy award winning makeup artist and the "godfather of modern special makeup effects".  I got lucky to be a student of his course.  I learned more in the last 13 years or so that I've been a student of his course than I ever knew in the previous 35 some odd years before.  AND if NOTHING else, I learned a level of devotion, precision, perfection seeking that SO FEW THEATER makeup people even CARE about or consider.

 

SO I'm still going to do it.  FAR less expensive and far better information and instruction than a doctoral costumer can do.  I've seen the page displayed. I'm NOT impressed at ALL with her work. Yet there she is selling her DVD's and here I sit wishing I had the time to get it done.

 

I know what I NEED to do - just need the time to do it.

 

LATER

 

TonyDi

 

 

(and TonyDi if you're out there, we did touch on make-up, emphasis on street techniques to enhance features or diminish appearance of "flaws".  Emphasized health and cleanliness, need to have own "basics", and, as it is an actor's workshop, emphasized need to have the character carry the make-up, not the make-up carry the actor - with a few exceptions.)

 

Again glad your seminars and workshops are a huge success.  Give them a little then they'll want much more - into the advanced stages and that's a good thing. Eager to learn and absorb is a good sign. Congratulations.

 

TonyDi

 

 

I am back to thinking about this and working on the outline AGAIN!!! SEEMS TIME is my biggest enemy.  I work for a living - a real, involved and time-consuming job.  BUT my outside committments have drastically reduced as of late - I planned it that way - so I can now begin working on the outline for the DVD's or book or whatever I plan to do with it all in the end.  BUT thanks for the prod.  I need that every now and again to keep the juices flowing and the mind racing toward getting this done.  I mean, it's something in MY opinion, is much needed even though there are already good books out there - that MOST people don't know about, never find or just can't afford - I mean after all Corson 9 is over $100 bucks (but it's still one of the best available).  I THOUGHT about a book but a DVD is easier, could be cheaper in the long run and can offer much more information - I can talk faster than I can type even though I CAN type quite fast.....and it's easier to listen to than to read.  SO I'm likely opting for the DVD route - and far less expensive, much more honest and to the point and HOPEFULLY will DEBUNK a lot of the garbage that's out there from those who just because they've had a semester or two - or even a couple YEARS at makeup work - think they're qualified.  As I've said before, I've been at this almost 50 years and I STILL am learning - it simply never stops.  SO Keep prodding me - keep bugging me about it and I'll get it done.

 

THANKS however for asking again.

 

TonyDi

 

 

SO I guess I'm asking for SUGGESTIONS, IDEAS, OPINIONS, NEEDS (specific and general) and what in your world isn't being taught or being shared that would help YOU in THE REAL world of community theater.  I want to address makeup from a variety of standpoints as well - NOT just AMATUER BEGINNER work but enough of a variety that it won't bore the masses of those who DO good makeup work but need to take things steps further in their development as makeup artists in theater or whatever it is you're doing.  CAN YOU HELP?  DO YOU WANT to help by providing YOUR personal take on what would help you the most from what you know and what you've seen of makeup work by those who NEED to know how to do it right and how it should be presented that it will best serve those who want to learn?

 

THIS would give me a REAL PICTURE of what the most pressing needs are in the worlds in which you all exist and especially so when you NEED good makeup work done but there is no-one who knows how.  OR it will give me if nothing else, a jumping off place.  Oh I could come up with an outline - I'm working on one now.  BUT you don't want to see the HISTORY of makeup, or AVANTE GARDE high fashion stuff necessarily, nor all old age makeups, nor animals, monsters or zombies, etc., etc.  -  YOU get my point I think.  If you're like me, you KNOW that good, solid PRACTICAL makeup help is always a god-send and something that is sorely needed and poorly conveyed, hardly EVER taught even on the college level, much less in community theater circles.

 

While I cannot offer you all a byline on the final result, you'll all certainly know you contributed and will be graciously thanked for your ideas, thoughts, conjectures, problems, issues, needs, concepts, and so on and so forth when I do get this off the ground and out there into the hands of those who need it most - and there are many.  All I have to do now is figure out a way of getting it out there into the hands of those who WANT it and THOSE who NEED it but would never admit to it.

 

THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE for your ideas and such.

 

TonyDi