posted 03-21-2000 10:19 PM
A good knowledge of chemistry is priceless to anyone working in effects. Make up requires that you mix precise amounts of chemicals, measuring with a triple beam balance. Hot and cold foam require this, although hot foam uses more chemicals, typically 3 - 5 components.
Make up artists are always tweaking or inventing skin formulas, mixing better make ups, coatings, paints, and glues. Understanding how the components are likely to react or what chemical properties you seek is important here, how stable the resulting compound will be, as well as what effect the new compound will have on the human skin or material being used. Some rubbers must be vulcanized to be useful, and even the fact that I understand that liquid latex is a prevulcanized cross linked colloid held in suspension with ammonia and water helps me understand why it behaves the way it does, how it works and fails.
Professional, responsible Pyrotechnics requires a understanding of energy release, combustion, flash points, explosive forces, vectors, etc.
A good deal of Polymers are used in make up FX and prop building today.
Making careful measurements, taking excellent notes, and experimental procedures all help the FX artist who wants to excel.
Lots of examples exist for your paper - start reading, write that report and get those points!
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Jeff F - Magic and FX
Amazing the Masses
[This message has been edited by Jeff F (edited 03-21-2000).]
posted 03-21-2000 04:38 PM
So does anyone have any topic ideas that I could possible write about? Thank you everyone! 