Phase II "Going Boldly" (new vignette)

[MikeH92467]

Y'know just mentioning M'Ress could take this thread in any number of totally inappropriate directions...just sayin'...

[Loken]

GSchnitzer wrote:

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Actually, I've toyed with doing something less overt: I've written a scene with Uhura--where she reports to her communications station--and the first thing she does before sitting down to work is she takes out a lint roller and picks up all the cat fur and dander that M'Ress has shed all over the chair and console. So we might hint at M'Ress instead of actually seeing her. (Maybe it'll become one of those running gags--where everyone talks about her, but we never actually see her.)

OK, this is HYSTERICAL.

Love the idea.

Oh and my friend did this for the Las Vegas STar Trek Con:



Alec

[jamesmc]

Yes, to M'ress!

[Redfern]

Loken, I love your friend's sense of humor! You have any other shots of her in costume? I'm guessing she used one of those Woochie brand latex pieces that aproximates the nose pad and upper lip of a cat. But what sells it for me is her "mane". She did a rather good job styling it to "lay" like it does in the animation cels.

Sincerely,

Bill

[jamesmc]

She did a great job! I am not sure which route we will take with the character make up or cg...

[Barbreader]

Hmmm.... I think somewhere in this thread the subject of M'ress went from "Maybe Phase II will to this..." to "How Phase II will do this..." That's what I call an effective discussion! And yes, excellent job by the lady in Latex... and red.

[Draculasaurus]

jamesmc wrote:

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She did a great job! I am not sure which route we will take with the character make up or cg...

Have you seen the makeup for the cat-people of New New New New New New New New New New New New New New New York on Doctor Who?
It's extremely effective.
Depending on how ambitious your makeup artists are feeling of course.

[DaveGalanter]

^ Great makeup but how many hours does THAT take and who's gonna pay for it. Yikes!

[GSchnitzer]

DaveGalanter wrote:

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^ Great makeup but how many hours does THAT take and who's gonna pay for it. Yikes!

Application probably takes no longer than applying Spock's latex ears. Fabricating a feline prosthetic appliance to begin with is probably where all the hard work lies. Fortunately, that's not really time-sensitive. It can be done anytime in advance of the shoot.

http://www.themakeupgallery.info/fan...at/whohame.htm

Who's gonna pay for it? Who pays hundreds of doallrs for Spock's ears now?

[Barbreader]

And in true Phase II fashion, once the subject turns from 'if' to 'how', they start topping one another on quality...

[DaveGalanter]

Greg, while I'm no expert, I highly doubt that makeup of that sophistication isn't a much longer process than ears. I could be completely mistaken, but after seeing such examples on the show "Face Off" which is a movie-makeup competition show, it hasn't been impression that makeup like that would be that quick.

[GSchnitzer]

DaveGalanter wrote:

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Greg, while I'm no expert, I highly doubt that makeup of that sophistication isn't a much longer process than ears. I could be completely mistaken, but after seeing such examples on the show "Face Off" which is a movie-makeup competition show, it hasn't been impression that makeup like that would be that quick.

Quick? Do you know how long it takes to do Spock's ears?

The main problem is visible seams. If the seams are in a visible location (like on the pinna), they are tedious to do well. If the seams aren't going to be visible (for example, if they are going to be covered with a long mane-like wig), they don't need to be perfect.

[Redfern]

One of the reasons why the "Sisters of Plenitude" were "nuns", the habits allowed the production to limit the make-up appliances to just the face. To do a "Hame" styled make-up to an actress dressed as M'Ress depicted in the animated series would be a major, MAJOR undertaking. The throat and collarbone region would need appliances, the hands, and the legs almost to the groin.

That's when one needs to consider alternatives. For the throat issue, restyle the "mane" a bit. In the cartoon, all of it feel behind the shoulders. Instead, have "locks" of the wig fall in front of the shoulders, hiding the throat. Yeah, we usually associate that arrangement as befitting a male leonid, but it's a compromise of practicality.

For the legs, either stage the shots to obscure them (which would also bypass the problems of depicting digitigrade feet), or go with some sort of pants. Or, put her in one of those general duty jumpsuits occasionally depicted in the earlier episodes of the first season. Pants or a full jumpsuit makes sense "in story" as well. It would reduce the amount of shed fur getting all over the equipment. One might even use that rationale to cover the hands with gloves.

Of course, I realize I'm way overthinking this for what would be, at most, a quick "throw-away" shot of M'Ress in the background.

Sincerely,

Bill

P.S. Here's some variations upon M'Ress I puttered together using low end figure staging render tools.

http://redfern42.deviantart.com/#/d4x64rv Standard uniform

http://redfern42.deviantart.com/#/d4yrbal Utility jumpsuit

http://redfern42.deviantart.com/#/d590uwp Leggings with "spats"

[Nightowl1701]

Instead of appliances for the lower half (since you're gonna have to have a tail anyway), take a page from the TMP costumes - how about fur-covered tights with shoes built-into (as in inside) the feline "feet." Depending on how "animated" you want to make the tail, it can be half-practical (the first foot or so projecting from the actress) half-CGI (the rest), full practical but remote-controlled (think Jabba's tail in ROTJ) or all-CGI. But other than the tail, the more practical the better (including a Batman-style furry cowl that incorporates the mane/ears/neck/upper shoulders that the actress can don - the face appliance covers the seams - and yellow "cat eye" contact lenses).

The hands I think would be the biggest problem, since they need to be four-fingered and cat-like yet allow the actress to handle the bridge controls with some visible degree of dexterity.

[DaveGalanter]

GSchnitzer wrote:

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Quick? Do you know how long it takes to do Spock's ears?

The main problem is visible seams. If the seams are in a visible location (like on the pinna), they are tedious to do well. If the seams aren't going to be visible (for example, if they are going to be covered with a long mane-like wig), they don't need to be perfect.

About 60 to 90 mins for Spock's ears if memory serves? But I admit I only vaguely paid attention, as I don't sit and watch it. (I try to stay out of the make-up room despite it being cool because I figure if I don't have a direct use, I shouldn't be there taking up space.