"TEXTURE Dick Smith: Make-Up Artist"
A short documentary about the legendary make-up artist Dick Smith which was produced by his son David in the early 1970s. This is a modern day digital transfer from an original vintage 16mm film.
In this early interview, Mr. Smith talks about the achievements, techniques and procedures that he practiced to reach his notable old age makeup on Dustin Hoffman for "Little Big Man" (1970).
Richard Emerson Smith (June 26, 1922 - July 30, 2014) was an American special make-up effects artist and author, (nicknamed "The Godfather of Make-Up") known for his work on such films as Little Big Man, The Godfather, The Exorcist, Taxi Driver, Scanners and Death Becomes Her.
He won a 1985 Academy Award for Best Makeup for his work on Amadeus and received a 2012 Academy Honorary Award for his career's work.
Television's first important make-up artist, Smith was make-up director for the National Broadcasting Company for fourteen years. He developed many new materials and shades of color and pioneered in such techniques as the use of foam latex and plastics in unusual quick changes for both color and black-and-white TV shows. Smith was in charge of TV make-up for the Democratic National Convention in 1948 and made up James A. Farley and Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr.. He studied at Wooster School and Yale University, where he studied as a premedical student, to enter dentistry, and he majored in zoology. But in his sophomore year he read a book on the tricks of make-up used by Hollywood experts during the filming of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941). He soon began to do make-up for the Yale drama group and decided to pursue a career in theatrical makeup when he graduated.
Distantly related to Ralph Waldo Emerson.
While many makeup artists are secretive about their techniques, he is known for openly sharing his knowledge with others.
He worked for the NBC television network in New York from 1945 to 1959.
His 2011 Honorary Academy Award was presented by his protégé Rick Baker.
Dick Smith only had 4 fingers on his left hand because his ring finger was lost due to an infection after an injury. Smith referred to it as his "Mickey Mouse Hand" because the ring finger bones in the hand were removed at his request to make it look more natural.
Was approached to do the make-up effects in The Terminator (1984), but turned it down and recommended Stan Winston because he felt he was better suited for the job. He even fought for Stan to make sure he'd get approved for the job.
[Dick Smith on how to make wrinkles:] It's simple. We stipple a special latex formula on with a sponge, then while it's drying, we stretch the actor's own skin -- you know, maybe pull it up from the cheekbones. We use a hair dryer to dry the latex quickly and when we let go of the real skin, the face will be as wrinkled as a prune. If we want deeper wrinkles, we just add another layer of liquid latex. [New York Sunday News, July 13, 1958]
20 авг 2022
