Facing Oscar

The 2017 Best Makeup and Hairstyling nominees reveal their labours of love

- Jedd Jong

In the lead-up to the 89th Academy Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) held presentations by the nominees in several categories. With Academy members from the relevant fields moderating, the nominees discussed their work, screening clips and showing behind-the-scenes photos. The day before the Oscars ceremony itself, F*** was at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in AMPAS’ Hollywood headquarters to attend a symposium by the nominees for the Best Makeup and Hair styling Oscar. It might not be considered a major category by moviegoers at large, but there’s no denying the staggering effort and artistry exhibited by each of the three nominated films this year.

A Man Called Ove, Star Trek Beyond and Suicide Squad were the nominees. They edged out Deadpool, Florence Foster Jenkins, The Dressmaker and Hail, Caesar!, which made the final shortlist but were not nominated. To narrow down the final shortlist to the eventual nominees, the nominated makeup artists and hairstylists representing each film conducted a demonstration for Academy board members, in what is playfully nicknamed the “bake-off ”.

In the lobby of the theatre, actual makeup appliances and wigs used in the making of the three nominated films were on display. This allowed guests to get up close and personal with Killer Croc’s scaly mug, study the subtle wrinkles in Ove’s skin and marvel at the elaborate nautilus-like cranium of the alien woman Natalia. We bumped into legendary special effects makeup artist Rick Baker, who was mingling at the cocktail reception. Baker has won seven Oscars and been nominated 11 times, winning the inaugural Best Makeup and Hair styling Oscar in 1981 for An American Werewolf in London. His credits also include Men in Black, Planet of the Apes (2001), Hellboy, Ed Wood and Maleficent.