Low Budget Film Tips 6: Special Effects and Fashion Makeup

From Vampires to Fashion Queens

Whether your film takes place on a planet in a galaxy far, far away or takes place at the local hot spot, you will need to invest in makeup that will meet both the script's and the actor's needs, as well as hold up to lighting, sweat, the elements, and maybe that killer ooze spouted out by the alien warlord. Whether creating a fashion look, a horror monster, or a French monarch from the 1700s, it is important to acquire the right makeup within your budget.

Save money on makeup and tricks that you can make at home. A simple fake blood recipe is corn syrup, red food coloring, and a touch of blue food coloring. There are hundreds of websites dedicated to special effects makeup using common everyday items. Convincing bruises and marks can be made using eye makeup and blush, while a thin permanent marker can be used for tattoos. Costume jewelry works great for gaudy royal looks, and strategically placed raw meat can easily become spilled guts.

While Halloween is the best time to find sales on everything from fake blood to fairy sparkle eye makeup, you can find a variety of sales online by scoping out costume resellers, e-bay, or even goodwill.com. Whenever you purchase makeup, always make sure it is brand new. Wigs and costumes can be washed. Fake prosthetics for the face (like eyelashes or noses) should be new, as well. After Halloween sales are even better for buying inexpensive makeup that is good for less complex looks.

For fashion looks, see if a more dramatic use of the makeup already owned by the actor will do the trick. Chances are, unless you have a cosmetics expert on hand, the actor will already own the foundation, powder, and lipstick that works best for them. Check their look on-camera, and then only purchase makeup that enhances their look.