The Lady in the Lake

I was lucky enough to work with Ignis Films for their short film The Lady in the Lake at Tattershall Lakes in Lincolnshire.

The Vision

I worked alongside Director Stephen Gillard to create the look for Ligeia; this creature - part woman, part reptile, part fish - is a thing of folklore, of legend, of nightmare, like the sirens, harpies and selkies of mythology.

I enjoyed designing a look inspired by the mood board of images given by Stephen. As you will see, I provided a half and half face chart to showcase the 2 ideas that I had for the shoot. The first one was this dark and mysterious style look with dark and subdued features matched with a purple lip to go along with the cool colours. The other side was then a more natural and less dark approach. Using blue, silver and green tones to match with the water, I created a similar style to the first design on the other side of the face. For this design, I opted for more of a natural lip colour using a nude beige colour.

After sending these designs over, Stephen wanted a mix of the 2 designs, keeping the elongated eye effect but taking more of the colours from the 2nd design. He did however like the idea of keeping some of the vascular vein details on the face and possibly about adding some scales as well.

Application

Initially during the planning stage, I considered doing a bleached brow effect however when it came to the final application, I opted against that as the makeup would have to hold up under the water. This was one of the adaptations I considered for the environment of the shoot. Other things I considered during this stage was my product choice. I opted to use a silicone foundation for the base so it would not be affected by the water and also used the Dermacolour waterproof powder from Kryolan in conjunction with their setting spray to keep the makeup locked in place. Both of these products were lifesavers when it came to the underwater shots. I also found that the Inglot Gel Liner was also good for staying put under the water.

When applying the makeup, I decided to use a fishnet stocking to create a scale effect. Stippling a purple shade over the areas of blue to add depth to the makeup. I felt this was necessary to provide the serpentine, scaled ‘part fish’ effect that was within the description of the character. I also took the same sort of motif down the body onto the arms and clavicle to further continue the serpentine look.

CAST

Emily - Laura Turner

Ligeia - Sophie Jane Corner

Callum- Nathan Haymer-bates

CREW

Director - Steve Gillard

DoP- Teddy Uddsholt-Clayton

First AD / Production Manager - Elliot Fox

Producer - Laura Turner

AP / Production Manager - Warren Genders

AC - Courtney Maitland-White and Lolly Price

Gaffer - Lewis Yeoman

Sound- Leo Culley

Sparks - Louis Pinning

MUA - Oliver Helm

Costume - Amy Magnone

Chaperone - Laurence Mason-Guetta

Photos on page - Laurence Mason-Guetta

What's the Story?

The Lady in the Lake is a short film about a young woman, Emily, living in the nineteenth century, who meets an unnerving, but strangely captivating, creature and becomes obsessed with her.

Emily is a battered young woman, fleeing from her troubled past. A past that haunts her as she hides on the shores of a remote lake, late one night, the bruises of abuse blooming on her pale skin. Then, in the moonlight, Emily sees a shape rising from the still waters of the lake. A figure unlike anything she has seen in her life. A creature of the imagination. Not a woman, but not an animal like she has ever known before. This creature - part woman, part reptile, part fish - is a thing of folklore, of legend, of nightmare, like the sirens, harpies and selkies of mythology.

As the creature approaches Emily, transfixing her and drawing her in mesmerically, the atmosphere shifts and alters. Takes on a new energy that burns and blisters in the night air. An unspoken but undeniable bond is forged across the open waters, igniting new, never felt before sensations in Emily. Dreams of freedom, of change, of a different life. A life where she feels more empowered and in charge of who she is. A life that grants her pleasure, when all she has known before is pain