INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Matthew McMillion discovers why artist Kazu Hiro turns to 3D scanners when creating special effects makeup for Hollywood’s A-listers
Renowned for his remarkable skill and artistry, special effects makeup artist Kazu Hiro has been sculpting the faces of Hollywood’s elite for decades, transforming them into unforgettable characters in some of the biggest films on the silver screen.
From the recent run of Oscar-nominated films, Hiro has worked with A-listers such as Robert Downey Jr. and Bradley Cooper for 2023 hit Maestro. His previous work includes blockbusters like Bombshell, DarkestHour, Salt, TheCuriousCaseof BenjaminButton, MeninBlackII, Howthe GrinchStoleChristmas, and a swathe of other top movies.
Hiro’s carefully cultivated talent has already been recognised numerous times, including with multiple Academy Awards for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, BAFTAs, and various other accolades. Chasing his seemingly tireless goal of perfection, Hiro constantly strives to advance his mastery of special effects makeup to new heights, which means always being on the lookout for new ways to enhance his design and creation workflow.
THE ARTISTRY OF KAZU HIRO
Lifecasting, a cornerstone of Hiro’s makeup work for years, is a detailed process of creating a 3D copy of a living human body, regularly called upon in the movie industry to achieve high levels of realism in character makeup. This meticulous method starts with preparing the subject and gathering materials, including silicone rubber.
Despite its advantages, such as being relatively affordable, capturing fine skin details, and creating a durable and reusable cast, traditional lifecasting also has several downsides. The process is often time-consuming and messy, uncomfortable at best, and can even bring on claustrophobia. What’s more, distortions in the final cast can arise due to the weight of the mask pulling down on the face, or the actor’s involuntary movements as they’re forced to sit still for so long, either of which can drastically affect the end results.
TURNING TOWARDS 3D SCANNING
Hiro’s journey for a better solution to traditional lifecasting led him to the world of 3D scanning, and ultimately to Rapid Scan 3D. He met with Chris Strong, a 3D scanning expert working in the movie industry and beyond, who introduced Hiro to the Artec Space Spider.
