Long before
it became popular in beauty makeup, airbrushing has been a staple in the special
effects industry, as the amazing show Face Off demonstrates in every episode. We
will be talking more and more about FX on these pages, and what better way to
start on the subject than an interview with one of our favorite Face Off alumni
of all times: "RJ" Haddy!
Please click on each image to see every amazing makeup in full size.
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| Robert "RJ" Haddy |
Robert"RJ" Haddy is a terrific special effect artist with extensive movie
credits and impressive teaching experience. A native of Charleston, West
Virginia, He has become a household name to FX fans world wide thanks to his
double stint in Face Off, the SYFY hit reality competition show that has played
such a major role in bringing the world of special effects makeup to the
mainstream public. RJ was one of the three finalists of season two, and
returned for a further five episodes for the show's fifth season, an atypical
"veterans vs newcomers" edition. His Bell Hop makeup, inspired by the
imagery of Tim Burton, was one of the most memorable looks ever featured on the
show, and in my opinion it sums up RJ's most prominent trade mark, with its
mixture of perfectly executed makeup, inspired fabrication and superb attention
to details, all accompanied by an irresistible underlying sense of humour. Since
the show RJ has kept an incredibly busy schedule, teaching highly praised
courses and seminars and being featured prominently in the most important
makeup related events around the US. RJ has his own product
distribution website, www.radfxco.com, and has also achieved what to us
airbrush makeup fans is the ultimate accomplishment: he has designed a
signature airbrush called "The Shadow" with Leading American airbrush
brand Paasche. We are very excited to be able to ask RJ a few questions on his
life and his art.
-What made
you decide to become a makeup artist?
Well I
started out as a puppeteer when I was very young building and creating puppets,
and it sorta transformed (or transgressed if you will LOL) to FX make up
because the techniques and materials for more advanced puppetry are almost
identical. In fact it's FX artists that create all the animatronic monsters you
see in films.
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| RJ's unforgettable Bell Hop Face Off Makeup |
-During the
course of FaceOff you often described the beautiful relationship you had with
your parents. Were they immediately supportive of your passion for FX?
Not from
the get go. I think my mother still wants me to become a dentist or a doctor at
some point, lol but once they saw what I could do that I was pretty decent at
it and could make things with my hands they became very supportive.
-You are a
graduate of the celebrated Joe Blasco Make up Artist Training Center in Hollywood. How difficult was the transition
into the professional working world after leaving school?
Actually,
if there was one thing that was the best help of attending Joe Blasco it was
the preparatory for how to find and procure jobs: that was the most valuable
information parlayed to me through the courses ... I was already a pretty
decent make up artist by the time I got there but had NO clue about how the
business of films worked or how we as make up people were to find jobs and work
in the industry. So for that reason above all others it was beneficial and worth
being in school. This is business stuff that you can either learn by getting
thrown to the wolves and making lots of mistakes, or from someone a little
older and wiser, and that was a HUGE help!
-Your
original creations seem to be conceived with performance in mind, as opposed to
static beauty, and I know you have some acting experience already. Do you
imagine yourself pursuing acting more in the future?
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| RJ in his super popular Penguin cosplay |
Actually
yes, I just finished filming a cameo role in a very neat thriller by Fist In
Post productions called “Old Baby” and I am currently working on producing my
own film “The Family Business: Blood is Thicker” for my own production company
Rad F/X Pictures. I will star in the film in a way reminiscent of an Eddie
Murphy or Mike Meyers vehicle where I wear several character makeups and play
3-4 different characters throughout the film. The difference between those guys
and me is that I can design and apply the make up AND act in it ;) It's going to
be a wild ride of a film Id love it if you could check it out a little more by
visiting our facebook fan page for the film and there you will find lots of
behind the scenes photos and exclusive stuff that I won't be posting anywhere
else. What we do is only 50% completed when we pass it off to the actor. The
actor has to create that character based on the script and what you have
physically transformed them into. Many times they do not have the complete
puzzle until the first time they see themselves in make up: Now think of a make
up artist, who is also an actor, creating the make up for the many weeks prior
to the first application. That person will SOAR in the role because of all the
prep time they have had to think about the physical direction the make up is
going into and I think its honestly the purest form of BOTH arts. I love acting
make up artists like Lon Chaney, for example... and even Tom Savini... Actors
who intrinsically KNOW how the make up is created and how far they can push the
boundaries are usually very seasoned in wearing FX make up and have been doing
it for many years. Stuff like that usually only comes in time... but an acting
make up artist knows both sides of that coin and can hone in on a character
BEFORE ever seeing himself in make up and once he is ... stand back and watch
the show ;)
-I would
like to move on to our favourite subject now, which is of course airbrushing. Face
Off did an incredible service to this technique simply by showing how much it
is actually used in the FX world. A lot of our readers, especially here in Europe, had no idea of the extent of its
use until they saw the show. When did you first learn how to airbrush?
I picked up
my first airbrush, a Paasche VL, when I was 13 years old. I was instantly
hooked, but I was also a stupid kid, lol ... I didn’t understand the importance
of or how to clean one properly until after I went to Joe Blasco. Cleaning is
VITAL to keeping your brush in proper working order! Not tomorrow, the next
day, or next time you use it but IMMEDIATELY after usage and before you store
it. TRUST ME! It really is a key component in speeding up the entire process.
-What
aspects of airbrushing that you like most, and what in your opinion is the
greatest misconception in regards to this technique among young makeup artists
today?
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| 18 to 88 Aging on actor Jordan Nickles |
Well That's
a tough question.... but I guess I can summarise it in this way: an airbrush
could make a MONKEY look like they know how to paint. I recently did a make up
that was a typical “cracked doll make up” for a client. I decided I would paint
the cracks in by hand the first day. The second day I used the airbrush to
paint in the cracks and the difference was astounding. I didn’t think it would
make that much of a difference, but it was just a more complete, uniform look. Also
I love the process of painting in thin translucent layers. You can get the thin
washes of colour layered one on top of each other until you have sufficiently
created the illusion of the translucency of real skin. That is VERY important.
It has to be broken up. You can't just leave a porcelain doll finish on a
character make up (unless its a porcelain doll, lol ) and think that's
finished. The look is created by layering many many thin washes of colour in
organic patterns. Ve Neil would say to me on the show: “Your paint jobs are
nice but they’re a little flat ...” well I learned how to fix that throughout
the 2nd season on Face off. This was the most invaluable technique I took from
the show. The way something is painted can destroy a beautiful sculpture, or
save a mediocre one.
-You had
the amazing opportunity of creating your own signature airbrush with a major
company. What makes "RJ's The Shadow" different from other
airbrushes?
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| RJ Haddy's The Shadow Airbrush |
Well first
and foremost, Paasche is an American Made product. (SORRY EU! lol) but honestly
that is very important to me, keeping people in jobs and manufacturing a high
quality product at the same time. Secondly the price is VERY affordable at US
$155 its FAR less than other brands of the same quality. Third point it has a 3
year warranty not the usual 2 year warranty. About specific stats, the cup is
smaller because I specifically asked for that. As I blow through colour quickly
and want to move on to a new choice its much easier than
emptying out the cup cleaning out the residue and when you are on Face OFF
trust me, time to clean an airbrush is NOT available. We also have developed a
special needle and tip for the gun that sprays at .32mm, which is in between
the Talon airbrush standard of .25 (fine) and .38 (medium). This is a neat
little bonus that the Shadow has over the other guns. The gun comes installed
with that set at time of purchase but it also includes in the box a tip,
needle, and cap for the size .25mm fine spray, if you wish to get down to finer
details. All Talon Parts will interchange with the Shadow as well. So if you
already own a Talon this is a perfect complementary gun to set up next to it. I
set up three or four guns when I am working and have the quick change fitting
on my hose and I just pop back and fourth between those guns.... its so much
easier!
-Is there a
kind or brand of paint/makeup you prefer to use in your airbrush?
European
Body Art, the Endura line specifically. It's amazing and it paints anything! Skin,
Silicone, Hair, Latex, Foam Appliances, Fabric. Its tough as nails but gentle
on the skin. It's the best paint out there. I always cut it with 99% and thin
it because its just a great highly pigmented paint.You can use it full strength
if you want to but I prefer to thin it, you can essentially stretch a 1oz
bottle into a 2 oz bottle so you definitely get your
moneys worth!
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| Actor David Selby made up as Lincoln by RJ |
-We follow
you on Facebook and Twitter, and we love to see how phenomenally busy you are. What
future goal would you like to reach in your career?
I’d like to
start producing and directing my own films more regularly.That's why “The
Family Business” is going to really be a proving ground so to speak. We will
definitely show the world what we can do here in West Virginia with a little drive, ambition,
skill , and just plain ol stubbornness to not give up! :)
-Finally,
going back to Face Off, is there an aspect to the show that is less apparent to
the public, but that was important for you as you actually went through the
experience?
I think
definitely the one thing none of us realised or counted on was the fact that we
would become such good friends and close through the experience. Now after
seven seasons it's become like an exclusive fraternity/sorority where you all
have a common background of having been through this “trial by fire” so to
speak. That's been the biggest reward of it all as well! I'm incredibly close
to several members ... Beki Ingram, David Greathouse, Roy Wooley, Nix Herrera,
Frank Ippolito, Rod Maxwell , Jerry Macaluso, Scott Ramp, Brea Joseph and
Athena Zhe who was crucial to my team in the season 2 final. And of course I
cant forget my fellow finalists from season 2 Rayce Bird and Ian Cromer.... that's
just to name a few. They are all wonderful. They have become wonderful
confidants and friends because of the experience. The friends we’ve made at
SYFY and the production company Mission Control ... the casting company Pittman
Casting ... All amazing people and truly wonderful friends!
