Make-up artist shares his ‘scary’ techniques today at free workshop

Arthur Cullipher knows a thing or two about creating illusions. As a special effects artist who also specializes in horror stage make-up, he has worked for over a dozen independent films doing make-up and special effects. He has also put his expertise to work providing realistic make-up effects for fire and rescue simulations.\nCullipher will give a free workshop called “Make-Up for Film and Video” at 5:15 p.m. today at the John Waldron Arts Center as part of Artists After Hours, a free networking support group for area artists. Artists After Hours is sponsored in part by the Bloomington Area Arts Council and Cinephile Film Arts, an organization that works to encourage film and video production in Indiana. Other upcoming workshops will focus on fundraising for independent filmmakers, writing and acting.\nCullipher said he has been interested in horror since he was a young child. What he likes most about horror make-up is that any scenario can be created and new creatures can be developed, he said. \n“It gives me an outlet for creativity and gives me a chance to tell my stories, which are mostly horror stories,” he said.\nHe said his career gives him the chance to help other people tell their stories. Cullipher and Kirk Chastain, his special effects assistant, did the make-up for Shocktoberfest, a series of short plays that were performed at the JWAC in October. Arthur has also worked as a special effects consultant on several films made in Bloomington. He creates special effects for Atomic Age Cinema, a horror film screening event that is hosted every Saturday at The Cinemat. During the intermission of the film, scary skits are performed and prizes are given away.\n“There are not many people who can do horror well,” he said. “I am not interested in the recent slew of torture films.” \nHe said he is most interested in supernatural horror and creating creatures. One of his favorite movies, “Videodrome,” is filled with what he calls “fleshy technology” in which inanimate objects, such as a television, become soft, fleshy and sexy. \n“Horror and comedy go hand in hand,” he said. “We have to laugh at the horrible sometimes to make it bearable. I like to laugh – I also like to be scared.”\nDuring today’s workshop, Cullipher will demonstrate make-up shading techniques that give the appearance of bruises, wounds and burns. He said that shading is one of the most important techniques used in filmmaking. Participants at the workshop will be asked to volunteer to be models, and materials will be available for people to try out.