Fake Beard
Fake Beard- special effects and filmmaking
Does anyone know where I can get a good fake beard. I need a really bushy beard (like Castro's)
You should be able to find some decent ones in a costume shop that deals in some decent hair goods. But if worse comes to worse, one of the best places I've found is Lacey Wig and Supply in New York. I've probably bought $1000 bucks worth of hair goods from them over the last several years or so. They ship FAST their prices are great and they're good folks to deal with.
I don't have their phone number handy but go to this site and as you see this company (Ace Wigs) sells Lacey hair goods. A lot of their stuff is hand knotted on lace - good product for low cost.
http://www.costumewigs.net/index2.shtml
This is the page that shows the various beards and such. But if you can go direct to Lacey the prices are better since this is a dealer or reseller. If I can remember I'll post Lacey's phone number and address tonight when I get home.
Good luck.
FXMan
P.S.
ANYTHING on the Ace Wig site that has zLacey is a Lacey Wig product and can be had direct from Lacey. I think there is a $25 minimum but that's not hard for good product.
[This message has been edited by FXMan (edited 01-08-2001).]
And just for the record, the slightly un-shaven look can be accomplished with tea (from a teabag) put on the face somehow (water, etc.)
just thought I'd put that little tid-bit of information in here.
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*updated 12.22.00
Hey Filmscorer,
This is a good idea however it will stain the face for a time unless you perhaps put a barrier coat on the face first that will dry non-oily. The tannin in dark teas will leave the skin brown if left on too long. Scrubbing this off would hurt too if you tried that. But it's a good thought nevertheless and it would help fill in some gaps in the beard.
Good idea.
FXMan
[This message has been edited by FXMan (edited 01-08-2001).]
freakingcool - What FXMAN said, about buying a custom beard, IS the best way to go. However, if you dont have that kind of money, then go to your local costume shop, and buy one or two packs of CREPE HAIR. IT usually comes with spirim gum (which you will need). When you first open the hair, you will need to pull it slowly under a steam iron, to stretch and straighten it out. Once you have it all straightened out, then what you need to do is pull the fibers apart, and fluff it out. Once its all fluffed out, lay it aside momentarily. Now take the spirit gum and apply it liberally to the actors face where the beard is to go. Make sure the whole area is THOROGHLY covered. Work the spirum gum with your fingers, until it becomes tacky, and strands form from your fingers to his face. Now take the hair, and press the ends into the spirit gum. Do this, unitl all the hair is on the actor's face. Allowed 5-minutes for it to dry. Now go at the hair with a scissors and trip it to the shape/style you desire.
Oh, I forgot to mention, if you want the beard to look thicker and fuller, then simply do a base coat of makeup: brown, black, or whatever color the beard is to be, on the actor's face before you apply the spirit gum.
If you want to see an example of how the CREPE HAIR looks, go to my makeup page on my website, and look at the two pics on the bottom of the first page. This is a troll-like creature I got paid to do for a student movie. The sideburns, beard, hairy shoulders, and hands, were all done using crepe hair. My site is listed below in my signature, but the direct link for the makeup page can be found at: http://hometown.aol.com/pyroman451/makeup.html
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thanks FX man.
I forgot the other Ingreedient: Vasiline. that should keep the tea on, AND prevent the skin from being stained.
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*updated 12.22.00
Well oddly enough, the cost factor through Lacey Costume Wigs is NOT that bad. For a really good beard you might spend $24 bucks - and for hand knotted on lace that's pretty darn good. I've bought so much from them and have never been disappointed. Their wigs are VERY good for the price. But it's all relative. BTW I still can't find the catalog at home for the address and phone but I'm narrowing it down. Maybe this evening.
At any rate, thanks for the update on your tea solution. Spirit gum would work too but whatever's handy. The tea is a good idea but naturally close up would suffer. But it's a super idea to be sure.
FXMan
P.S.
Meant to also say thanks to Movieman for the crepe hair issue. It's cheap and easy to work with. Although it takes quite a bit of technique to get it applied properly. Laying crepe beards is a dying art but done well it looks great and CAN be reused if you remove it carefully with alcohol and spray the back as you remove it with a Kryolan Fixer Spray. Stays put till next use with only minor touch up. Plus mixing colors DOES make it look much more real. But SO cost effective. There is also a cheap (and I mean about $.79 cents a big package) of various colored hair from any SALLY BEAUTY SUPPLY anywhere. And I've used it a lot and it's great. May even be cheaper than crepe hair and is stranded where you could learn to hand knot it yourself if you had a knotting needle. GREAT stuff I recommend that highly. Dynel, synthetic but super for many, many uses.
[This message has been edited by FXMan (edited 01-09-2001).]
Once, on halloween, a friend of mine had coffee grounds on his face stuck on with corn syrup, it looked cool BUT WHAT DO I KNOW?
quote:
Actually, that's a quick way to get a beard stubble that looks OK from a distance. For film work you're going to want something that will stand up to scrutiny.
[This message has been edited by Jeff F (edited 01-15-2001).]
yeah, that would work too. coffee will probably discolor more than tea though, and tea is good for somewhat short/longish hair. coffee is great for grittyness
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Check out my sample music site
*updated 12.22.00
Don't use close-ups.
P.S. #4000 post!
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