Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup: makeup dirt

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makeup dirt

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
Forum Discription: For how-to's and where-can-I-find
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2589
Printed Date: 5/13/25 at 1:53pm
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Topic: makeup dirt

Posted By: Joan54
Subject: makeup dirt
Date Posted: 8/20/07 at 3:49pm

We're 11 days from opening The Tempest and, as usual, it is beginning to stagger out of control. One of the things that is bothering me is Caliban.....he's just too clean. I know nothing about makeup ( maybe put mascara on once or twice) and there is no one else who seems to be thinking about makeup. Most of the actors do their own but most ( being an almost all male cast) just shave, brush their teeth and they're done. Our Caliban has very white skin....the sort that freckles, burns and peels. I have him in a loin cloth and black sheepskin vest/coat/rag so he is pretty naked. Any ideas besides rolling him around in the creek?

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"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"

Replies:

Posted By: neilfortin
Date Posted: 8/20/07 at 4:39pm

we have used burn cork, the theater standard, to make people look dirty in battle scenes, for the street urchins in Christmas Carol, and for a variety of other earth covered creatures. Its cheap and works great!

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Community Theater makes us smile

Posted By: Linda S
Date Posted: 8/20/07 at 4:51pm

There is a lot to be said about the real thing ie "rolling him around in the creek". I have done a couple of shows where we were given buckets of dirt and ashes. We just rubbed it all over us including getting under the fingernails. The good things were it washed off easier then grease paint, no one was allergic to it and it was real cheap. The bad thing was you were really dirty. Grease paint can be a bit tricky. I just saw a production of Urinetown. The actors used gray and brown grease paint to varying degrees of success.

I had to have full body make-up when I was in college. I played Titania and the designer decided I needed a very tiny costume, and I had to be green! It stained my skin, and I was green for weeks after the show closed.

You are right to want dirty Caliban up. I would say, if you have time, experiment with grease paint and real dirt and see which one works better.

Linda

Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 8/20/07 at 6:47pm

Dirtied up many urchins in my day! Quite often you can put some makeup on the kiddies paws and let them stroke/rub their faces, arms, etc. and it will look realistic ... much moreso than if someone else does it.

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In a world of margarine, be butter!

Posted By: Joan54
Date Posted: 8/21/07 at 10:15am

Thanks for the ideas.....I'll experiment with them this week and report back. I kind of like the burnt cork and real dirt because it will be easier to wash off.....

I'm thinking of adding fake fingernails to his toes and fingers and making them really gross...broken and yellow and dirty. Thanks again everyone....

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"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"

Posted By: Maus
Date Posted: 8/21/07 at 12:21pm

Ben Nye makes 3 colors of "Character Powders" that look like dirt but wash off easily. They can also be used to distress costumes. You can get their catalog at http://www.bennye.com/image/06_BNC_Catalog.pdf - http://www.bennye.com/image/06_BNC_Catalog.pdf . There are many online retailers for Nye, and you might also have a dealer in your area.

-- Tom

Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 8/21/07 at 4:31pm

Not sure what company makes it, but our costume resourse company has a product called "Texas Dirt" and it is a make up project applies with a brush.

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Marty W

"Till next we trod the boards.."

Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 8/22/07 at 2:53am

In a pinch, powdered cocoa can be used as well. It's also recommended if your characters must eat or put their "dirty" hands in their mouths. Just lightly dampen the skin or fabric with a misty spray-bottle of water first.

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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: TonyDi
Date Posted: 8/22/07 at 1:12pm

Marty is right - TEXAS DIRT or FULLERS EARTH - comes in browns, black, ruddy (rusty) and so forth. Basically it's a powder but it does wash clean like dirt would and is a little more controllable because you can use a makeup or cheap BRUSH to apply it. Even a very light coating of Vaseline or Vaseline Intensive Care lotion BEFORE applying the dirt and then moving it around as needed, provides adhesion for the Powdered dirt, PLUS the added benefit of it being good for the skin as long as your actors aren't allergic to the product - testing beforehand is always smart.

TonyDi

aka FXMan, MUA, Director

S.A.P.S.E.M.A.

(Society of Amateur and Professional

Special Effects Makeup Artists)

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"Almost famous"

Posted By: evdooley
Date Posted: 11/11/10 at 10:17am

We used chalk pastels also, buy a set in shades of brown/gray/black and dampen skin first.
Cocoa powder is a lot cheaper than Ben Nye and Fullers earth.

Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 11/12/10 at 8:12am

I think you are overlooking the easiest and cheapest method. Roll him in the creek. WE did a show which required a bare foot bumpkin. Before each show he made a mud hole behind the theatre and stomped around in it. The effect was very realistic.

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Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse