 Matthew
Mungle graduated from the Joe Blasco Make-up Artist Training Center
in 1978. Now, at 35 years old, Mr. Mungle already has nearly 100 film,
TV and commercial credits, including Head of Make-up on What About
Bob and Navy Seals. More recently, Mr. Mungle worked on Edward Scissorhands,
The Doctor, Bugsy and the soon to be released Dracula. Matthew just
completed the upcoming Citizen Cohn, for which he made up Lee Grant
and did the special Make-up on James Woods.
| Q. |
When did you know
you wanted to be a Make-up artist? |
| A. |
I was raised
on a farm in Atoka, Oklahoma. When I was nine, I became fascinated
with monsters and horror movies. I picked up a book on Make-up
that showed you how to do effects with nose putty and creped
wool, and how to make blood. I practiced on my sisters and myself.
As I got older I started doing face casts on myself. The movie
The Planet of the Apes was an incredible turning point. When
the sequels came out, I made an arrangement with the local theater
owner to go around town promoting the movies in my ape face
and Make-up . Throughout high school I made  costumes
and created Make-ups to promote the local shows. I got written
up in some national show biz weeklies. Then, I went to Oklahoma
University, where I majored in theater and did Make-up and props.
In 1977, I took a summer job at an amusement park in Houston,
Texas.
A science fiction convention was held there. Rick Baker was
the guest Make-up artist. I showed him my book and told him I
was thinking of going to a trade school. He strongly recommended
Joe Blasco. In December of 1977, I moved to California to study
with Mr. Blasco. Even before school started I got to know Joe.
He recognized my talent for special Make-up effects. He took
me under his wing and showed me many special Make-up techniques
before school started. |
| Q. |
What was it like
studying under Joe? |
| A. |
 It
was an amazing time in my life. I was like a sponge. I absorbed
everything. Joe was inspirational to me. At school I also learned
beauty Make-up , which I had never done. It was a totally new
concept for me. Up until then I had only done lab work and monsters.
I learned a lot about lighting, too. I advanced my special Make-up
effects skills 100%. For example, Joe taught me how to correctly
apply a plastic bald cap. He taught me better sculpting and
moldmaking skills. There was a lot of time to practice and practice
makes perfect. A big part of it is doing it on your own, being
critiqued by your Instructors and learning from your mistakes. |
| Q. |
How well did the
Joe Blasco School prepare you for a professional career? |
| A. |
Tremendously well. Besides
learning all aspects of Make-up , Joe teaches you professionalism,
what to expect on the set, on set application, lighting and
how to deal with the actors and directors |
|
| Q.. |
How did you make the transition
to becoming a professional Make-up artist? |
| A. |
 Joe
guided me to several small jobs for experience.
The first one was a slide presentation of Beauty and the Beast.
Then a student film called Death Dorm, which turned out to be
a theatrical release called -The Dorm That Dripped Blood, by
Jeff Obrow. As I gained professional experience Joe gave me
the opportunity to teach certain parts of some classes, first
as an assistant. That brief period when I worked as an instructor
was also valuable experience. I was able to make contacts with
directors and producers. It snowballed from there. My reputation
for lab work grew. I always try to do all the sculpting, molds
and foam appliances personally, then I go on the set to apply
the pieces, or to supervise their application. |
| Q. |
What was your first big break? |
| A. |
Working on the master, Orson
Welles. In 1980, when Joe was Orson Welles’ special Make-up artist, Joe took me to Las Vegas to assist him with Orson Welles
nose for the movie Butterfly. Joe showed me how to apply the
nose upon Mr. Welles the first time, then I took over the Welles
assignment. That’s when my parents knew my career wasn’t
just a phase. They were really excited. |
| Q. |
. What was it like working
on Edward Scissorhands? |
| A. |
That was my first union job.
Ve Neill needed an assistant. I was recommended by Rick Stratton,
another Make-up artist. Basically, I did the right side of Johnny
Depp’s face while Ve did the left and the eyes. It’s
common to have two artists working simultaneously on a major
special Make-up effect. |
| Q. |
What was your job on Dracula? |
| A. |
I worked under Greg Cannom.
I made all the vampire teeth. Once, we started filming, I coordinated
the on set applications. Dracula appears as a young man and
an old man. Greg and I applied the old age Dracula Make-up and
I stayed on set for upkeep. |
| Q. |
What was a day on set of
Dracula like? |
| A. |
I arrived at 5:00 a.m. and
set up all the twelve piece appliance for the “old man”
Dracula, and the hand appliances and finger extensions. Gary
Oldman arrived at 5:30. Greg and I prepared Gary’s face
with Aloe Vera then applied the pieces. Then Stuart Artingstall
put the wig on and did all the hair. We did that at least twenty
times during the filming. I was on the set about fifteen hours
a day. We’d put it on. That takes four hours. Touch it
up throughout the day. Then take it off. Clean up took about
an hour. In addition, there were Dracula doubles and I did all
of those. Then there were creatures. Dracula transforms into
a bat and a wolf. I applied those effects with Greg. It was
a long, but rewarding day. |
| Q. |
What advice do you have for
aspiring Make-up artists? |
| A. |
Practice, practice! It’s
a matter of doing it. Sticking to your guns. don’t be afraid
to accept a few jobs for little or no pay to get experience.
You need on set experience. Also remember that you’re the
first person the actors see in the morning. You’re like
a psychologist to the actors. Be a good listener. Don’t
talk a lot! It’s the actor’s preparation time. |
| Q. |
What would you tell someone
considering a Make-up school? |
| A. |
The Joe Blasco School is an
excellent start. You learn all phases of Make-up artistry. Joe
Blasco is the only school that takes you through all the best,
most modern techniques from start to finish. |
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