Everyone’s got that one movie that really opened their minds to the endless possibilities provided by make-up and prosthetics. Whether it was the old Universal Monster movies, Planet of the Apes, Star Wars, or The Walking Dead, these effects have always managed to thrill us as often as they terrify or inspire. But what about the artists who create these effects? How did they first get involved in this art form? What draw keeps bringing them back? Howard Berger and Marshall Julius’ book, Masters of Make-Up Effects seeks to answer those questions. A true love letter to the art of visual effects, Masters of Make-Up Effects gives some of the most famous and beloved artists the chance to tell their stories. Told through a collection of quotes and anecdotes, interspersed with gorgeous (and oftentimes rare) photographs, Masters of Make-Up Effects is a must-have for any film lover.
An Ode to Passion
Going in, you might expect Masters of Make-Up Effects to be just another how-to book, or a book exploring the history of practical effects in filmmaking. But it’s not. Sure, the general history of make-up and prosthetics gets explored throughout the book, but that’s not its focus. Instead, Berger and Julius hew towards having conversations with their subjects. What influenced these masters of make-up? What are their favorite prosthetics? How did they get involved in the film industry? Masters of Make-Up Effects tells the intimate stories of a variety of individual creators. It’s less of a history of the art form and more of a retrospective of those who’ve made the biggest impact with their work. By reading their anecdotes, you get a rare glimpse behind the curtain with these master craftsmen. They’re just people, like you and me. People who found a way to turn their passions into a career.
By far the most interesting aspect of the book is hearing about how these artists approach their work. How they first started experimenting with model kits, their parents’ make-up, or whatever else they could get their hands on. And how that experimentation, passion, and perseverance ultimately led to their careers. There’s something inspiring about that, about the way everyone starts at the same level – a total novice with a passion. And it’s seeing how these artists found ways of turning that passion into something greater that proves the most inspiring. And at its heart, Masters of Make-Up Effects is a celebration of that act – an ode to passion.
A Bit Structureless
That being said, Masters of Make-Up Effects occasionally feels a bit listless. The book’s general lack of structure is both its greatest strength and biggest weakness. You’d expect a book like this to generally be structured chronologically, with each chapter slowly moving through the history of make-up and prosthetics. But Berger and Julius forgo that tradition, instead choosing to group each section by general subject. Sections focus on each artist’s favorite artist, how they broke into the industry, what kinds of challenges they’ve faced, etc. And that structure is both wholly refreshing and also kind of unmooring. On the one hand, it keeps the book from feeling too textbook-like. But on the other hand, it’s very difficult to really track how different generations of artists inspire subsequent generations, or how the art form, in general, has evolved over the decades.
Now, to be fair, Masters of Make-Up Effects isn’t trying to be the be-all, end-all of books on this subject. From the outset, Berger and Julius make it clear that they’re not aiming to give a comprehensive overview of the art form or a history of its evolution. Instead, their goal is to simply shine a light on these artists. To give them a chance to tell their own stories; their own highs and lows. And Masters of Make-Up Effects certainly accomplishes this goal. But I can’t help feeling like there might have been a more cohesive way to structure the book. As it is, it sometimes feels like a random collection of anecdotes that don’t relate much to each other or build to any real consensus. For some, that may not be a problem. But for me, it does make the book feel a bit disjointed.
Final Thoughts
Overall, though, Masters of Make-Up Effects does exactly what it set out to do. It shines a loving light on the undersung heroes of make-up and prosthetic effects. It’s a total love letter to this branch of filmmaking, complete with gorgeous photographs and genuinely insightful stories from some of the biggest names in the game. If you’re at all a fan of old-school horror films, creature features, fantasy movies, or really anything where a prosthetic has wholly transformed an actor into something extraordinary, then Masters of Make-Up Effects is a must-read. While it’s not a comprehensive look at the make-up industry, it offers an intimate glimpse at the lives and inspirations of these beloved make-up artists. And that, alone, is worth the price of entry.
Masters of Make-Up Effects is available now in Hardcover and eBook formats. For more information, visit the Masters of Make-Up Effects website.
DISCLAIMER: A review copy of Masters of Make-Up Effects was provided for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Howard Berger and Marshall Julius' "Masters of Make-Up Effects" offers a love letter to the underappreciated make-up artists responsible for all our favorite movies. While the book occasionally feels a bit structureless, it's filled with enough enticing behind-the-scenes tidbits and relatable anecdotes to please even the biggest film buff.
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GVN Rating 7.5
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