Briar Woodie - Frankenstein SFX Makeup Design

This immersive adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein frames the narrative aboard Robert Walton's icebound ship, where Victor Frankenstein shares his terrifying tale with the stranded crew. As the story unfolds across the vessel and expands into the greater theater space, the close proximity of the audience demanded hyper-detailed, high-quality special effects makeup for the Creature. I mentored the student designer, Briar, through the design process. Our research focused on anatomical and autopsy incision patterns, which we adapted to a prosthetic design that would not impede the actor's movement or speech. The final appliances were sculpted in oil clay, molded, and cast in flesh-toned, skin-safe silicone. Details were painted with alcohol-based makeup, and real suture threads were added during application. The design successfully maintained hyper-realistic detail up close while ensuring the monstrous appearance read clearly from a distance. Furthermore, the prosthetics' reusability allowed for a streamlined application process across multiple performances.