La petite poupée gothique : Good Bye Victorian Era , Hello Gothic Horror Televison Series.

Studying the Victorian era for our project of Gothic Horror in Makeup & motion has be really interesting; I've actually felt passionate about not only learning this for makeup in classes and from research but from learning more about the history of the times. Life was harder for many but they were literally living in one of the most changing periods ever seeing the transition of industry to the creation of film. The Victorian era was extremely interesting. For me though learning about Queen Victoria was the most interest from my research, the women with the longest reign England has ever had or the fact she was widowed at a young age still with nine children, six of whom outlived her.

After studying the Victorian ages for most of the term we are now onto our final project of the year; I can not believe my first year studying makeup is almost complete its madness. The final assessment for the project is all about creating a character from the brief set; choosing two characters with basic stories already from three possible candidates given to us and developing the idea. BUT WAIT THERES MORE... not only are each characters stories already in fitting with the idea of a horror type situation we also need to fit the characters in a horror Esq. television show, we have to create a detailed character with no less then 4 face charts for each character, also mood boards which of course will help with development.

Below are the introductions to ideas.

Claudia

Claudia is a girl in her twenties. As a child she was left alone to develop with little parental guidance and through her relationship with T.V. movies developed an unhealthy relationship with Horror films, believing this to be the way life really is.

All the scenes take place in various parts of Claudia’s apartment, which is European in style with
a great deal of kitsch décor. She is agoraphobic and is kept in touch with the outside world by her neighbours who provide her with her every day requirements. She models herself on a variety of girls often twisting her look to suit whichever film she is watching at the time and there is often
a nod to the main character in the current film within her appearance.

The script portrays her as psychotic and there is always the feeling that although her character is scripted/can be seen as humorous, danger is just around the corner. However all this is normal to Claudia and she is of a cheerful disposition in this mad world of hers.

Quentin

Claudia has an imaginary boyfriend, Quentin, who is long suffering and a constant disappointment to her. They don’t live together but he visits regularly and they talk on the telephone if he can’t get in to see her. As he is part of her imagination his appearance changes to suit her mood. Sometimes he will be a David Beckham looking guy, whilst in another scene he will appear as a Pete Docherty type, Daniel Craig type or a Hollyoaks Babe. If she is having a bad day he will morph into an uncouth couch potato chav with all that brings with it.

He is as into the horror film genre as she and into role-playing to suit her whims and moods.

Claudia has a paranoid suspicion that he is constantly having affairs behind her back and keeps him firmly under her thumb, sometimes restraining him or keeping him prisoner in one of the rooms.

Mrs Laderman

Claudia’s neighbour in her 40’s. She alternately changes into a variety alter egos and is Claudia’s friend and confidant. Living in the apartment opposite, she was Claudia’s only link to the outside world. Although they are friends there is suspicion that Mrs L’, has designs on Quentin. In fact she has desires on Claudia.

I am excited. Below are the list of series we can choose from to create our characters into, each show has a large influence of horror type situation's and characters. Highlighted are the shows I was first attracted to to choose upon.

•The Walking Dead

•American Horror Story

•Dexter

•True Blood

•Bates Motel

•Buffy the Vampire Slayer

•Vampire Diaries

•Penny Dreadful

•In the Flesh

•Being Human

•Hemlock Grove

•Hannibal

But which one to choose? For me personally I am a massive series lover, A great television series can feel like a cinema trip, we all get attached to characters and relationships but with horror its more unique due to many popular characters never being safe from appending deaths. From the list these titles highlighted were the one in which I felt developing two characters from would be fun.