Rubber mask

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A latex zombie mask Zombie Halloween Mask.jpg
A latex zombie mask

A rubber mask, commonly referred to as a Halloween mask, is a mask made of rubber such as latex or silicone, or a soft plastic like polyvinyl chloride as a form of theatrical makeup or disguise. [1] [2] Typically, rubber masks are designed to be pulled over the head, or cover only the wearer's face and are supported in the back by ties or a strip of elastic. Rubber masks are commonly associated with Halloween costumes.

Contents

History

In 1938, Don Post, also known as "The Godfather Of Halloween" [3] had a significant role in coming up with some of the very first over-the-head latex masks and became a staple in the history of rubber masks and Halloween merchandising, creating and selling carnival masks that were lightweight and held their shape. [4]

In the 1950s, Don Post Studios created licensed masks for franchises such as Planet of the Apes, Star Wars and the Universal Classic Monsters.

In the early 1960's, his son Don Post Jr. took over the company, allowing it to take focus on the Halloween/horror industry. [5] [6]

In 2003, SPFX masks was founded, creating the first silicone masks. [7] [8]

Materials

Masks can be made in a number of materials, depending on the intended purpose. Factors such as movement, weight, color, or design will determine what material the mask is cast in.

Foam Latex

Foam latex is commonly used as a material for prosthetic makeup because of its light weight and flexibility. For creature suits that require facial movement, foam latex may be used as a skin to go over the animatronic components for lifelike movement and expressions, such as the mask developed by Stan Winston Studios for Predator.

Latex

Latex is the most ubiquitous material for commercially available masks, due to it being a cheaper rubber making it a much more affordable material to produce. Similarly, the process for creating a latex mask is less complicated than that of a silicone mask. [9] Due to the limitations of the material, latex masks are less flexible and expressive than silicone.

Silicone

For more professionally made masks, silicone is likely to be the rubber of choice due to its flesh-like, translucent qualities and its ability to "hug" the wearer's face which allows it to move along with different expressions. Silicone tends to be much higher in price, but has a much more realistic appearance and texture. [9] Because of the expressive nature of the masks, they can serve as an alternative to prosthetic makeup, saving time and money on a production. [10]

Urethane

Urethane is often used in the construction of superhero costumes for film and tv productions for its strength and flexibility, allowing for pieces that are thicker than latex but stronger than silicone.

Vinyl

Polyvinyl chloride is typically used for lower end Halloween masks, and is also a common choice for licensed masks, with Don Post Studios beginning to produce vinyl masks in the 1960s. These masks are often more rigid and thicker than latex.

The basic steps of making a rubber mask. First a clay sculpture is made, followed by a negative mold. Latex is then poured into the mold and cured, then trimmed and painted. Latex mask making process.jpg
The basic steps of making a rubber mask. First a clay sculpture is made, followed by a negative mold. Latex is then poured into the mold and cured, then trimmed and painted.

Production

Rubber masks are first sculpted in clay, then molded in a rigid material such as plaster, and then the rubber can be poured into the mold cavity and cured. [11]

Some companies that mass produce masks will first cast a latex copy from the mold deemed the master copy. Because a stone mold will gradually lose detail with every pull from the mold, the master copy is kept on hand so that it can be molded again when necessary to bring the original detail back.

From the master copy, multiple duplicate molds can be made to streamline the production process, allowing multiple copies to be made at once, while minimizing loss of detail from a single mold.

Once cured, the mask can be trimmed of excess flashing and seams and then painted. Latex masks are commonly painted with a mixture of liquid latex and latex house paint, creating a flexible and durable paint mixture that bonds to the mask. Previously, a mixture of rubber cement, oil paint, and a solvent such as naphtha was used to paint masks, however this practice has been used significantly less due to the health concerns raised by the materials. [12] Another safe alternative is the use of PAX paints, which are a mixture of acrylic paints and prosthetic makeup adhesive, such as Pros Aide, making a highly flexible paint.

Silicone masks require a silicone based paint to ensure they bond to the surface, so often paints will be made by mixing clear silicone caulk thinned with naphtha as a base and oil paints for pigment.

Painted masks can be finished with the application of hair, either by gluing wefts of hair or individual strands to the mask, hand punching individual hairs into the surface of the mask, or by gluing on a premade wig.

The 1978 film Halloween depicted the killer Michael Myers wearing a white Captain Kirk mask made by Don Post Studios.

The second sequel in the series, Halloween III: Season of the Witch features three styles of Halloween masks made by the fictional Silver Shamrock company. In reality, these masks were designed and sold by Don Post Studios. [13]

The killer Ghostface in the Scream films is depicted as wearing a vinyl Halloween mask, originally made by Fun World as part of a series entitled "Fantastic Faces", the mask itself known as "The Peanut-Eyed Ghost". The mask was originally found in a house while producer Marianne Maddalena was scouting locations, and KNB EFX was commissioned to make a mask based on this design, however once the filmmakers secured the rights to use the Fun World mask, the KNB design was shelved, showing up only in a select few scenes. [14]

The live action Batman films starting with the 1989 film typically depict Batman's cowl as a rubber mask rather than the fabric look commonly seen in the comics and the 1966 TV series. Foam latex was used for the 1989 cowl and costume and would continue to be used until The Dark Knight when the suit and cowl were cast in urethane. [15] [16]

Characters in Mission: Impossible use masks as a disguise in both the show and film series as a way of impersonating others.

This concept was later tested on MythBusters with Adam and Jamie getting silicone masks designed to look like themselves made by SPFX Masks and attempting to fool volunteers and their colleagues into believing that Jamie was Adam and Adam was Jamie. The two classified the myth as plausible, depending on the circumstances under which the deception is carried out.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silicone</span> Family of polymers of the repeating form [R2Si–O–SiR2]

In organosilicon and polymer chemistry, a silicone or polysiloxane is a polymer composed of repeating units of siloxane. They are typically colorless oils or rubber-like substances. Silicones are used in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, medicine, cooking utensils, thermal insulation, and electrical insulation. Some common forms include silicone oil, grease, rubber, resin, and caulk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prosthetic makeup</span> Techniques to create special cosmetic effects

Prosthetic makeup also known as special makeup effects or FX prosthesis, is the process of using prosthetic sculpting, molding and casting techniques to create advanced cosmetic effects. Prosthetics are used on stage and screen to create fantasy creatures, simulated injuries, or likenesses of other people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animatronics</span> Mechatronic puppets

An animatronic is a mechatronic puppet controlled by a machine to move in a fluent way. They are a modern variant of the automaton and are often used for the portrayal of characters in films, video games and in theme park attractions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caulk</span> Flexible material used in construction to seal joints

Caulk or caulking is a material used to seal joints or seams against leakage in various structures and piping.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frisket</span> Protective sheet on a printing hand press

A frisket is any material that protects areas of a work from unintended change.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silicone rubber</span> Elastomer composed of silicone

Silicone rubber is an elastomer composed of silicone—itself a polymer—containing silicon together with carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Silicone rubbers are widely used in industry, and there are multiple formulations. Silicone rubbers are often one- or two-part polymers, and may contain fillers to improve properties or reduce cost. Silicone rubber is generally non-reactive, stable, and resistant to extreme environments and temperatures from −55 to 300 °C while still maintaining its useful properties. Due to these properties and its ease of manufacturing and shaping, silicone rubber can be found in a wide variety of products, including voltage line insulators; automotive applications; cooking, baking, and food storage products; apparel such as undergarments, sportswear, and footwear; electronics; medical devices and implants; and in home repair and hardware, in products such as silicone sealants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batsuit</span> Suit worn by Batman

The Batsuit is the costume of DC Comics's fictional superhero Batman, who appears in their American comic books. The suit has been depicted in various artistic iterations, and the stories themselves have described Batman as modifying the details of his costume from time to time. However, it usually consists of a gray body suit, the chest emblazoned with a stylized black bat either with or without a yellow ellipse around it, and blue-black accessories: a wide scalloped cape, gloves with a series of fin-like projections, trunks, boots, and a close-fitting cowl with ear-like projections to suggest a bat's head; and a yellow utility belt containing a variety of gadgets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Latex clothing</span> Clothing made of latex rubber

Latex rubber is used in the manufacture of many types of clothing. It has traditionally been used to make protective clothing, including gas masks and Wellington boots. Mackintoshes have traditionally been made from rubberized cloth. However, rubber has now generally been replaced in these applications by synthetic polymers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liquid latex</span> Compound used for special effects makeup

Liquid latex is a compound often used for special effects makeup, body painting, mask making, and casting applications.

Model animation is a form of stop motion animation designed to merge with live-action footage to create the illusion of a real-world fantasy sequence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foam latex</span> Form of latex containing bubbles

Foam latex or latex foam rubber is a lightweight form of latex containing bubbles known as cells, created from liquid latex. The foam is generally created though the Dunlop or Talalay process in which a liquid latex is foamed and then cured in a mold to extract the foam.

Reaction injection molding (RIM) is similar to injection molding except thermosetting polymers are used, which requires a curing reaction to occur within the mold.

Cryogenic deflashing is a deflashing process that uses cryogenic temperatures to aid in the removal of flash on cast or molded workpieces. These temperatures cause the flash to become stiff or brittle and to break away cleanly. Cryogenic deflashing is the preferred process when removing excess material from oddly shaped, custom molded products.

Resin casting is a method of plastic casting where a mold is filled with a liquid synthetic resin, which then hardens. It is primarily used for small-scale production like industrial prototypes and dentistry. It can be done by amateur hobbyists with little initial investment, and is used in the production of collectible toys, models and figures, as well as small-scale jewellery production.

RTV silicone is a type of silicone rubber that cures at room temperature. It is available as a one-component product, or mixed from two components. Manufacturers provide it in a range of hardnesses from very soft to medium—usually from 15 to 40 Shore A. RTV silicones can be cured with a catalyst consisting of either platinum or a tin compound such as dibutyltin dilaurate. Applications include low-temperature over-molding, making molds for reproducing, and lens applications for some optically clear grades. It is also used widely in the automotive industry as an adhesive and sealant, for example to create gaskets in place.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Creature suit</span> Type of realistic costumes

Creature suits are realistic costumes used to disguise a performer as an animal, monster, or other being. They are used in film, television, or as costumed characters in live events. Unlike mascots, they are often made with a high degree of realism. In contrast with prosthetic makeup, which is applied to an actor's skin, the wearer is not normally visible outside their movements controlling the costume, although in some cases, part of the wearer's body is still visible.

The Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan from a screenplay he co-wrote with his brother Jonathan. Based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, it is the sequel to Batman Begins (2005) and the second installment in The Dark Knight Trilogy. In the film's plot, the superhero vigilante Batman, Police Lieutenant James Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent form an alliance to dismantle organized crime in Gotham City, but their efforts are derailed by the intervention of an anarchistic mastermind, the Joker, who seeks to test how far Batman will go to save the city from complete chaos. The ensemble cast includes Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Morgan Freeman.

References

  1. ↑ Arabella Mazzuki; Raymond Siljander; Simon Mitchell (2015), "Full-head Silicone Masks and Related Silicone Prosthetics for Disguise", Undercover Disguise Methods for Investigators, Charles C Thomas, p. 133, ISBN   9780398090821
  2. ↑ "Actors' Rubber Masks to Replace Make-Up", Popular Science Monthly : 44, October 1934
  3. ↑ Woloski, Sarah (2016-10-06). "139: Don Post Jr. the Son of the Godfather of Halloween". Skywalking Network. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  4. ↑ "Don Post". Trick Or Treat Studios. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  5. ↑ Lambert, Lee (2015). The illustrated history of Don Post Studios (2nd ed.). Los Angeles, California: Blacksparrow, Inc. ISBN   978-0-9966175-0-5.
  6. ↑ "The Exclusive Don Post Studios History". House Of Hauntz. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  7. ↑ "Creating Monstrous Realism With SPFX Masks". Smooth-On, Inc. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  8. ↑ "Masks so realistic they're arresting the wrong guy". LAPPL - Los Angeles Police Protective League. 2010-12-08. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  9. 1 2 Chapman, Kit (2022-10-21). "What are Halloween costume masks made from?". RSC Education. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  10. ↑ "What is a Silicone Mask?". CFX Masks. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  11. ↑ "How to Make a Latex Mask in 10 Steps". Distortions Unlimited. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  12. ↑ "Mask Materials Guide". The Monster Makers. Archived from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  13. ↑ Decker, Sean (2019-04-25). "'REWIND' to '82: Halloween III Masks To Help Scare Up Sales". HalloweenMovies™ | The Official Halloween Website. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  14. ↑ Barton, Steve (2010-08-10). "R.J. Torbert Talks the GhostFace Mask and Scream 4". Dread Central. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  15. ↑ Institution, Smithsonian. "Batman cowl from Batman and Robin". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  16. ↑ "Dark Knight Rises, The (2012) - Batman's (Christian Bale) Cowl". propstore.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
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