The Lady In The Lake
I was fortunate to work with Ignis Films for their short film The Lady in the Lake at Tattershall Lakes, Lincolnshire.
The Vision
I worked alongside Director Stephen Gillard to create the look for Ligeia, a creature that is part woman, part aquatic reptile. It is a thing of folklore, legend, and 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 design was this dark, mysterious look with shady and subdued features matched with a purple lip to go along with the cool-toned colours. The other design was then a more natural and less mysterious approach. I used blue, green and silver colours to match their watery habitat.
After sending these designs over, Stephen wanted a mix of the 2 designs; keeping the elongated eye but taking more of the colours from the 2nd design. He particularly liked the idea of keeping some of the vascular vein details on the face and suggested adding scales also.
The Application
When applying the makeup, I opted to use a silicone-based foundation from Airbase Cosmetics - primarily used on bridal clients for long wear applications, I thought using a silicone foundation would be beneficial for the watery shooting conditions. I decided to pair this with a Kryolan Dermacolour Waterproof Powder, further set with their accompanying spray fixer to ensure the makeup would last for the duration of the shoot.
Other product choices included a Rimmel London waterproof mascara, Inglot Gel Eyeliner and Duo lash adhesive.
I used 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 effect that the director wanted. I continued the same scaled motif down onto the décolletage, arms and body to complete the look.
From my initial designs, I decided to opt out of constructing a bleached brow. The actress (Sophie Jane Corner) naturally had very dark hair which is difficult to cover for photoshoot conditions, regardless of a water-based scene. I knew this would require numerous touchups which would cause delays.
Final Images of the 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
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