Look Behind The Look

S3 | Ep. 18: Oscar and BAFTA nominee, Heike Merker, talks about her work as makeup and hair department head on the film ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT.


Listen Later

This week's Episode is a conversation I had with Oscar and BAFTA nominee, Heike Merker about her work as makeup and hair department head on the Netflix film ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT which is getting a tremendous amount of attention this awards season.  Finding herself quite literally on the Front Lines of this project, we talk about her challenges, the physical demands and how she discovered the ability to paint artistically using mud, dirt, pigments and even macha (!) to create stunning, painterly looks that convey the duality of war and the inner life of the film's protagonist.  This was a tremendously hard film to make.  Listen to Heike talk (hilariously) about getting so stuck in the mud that she literally couldn't move one inch.  And how she found inspiration on set and in the moment for the film's signature macha mask look.  Tune in!


Heike’s IG


https://www.instagram.com/h.merker/


"They Shall Not Grow Old" Documentary


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qP0Z04UrJY


0:00 Welcome


2:30  "They Shall Not Grow Old" dir. Peter Jackson main inspiration


3:15  dirt research


4:15 how the dirt look was created?


6:22 kabuki mask


7:00 how to keep continuity


7:31 approach like a painting


8:30 change of colors & blood


9:46 Daniel Bruhl & how I got the job


11:40 History of the novel


12:30 relationship w/DofP James Friend


15:10 Conditions on the set


16:25 Hardest day on set


17:50 stuck in the mud


22:09 secret ingredients macha and macadamia nut


23:36 the two faces of the mask


26:36 on set inspiration





Get full access to Look Behind The Look at lookbehindthelook.substack.com/subscribe
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Look Behind The LookBy Host Tiffany Bartok Brings You Closer To The Details Behind Your Favorite Looks In Film, Television and Music

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

67 ratings


More shows like Look Behind The Look

View all
The Political Scene | The New Yorker by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

The Political Scene | The New Yorker

4,006 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,356 Listeners