FX workshop transforms students' ideas

Theater students learned basic tricks of the trade from special effects artists Dan and Jennifer Joplin last Friday at Colorado High School.

Sherry James, CHS theater arts teacher invited the Joplins to conduct a two-hour workshop on makeup and costuming techniques.

“Our motto is ‘what is your reality?’” said Jennifer.  “You can enjoy dressing up. It’s not just for Halloween anymore.”

The Joplins, who design historical costumes for WWII re-enactments as well as science fiction and fantasy costumes, encourage students to recreate and learn history through becoming the character and getting out of the norm.

“It’s not uncool to be in science fiction anymore,” said Dan, who has worked on numerous science fiction movies, designing everything from models, to weapons and costumes.

The Joplins met James through the 501st Stormtrooper Garrison in Abilene, of which James’ husband is a member.

Learning classical makeup techniques takes time and perseverance.

“It’s not going to be handed to you,” said Jennifer. “You’ve got to take certain steps.”

It is a path Dan is well acquainted with. He began his career at 11 when he discovered, through a magazine called Movie Monsters of Hollywood, that the monsters that terrorized him were nothing more than acting and great makeup.

Although his mother was not thrilled that he used her makeup and mink stole to transform the neighborhood children, she did encourage his budding talent.

His model building began at age six and resulted in model work in museums all over the world. 

He has had contracts with Disney, Woods Hole Oceanographic Harbor Branch Museum, and the Museum of Science in France, where he built the pods for the 1/35 scale model of the shuttle Discovery.

Dan spent eight weeks building Artoo Detoo from an “unbuildable” kit.

Actor Kenny Baker (who played the original) used Joplin’s droid whenever he worked science fiction conventions in Texas.

A background in jewelry making for 35 years helps keep Dan’s costumes realistic.

Joplin’s screen credits include working on the Texas Chainsaw Massacre II, Willy Nelson’s Red-Headed Stranger, and “a whole lot of really bad B movies,” he said.

His work earned him a job offer  in 1985 from Industrial Light and Magic, George Lucas’s special effects company, although he turned down the job because of family considerations.

“We’re in the business of providing affordable props and costumes for the fan base,” said Jennifer, who loves the flexibility of their work.

 "Life is too short not to love and enjoy the job you're doing," said Jennifer.

The Joplins instructed students from Mrs. James' classes in basic makeup techniques using cotton and mortician's wax, not only for creating unforgettable wounds, but transforming youth into age.

"One thing about theater, when you are doing makeup you end up with overkill," said Dan.  "You're going to make it look ridiculous up close, but from the audience's point of view, they get the realism."

Some makeup jobs take as long as 6-8 hours; others 12 or more hours. Actors arrive on set at 4 a.m. and fall asleep in the makeup chair, while awaiting the transformation into their characters.
Jennifer strongly cautioned students against buying the one-size-fits all sclera lens, popular for undead characters.

"Sclera lens must be measured and fitted to your eye," she said. "You only have one set of eyes. Pay the good money."

One Act Play students also learned about using what is at hand for creating props and costumes.
“We make our own props and own the reproduction rights on original creations," said Jennifer.

"When you see a character you like, you have to ask yourself, ‘what do I have lying around that would work’,” she said, urging students to keep a junk box filled with bits and pieces of old toys, cameras, equipment and assorted broken items.
Making helmets and masks, although time-consuming, can be accomplished with a simple balloon and newspaper.

For the complex masks the Joplins create, such as The Fly or characters from Star Wars, they use paper clay covered in resin.  The resulting mask is much lighter than what it would weigh if constructed from plastic or papier mache.

The Joplins will be attending the Fan Days convention in Richardson, October 24-25.  Anthony Daniels (C3PO) will also be attending. For more info, www.scifiexpo.com