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Caucasian to Asian makeup tips?

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#1

Caucasian to Asian makeup tips?

Posted: 7/28/09 at 2:40pm

Working on a production of "Thoroughly Modern Milie" where we have Caucasian actors playing Bun Foo & Ching Ho... as far as makeup, we want it to look as authentic as possible, while exaggerating it enough for an extremely large venue. Any tipis or ideas? Anyone have photo examples?
#2

re: Caucasian to Asian makeup tips?

Posted: 7/28/09 at 2:47pm

Liquid Eyeliner. When we did Miss Saigon last year at my school it was the only thing that saved us.
Genius lasts longer than beauty.
#4

re: Caucasian to Asian makeup tips?

Posted: 7/28/09 at 2:57pm

You may want to contact BD Wong. I'm sure he'd have some interesting and useful input.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#5

re: Caucasian to Asian makeup tips?

Posted: 7/28/09 at 3:04pm

Why not use fishing wire. Worked for Pryce when he was in Miss Saigon.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear" Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
#6

re: Caucasian to Asian makeup tips?

Posted: 7/28/09 at 4:27pm

In Richard Corson's makeup book he has a very effective "tape on the eyelids" technique.
#10

re: Caucasian to Asian makeup tips?

Posted: 7/28/09 at 7:18pm

I'd just say

DON'T OVERDO IT!

Especially on the eyes as that is almost to caricature.

Tuck the blond hair up in a hat (depending on the role) or under a wig to hide it and I've seen that work just fine.

If the acting is good people will overlook a bit of discrepancy in physical features.
#11

re: Caucasian to Asian makeup tips?

Posted: 7/28/09 at 7:30pm

Its a fine line between character acting and offensive racism. Just be cautious and get some feedback from some Asian individuals if possible.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal "I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
#12

re: Caucasian to Asian makeup tips?

Posted: 7/28/09 at 7:56pm

We didn't have any orientals either so we just changed them to germans and made them Nazis. It was actually more funnier.
PEACE.
#13

re: Caucasian to Asian makeup tips?

Posted: 7/28/09 at 7:57pm

I just finished a production of The Mikado where not one of the cast members were asian. Dark eyeliner on the top lid only and fanciful or wigs are your best bet without making it a royal pain. I have pictures. If interested, PM me and I'll send you links.
#14

re: Caucasian to Asian makeup tips?

Posted: 7/28/09 at 8:10pm

If we ignore the history behind 'black face', why is 'Asian face' less offensive?
Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.
#15

re: Caucasian to Asian makeup tips?

Posted: 7/28/09 at 8:25pm

I am kind of offended by this since I am full asian,
but, I am sure if you're on stage you wouldn't be able to really see it and just put eyeliner on and tell them to quint their eyes just a little bit.
Don't forget the heavy asian accent.
#16

re: Caucasian to Asian makeup tips?

Posted: 7/28/09 at 8:40pm

Don't forget -- be sure they make their entrance in a souped-up Honda (they're driving badly, of course), with their overbearing mothers following them and telling them how they'll be late for piano lessons, but be home in time for the sauteed cat-chow mein dinner, and if they do badly they'll shame the entire family. Meanwhile, dad is in the back making crazy "WAHHH!" kung-fu sounds. ROR. That's funny.

And THAT'S how to make sure the audience knows they're Asian.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#19

re: Caucasian to Asian makeup tips?

Posted: 7/28/09 at 9:44pm

We did Millie at my college last year. We didn't have Asian actors as Bun Foo and Ching Ho and, guess what, didn't try to make them Asian. Don't be offensive, just do the show.
"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife
#20

re: Caucasian to Asian makeup tips?

Posted: 7/28/09 at 9:47pm

Heh. Once I was in a production of The Mikado. I am an Irish girl throughout. My make-up was horrible! And I had this crazy midnight black wig...which my friend put on backwards.

In other words, good luck!
"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL
#21

re: Caucasian to Asian makeup tips?

Posted: 7/28/09 at 9:48pm

Suleengay... just wanted to let you know that it's pretty offensive to call Asians orientals... that's something you would call an object, like a rug or vase, not a person... just giving you a heads up... i can't tell on these boards sometimes if people on here are serious or being sarcastic..
#23

re: Caucasian to Asian makeup tips?

Posted: 7/28/09 at 10:51pm

I think just wearing authentic-looking costumes and hats would be enough, considering you'll be speaking "Chinese" during the show and your ethnicity is clearly indicated in the script (and your name).
#24

re: Caucasian to Asian makeup tips?

Posted: 7/28/09 at 11:22pm

lasagna, anything I write must be considered sarcastic if it offends anyone. Thanks for not correcting my grammar, though! re: Caucasian to Asian makeup tips?
PEACE.
#25

re: Caucasian to Asian makeup tips?

Posted: 7/28/09 at 11:44pm

This thread's unbelievably racist. How about just have the actors AS THEY ARE. When non-caucasion actors are cast in traditionally white roles they don't get made up as white. Don't you grasp what it is you're actually suggesting? Creepy.

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