Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup: Aging/unaging for flashback

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Aging/unaging for flashback

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2007
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Topic: Aging/unaging for flashback

Posted By: Melissa
Subject: Aging/unaging for flashback
Date Posted: 9/05/06 at 12:12pm

We're doing a play with a flashback scene that requires a character to be twenty years younger than he is for the rest of the play. The actor is closer to the younger of the two ages he has to portray. He'll have only a 5-10 minute scene on either side of the flashback to change. We will have backstage assistants available. Any suggestions on quick changes we can make for the age difference to be both apparent and realistic?

Melissa

Replies:

Posted By: Playwright
Date Posted: 9/05/06 at 11:23pm

Hi,

I'm not an expert on this but if I were doing this I would try to achieve the change mainly with costume and maybe a change of hair style.(a real good wig). A change of mood in the lighting might help with the transistion as well. I'm not sure if the time frame alows a make-up change.

Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 9/06/06 at 2:21am

A few things I could suggest that have worked in the past are:

1) Grey the hair using white powder -- not a liquid or a spray. Often, the grey can be quickly brushed off with a towel or sturdy hairbrush. A spray-bottle of water on hand will help as well.

2) Unless your actor sweats profusely or has extra-oily skin, use double-sided toupee tape to adhere a moustache or other facial hair. ("Top-Stick" is the brand name most commonly found.) It comes in handy strips and can be powdered as well to dull the shine.

3) If you use a creme or powder-based age makeup it can be quickly removed using simple Baby-Wipes. Keep a large supply on hand to swipe away the wrinkles and highlights. Avoid grease-paint as that is heavier to remove.

The change back from young to old will require practice among your crew. Wrinkles, lines, and highlights can be quickly painted in with thin paintbrushes.

A towel placed around the shoulders will protect the costume as another assistant powders the hair with a puff.

A fresh piece of toupee tape applied to the netting of the moustache or other facial hair can be slapped on once the make-up is completed. DO NOT RE-USE the tape from the preivious scenes as the skin oil will have rendered the adhesive practically useless. Discard the old piece after the first transformation and have the new tape already in place on the hair-piece and standing by for the next.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

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"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

Posted By: Melissa
Date Posted: 9/06/06 at 2:39pm

I hadn't thought of using facial hair for one age. I also wasn't sure if it was possible to get grey out of the hair quickly. When you say white powder, do you mean something made especially for that purpose, or just regular white powder?

We're in a small space and don't use a lot of stage make-up, so I was looking for some different ways to make the age change apparent. This really helps. Thanks.

Melissa

Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 9/06/06 at 3:48pm

Corn-starch ... flour ... baking powder ... talcum powder. Whatever.

There is a pan-cake style clown white make-up powder available, but the other stuff listed above is cheaper and easier to find.

Experiment a little. See which works best for your actor's hair-type and time constraints.

Glad I could help.

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"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

Posted By: red diva
Date Posted: 11/06/06 at 11:04am

I've often heard it said that if you can't portray the age change without makeup, then the makeup isn't going to help you. Of course, I don't take that completely literally, but much of the transformation is incumbent upon the actor to achieve.

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"I've worked long and hard to earn the right to be called Diva!"

Posted By: falstaff29
Date Posted: 11/06/06 at 11:54am

Originally posted by red diva

I've often heard it said that if you can't portray the age change without makeup, then the makeup isn't going to help you. Of course, I don't take that completely literally, but much of the transformation is incumbent upon the actor to achieve.

Certainly the acting needs to be there, but makeup definitely helps. I've always had a problem as an audience member where an actor (intentionally or not) is playing an age that he definitely does not look, no matter how good he is as an actor.

Posted By: red diva
Date Posted: 11/06/06 at 12:07pm

As I said in my post, you can't take that completely literally! By that, I meant that makeup helps, but it alone doesn't do the job. I should have explained myself more clearly. Sorry!

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"I've worked long and hard to earn the right to be called Diva!"

Posted By: MikeO
Date Posted: 11/06/06 at 6:15pm

A lot of this will depend on the age. 40 to 20? 60 to 40? that sort of thing. Since he is going to be 'older' for most of the show, I would concentrate on this character/look. If he is elderly, props help very well (cane, walker, glasses) or different characterization (limp, hunched, slower movement) It may be harder if he is middle aged before the flashback, but hair color, facial hair, or maybe balding wig may help. Need more ideas, let me know.

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I'd rather act, but they found out I can do tech & sets!!

Posted By: tblan
Date Posted: 12/13/06 at 5:06pm

Another option is prosthetics, which can be pretty convincing if done well. You can get them on and off quickly too (believe me, we used them in Into the Woods for the transformation lasting less than 5 seconds).