Storytelling Through CharactersAzrai has used development and design of original characters to tell stories across mediums over many years. These stories are collaborative adventures. These characters are invitations.
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Visual Development for Live Play
Designing Faces
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Live play makeup may require multiple, consistent applications under heavy time constraints. This means designs must communicate an idea as efficiently as possible. For example, to create the look for his Fae characters, Azrai considered that the Fae are creatures of nature often said to possess abilities like shapeshifting and casting glamours. Azrai looked at the markings of moth wings and inkblot tests to communicate an almost disorienting animalistic coloration using body paint alone. By the time the live event arrived, the application took no more than twenty minutes, and could be made into temporary tattoos for an almost instant application. The clear markings and opportunity for variation from character to character allow easier replicability between collaborators and players.
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Small Touches
Traditional prosthetics for live play events work best when they are simple, but effective. Complex applications tend to fall apart under the strain of live events. Even "live" digital roleplaying games present their challenges as a makeup may need to be applied far more frequently. When full facial masks are unnecessary or unattainable, Azrai uses devices as simple as a seamless creature ear, a tattoo, a few visible gills, scales or circuits, even nonstandard fangs to communicate as much as possible about a character.
Improvisations on-site
The fun of live roleplay is that you cannot completely predict what will happen to a character. For a character makeup artist, this means frequently getting resourceful with materials (and considering ideas like what color every creature's blood is). Some of Azrai's favorite jobs have been filling on-site makeup requests for anything from full body lacerations to gouged out eye; using cling wrap, paper towels, baby powder, or whatever else was safe and on-hand.
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makeup & costume design for live play events:
The design requirements for these events depart from what we're familiar with in film, theater, or cosplay.
Generally speaking, the makeup must be durable, long-wear and sweatproof.
It should be easy to replicate so that creatures, cultures, and characters remain consistent and recognizable.
Application must be relatively simple and quick, as neither player nor production team can afford hours in the chair.
This means we need as much done before an event as possible.
Pre-painted masks and prosthetics, slip-on creature suits, waterproof materials, flexibility, reusability...
It's a challenging design brief, but well worth the payoff of a richer world.
Generally speaking, the makeup must be durable, long-wear and sweatproof.
It should be easy to replicate so that creatures, cultures, and characters remain consistent and recognizable.
Application must be relatively simple and quick, as neither player nor production team can afford hours in the chair.
This means we need as much done before an event as possible.
Pre-painted masks and prosthetics, slip-on creature suits, waterproof materials, flexibility, reusability...
It's a challenging design brief, but well worth the payoff of a richer world.
More details of immersive event makeup theory can be found in a video Azrai created (filmed pre-transition) on the subject: