from 2007 CNoMA Directory
Making Up To HD
By Debi Drennan
High Definition Television is no longer in our future. It is here now and it is here to stay! With broadcasting stations in North America and all around the world changing to High Definition, more and more of the television productions will be shot in High Definition. Right now some productions are being shot on film and then converted to the HDTV format.
Currently in Canada CTV, Global and City TV are providing digital services and High Definition programming. Over the next few months SRC, TQS and Omni 1 & 2 will be providing additional High Definition services as well. As more programming is recorded in High Definition the stations will provide more HD options. In the US, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, PBS and WGN are all offering a number of High Definition programming options as are the specialty, sports and pay television channels.
What is HD?
High Definition Television or HDTV delivers brilliant, high-resolution images in a wide-screen (16x9) format and is suited for the wide screen televisions that are becoming common place in our homes today. High Definition is approximately 720 pixels by 1080 lines of resolution. Standard television that we have been accustomed to in the past is approximately 427 pixels by 525 lines of resolution. By comparison. HD is almost double the clarity. The wider screen image, which has proven itself over and over again as the desired screen image in major motion pictures, gives the viewer a sense often referred to as "being there".
As a makeup artist, this switch has created much worry and controversy as to what we are going to do. What I have discovered is that most film makeup artists who have experience with 35mm. and even 16mm. have made the switch to HD with very little problem. The artists having the most difficulty are those in broadcast facilities or artists more accustomed to working on video productions where much heavier applications of makeup are more customary.
Defenses For Working In HD:
a) The airbrush systems have been touted as the answer to HD but I have seen some airbrush applications that look like the old Max Factor Tan#3 pancake applications. When properly applied, the airbrush foundations do create a nice soft flawless foundation.
b) The best defense for HD makeup is in your hand. It is a light touch, well blended, with no edges that gives the best result.
c) In HD as in film, the artist has the benefit of lighting. Practically speaking, the fundamental difference in lighting strategies for film verses HD is the quality of light. The light is much softer or lower for High Definition. HD is "hyper real" where film is more painterly. Because of the greater depth of field and narrowed latitude, hard light is generally avoided so as not to create a blown out highlight, especially on the face. There is really no difference in the placement of lights for HD, just the brightness and temperature.
d) I have worked on several HD movies of the week over the last few years and I personally have found that liquid powder mineral makeup works very well. You can control the density of the application and can blend to create the contour and 3D image. Because this makeup is a liquid powder, it requires much less flattening and dry powder application, therefore much less product build up on the skin. Every Director of Photography I have worked with has commented on how beautiful the skin looks and that he is not reading any makeup.
HD is here to stay and the technology behind it is on going. Already in Japan, the leaders in HD are working on a format called Super HD which is approximately 7 times the lines of resolution and clarity of HD. You think you can see clearly now!
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