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What does it take to create the striking world of Spider-Noir? In this episode, we go behind the scenes of the stunning Marvel series to explore the artistry of hair, makeup, and character design that helped bring this dark, 1930s-inspired superhero universe to life. Hair Department Head Theraesa Rivers, Makeup Department Head, Lana Horochowski and Prosthetic Designer Vincent Van Dyke, reveal how classic film noir aesthetics, vintage Hollywood influences, and comic book source material were blended to create a look that feels both timeless and authentic. From designing period-authentic hairstyles and weathered character makeup to developing the visual language of a world filled with mystery, shadows, and intrigue, we uncover the creative decisions that shaped Spider-Noir's unforgettable style. Watch Spider-Noir HERE Spider-Noir Comic But wait! There's more... https://linktr.ee/lookbehindthelook Get full access to Look Behind The Look at lookbehindthelook.substack.com/subscribe

Jayce wrote the episode, but I’m writing this… We know that we live in a world where emotions are fleeting- they roll through us like 2 second electric shock waves from distraction to distraction, but I STILL have not forgotten the night of June 5th where I sold my tickets to see Lorde at Gov Ball in exchange for a night in the presence of Madonna. It caused 2 days of silent treatment in my home when I sold the Gov Ball tickets and a mental health check since I LOVE Lorde. But… I also LOVE Madonna and am too old to “festival” anymore. In preparing for this Bite Sized episode on Madonna we played Confessions On A Dancefloor around the clock and I danced on air reliving my MySpace days. Even in getting ready to go to the event I felt like life was better and though giving up our phones was scary for exactly 2 seconds, I instantly felt like a new human being. I had an amazing discussion with my dear friend, David Russell, who is quite the music historian and a Madonna expert (that is the label I have given him, to be clear, he would never claim that title for himself), and I will share that talk later when Confessions II is finally released July 3. We talked about how BORING it is that there is so much that people are annoyed with about Madonna. Complaints about her age, her surgeries and her “need for relevance”… this actually bores me. The Beacon was teaming with people full of joy, acceptance, and unabashed expression. The talk was a display of Madonna’s vulnerability actually. She wasn’t a persona this night, she was a woman who had her best friend Debi Mazar in the audience with her celebrating her latest creation. This is the same woman who shut down Times Square the night before and performed in a skyscraper, for goodness sake. The woman on stage was both of these people. A full circle. So while Lorde was inspiring one generation (maybe a couple generations) at Gov Ball, I did not regret choosing to be at the Beacon June 5th to physically feel the decades of inspiration Madonna has provided us. The video is amazing and if you haven’t seen it yet, that’s crazy. Watch it below. You know by know that Kate Moss who looks better than ever is in the video, but it was a complete surprise to us as an audience and I screamed so loud that I scared myself when she came on the screen. Feeling that excited and young again… that was fun. For more on Madonna’s look for Hung Up, check out my interview from waaaaaaay back with the amazing makeup artist, Gina Brooke. 00:00 Intro | Madonna Takes Over Tribeca 2026 00:28 Confessions 2 Arrives 01:29 Why Confessions Is Madonna's Masterpiece 03:20 The Making of Confessions on a Dance Floor 03:50 Why "Hung Up" Changed Pop Music 04:59 Inside the Making of the "Hung Up" Video 06:17 Madonna Filmed with Eight Broken Ribs 07:16 Why the "Hung Up" Video Is Still Iconic 07:49 Tribeca Premiere & Madonna Q&A 08:28 Inside the Beacon Theatre Experience 09:16 Madonna's Emotional Conversation 10:46 The Confessions 2 Visual Album Reaction 11:35 Final Thoughts | Will Confessions 2 Make History? Get full access to Look Behind The Look at lookbehindthelook.substack.com/subscribe

I love any opportunity I can get to speak with Siân Miller, and what luck it was to have her on for "Wuthering Heights" to discuss all things wild... and contained. Braids for days, vacuum masks, intricate hairstyles only to never have film coverage, and yes... sigh... windburned cheeks. I have known Siân since she worked on Cyrano- a beautiful treasure of a film that many people might not know about, and we dug into all things Saltburn last time, but today we will talk about the film that has us all in the beauty world swooning. What did you think of Wuthering Heights? Have you tried any of the looks yourself? Siân and I also talked about where Hair and Makeup Falls on the priority list of time on shoot days- I’d love to hear from other craft departments about this topic. Makeup and Hair is often disregarded as a chunk of time allotted to vanity, when it is actually vital to the character creation and needs to be reestablished every shoot day. What are your thoughts on this as filmmakers and artists yourselves? Learn more about the products Siân used on-set here: ShopMy 0:00 - Intro 4:04 - When to Modernize the Story 6:12 - Working with Emerald Fennel 9:13 - Creating Cathy’s Hair 12:41 - The Thought Behind The Skin Room 14:17 - Matching Cathy to the Dining Room 17:17 - The Making Of Siân’s Favorite Scene 19:56 - Meaning Behind the Freckles 22:27 - Makeup is an Underappreciated Art 28:10 - Working with Jacob Elordi Again 30:26 - Outro Get full access to Look Behind The Look at lookbehindthelook.substack.com/subscribe

To be fair, my interview with Miyako was before Marty came to our screens…. you’ve seen in previous posts my excuse for the dog eating my homework; I’ve been producing a film in Philadelphia and the timing is less than stellar. I was also waiting to speak to Mike Fontaine and Kyra Panchenko about their makeup work on Marty which has since been recognized by BAFTA, but Kyra is insanely busy and our schedules did not align. So I am finally releasing my talk with Miyako mostly for bragging rights that I, too was granted the honor of having this superstar on the show. Miyako Bellizzi is THAT GIRL that you want to friends with. She is impossibly cool and effortlessly chic, and above all, spectacularly talented. Josh Safdi's Marty Supreme is without a doubt a polarizing film, but the one fact that is undisputed is it looked flawless. The authenticity, detail, and style are deserving of their Academy Award Nominations and we all knew from the moment this film was released that Bellizzi would be among those craftspeople who were recognized during awards season. I spoke to Miyako early in the film's release so we talked about the press tour a lot. I am not ashamed to admit that I have all the Marty Merch including the Wheaties Box. So while you may have seen this beautiful woman and her extraordinary work in this film featured everywhere from Vogue to Vanity Fair, we had a great time speaking off the cuff about the excitement of the cultural influence of an A24 press tour. Enjoy! 0:00 - Intro 3:37 - Miyoko from Uncut Gems to Marty 8:37 - Creating Gwyneth Paltrow’s Costume 10:00 - Women’s Fashion in the 50’s 12:13 - Individualizing Gwyneth’s Character 14:09 - Morphing Dylan into Marty 18:04 - Developing and Collaborating Looks 20:31 - How Character Arcs Transform Costumes 21:48 - Resonance with Marty’s Drive 23:21 - Outro Get full access to Look Behind The Look at lookbehindthelook.substack.com/subscribe

Currently, Mike Fontaine is Oscar Nominated for his work in SINNERS, and his work in Marty Supreme is BAFTA Nominated. I loved hearing Mike talking about knowing what he wanted before he hit double digits and how he became a protégé of Dick Smith—the legendary makeup artist behind The Exorcist and The Godfather—who mentored him into adulthood. Mike shares his experiences collaborating with director Ryan Coogler and the challenges of creating authentic characters. Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at the artistry and passion that goes into making unforgettable cinematic moments and learn about Mike's deep appreciation of nature and how it is reflected in his work. 0:00 - Intro 2:28 - Mike’s Origins in Makeup 8:11 - Visualizing Sinners from Script to Screen 10:06 - Reality of Creating Looks on a Budget 12:09 - Authenticity and Realism in Creation 17:03 - The Mountain of Work 18:30 - Collaboration Is King 22:40 - Magic with Releases 24:25 - Mike’s Work on Marty Supreme 30:55 - Outro Get full access to Look Behind The Look at lookbehindthelook.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Look Behind the Look, host Tiffany Bartok welcomes the dynamic duo Barbara Guillaume & Amy Komorowski , renowned groomers who have worked with Hollywood's elite, including Bradley Cooper, Adam Driver and Leo DiCaprio. Together, they unveil the secrets behind their innovative product, Circa 1970 face oil, a, gender-neutral skincare product, formulated with bakuchiol to serve as a natural, non-irritating alternative to retinol. The women are transparent with their challenges (thank you, ladies, we are not alone it seems:), and reveal why their (ahem) very famous clients pay retail to secure this magic potion for themselves. Entirely self-funded and deeply inspirational, Amy and Barbara tell all about this extraordinary product and how it found its way to the most elite vanities in Hollywood and beyond. I’ve used this magic potion and the smell alone is heaven-on-earth, not to mention the power of the product… and its two founders. Head Here for Circa 1970 Oil Get full access to Look Behind The Look at lookbehindthelook.substack.com/subscribe

In this holiday edition of Look Behind the Look, we unwrap the layers of Terry Gilliam's 1985 film Brazil, a retro futurist fever dream that cleverly disguises its incisive critique of bureaucracy and authoritarianism as a Christmas movie. Join us as we explore the film's rich aesthetics, from its elaborate production design to the campy hair and makeup, revealing how these visuals reflect the emotional machinery of a society struggling under the weight of conformity and denial. Discover how Brazil remains relevant today, echoing our contemporary challenges with digital systems and the normalization of crisis. 0:00 - Intro 1:28 - Gilliam After Python: The Architect of Beautiful Nightmares 3:05 - The Look: A World Styled for Breakdown 4:12 - Camp as Survival & Bureaucratic Beauty 5:25 - Imagination as a Last Resort: Sam Dreams 6:18 - The Restaurant Scene: Elegance at the Edge of Collapse 7:05 - When Help Becomes Theater 7:41 - When Emptiness Becomes Violence 8:27 - The Christmas Setting: Festivity as Emotional Camouflage 9:36 - If Brazil Were Made Today 13:27 - Closing Get full access to Look Behind The Look at lookbehindthelook.substack.com/subscribe

I finally had the chance to have Frances Hannon on the show and yes, you have heard from her by now, but I know there are some tid-bits you will learn from our talk... perhaps you haven’t learned about John Chu’s bespokeiridescent blue for his horses...? How would you like to get your hands on that creation? And for those of you who aren’t besieged with Wicked in your feed, this may be the first time you are learning about Frances’ process working with Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, John Chu on this epic adventure of WICKED and WICKED:FOR GOOD. Get full access to Look Behind The Look at lookbehindthelook.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Look Behind the Look, I chat with makeup designer Sharon Tabb, who shares her creative journey behind the scenes of the hit series “The Lowdown” and the important film “Sarah’s Oil.” Sharon shared with me her origin story and while I always love a “how did you get here” exchange, this one is truly remarkable as serendipity and a leap of faith were powerful players in Sharon’s arrival to her career. If you are just getting started in your career, this episode is full of words of wisdom, and if you are far along in your journey, you will love hearing about what keeps Sharon motivated as I am sure you can relate. I was truly recharged after spending time with her and I know you will be too. Get full access to Look Behind The Look at lookbehindthelook.substack.com/subscribe

We’ve all seen Frankenstein by now and those who have seen it in the theater (hi!) have no doubt shamed those who watched on Netflix, but we can all agree that the film is GORGEOUS and we no doubt found ourselves confusingly (or maybe not so confusingly) attracted to The Creature. In this episode, Prosthetic Designer Mike Hill talks in delightful detail about every detail of the creation and evolution of The Creature and explains how Jacob Elordi, Guillermo del Toro and more all collaborated to bring this work of art to life. Enjoy! And let me know what you think as always… 0:00 - Intro 2:44 - Building a New Frankenstein 8:15 - The Creature’s Bold First Impression 9:20 - Creativity Through Color 12:29 - The Rush To Get The Job Done 15:50 - Seeing The Creature Come To Life 16:50 - Response to Frankenstein’s Release 18:56 - Mike and Guillermo: From Monsterpalooza to Partners 24:29 - Victor’s Artistry And Influence On The Creature 27:33 - How The Creature’s Eyes Came To Be 29:49 - Jacob Elordi’s 10 Hour Transformation Get full access to Look Behind The Look at lookbehindthelook.substack.com/subscribe

Go behind the scenes of Weapons as Look Behind The Look with Melizah Wheat, Leo Satkovich and Jason Collins. They reveal how the hair, makeup, and SFX team created the unforgettable Aunt Gladys. From the offset wig to the prosthetics and makeup that shaped her entire character arc, this episode breaks down every creative choice that brought her to life. 0:00 Intro 5:08 Meeting Aunt Gladys 7:12 Wig Creation 11:30 Makeup Design 15:30 Debunking Theories 17:55 Character Arc Through Makeup 19:55 Prosthetics 23:00 Origin of the Offset Wig 27:00 The Lasting Impact of Aunt Gladys WATCH WEAPONS But wait! There’s more... https://linktr.ee/lookbehindthelook Get full access to Look Behind The Look at lookbehindthelook.substack.com/subscribe

#MiaNeal #TheSmashingMachine #BehindTheScenes Get ready for one of my most favorite episodes ever. Firstly, WHY HAVEN’T YOU SEEN THE SMASHING MACHINE? I saw this film on opening weekend as a #BennySafdi die hard, and was lucky enough to get to pick Oscar Winner, Mia Neal’s beautiful brain about the work she did in the Hair Department for it right after. Let me just tell you, I had NO IDEA what she was about to tell me. Holy Smokes, did Ms. Neal conquer some challenges- in fact, I believe the quote she ended with when I turned off the zoom was “I’m going to be in so much trouble when this airs”... You are going to LOVE this episode, the sound advice Mia shares and examples of sheer bravery she provides in this packed hour. Watch THE SMASHING MACHINE HERE 0:00 - Intro 2:47 - What It’s Like Working With The Safdie Brothers 6:55 - How Dwayne Became Vulnerable For The Role 13:49 - Transforming Emily Blunt into Dawn 17:04 - The Secret Behind Crafting Biopic Looks 23:00 - How Mia Balanced Both Dwayne and Emily’s Wigs 27:00 - The Drama Behind Mia Being Denied Entrance To The Camera Test 31:20 - Stunt Double Wig Fiasco 38:35 - Disaster of A First Fitting 44:20 - Mia Perseveres And Saves The Day 49:45 - What It Took To Maintain Dwyane’s Wig 59:12 - Hair Is An Underappreciated Art 1:02:44 - Outro But wait! There’s more... https://linktr.ee/lookbehindthelook Get full access to Look Behind The Look at lookbehindthelook.substack.com/subscribe

Presenting a new fest special. Jayce Bartok guest hosts to speak to the filmmakers of Pretty/Dirty which you can see at DOCNYC this year. Filmmakers Jennifer Ash Rudick and Amanda M. Benchley speak on their new documentary, Pretty/Dirty, diving deep into Marilyn Minter’s provocative art, exploring themes of beauty, power, and the female gaze. Jayce, Jennifer, and Amanda discuss how Minter’s work challenges societal norms while simultaneously celebrating the intricacies of glamour and rebellion. Listen in as they share insights about the creative process behind the film, the challenges of documentary filmmaking, and the significance of Minter’s unique perspective in the art world. With an emphasis on the importance of chosen family and the impact of ageism, this episode reveals the layers of Minter’s artistry and the cultural conversations it ignites. See PRETTY/DIRTY at DOC NYC November 20 in NYC. Get full access to Look Behind The Look at lookbehindthelook.substack.com/subscribe

THE ROSES Starring Olivia Coleman and Benedict Cumberbatch is available on Disney Plus beginning this weekend, and as you settle in to watch, enjoy this interview with PC Williams, the brilliant costume designer behind the film. PC shares her creative journey in designing captivating looks for Colman and Cumberbatch. Hear how the costumes evolve alongside the characters, reflecting their descent into madness within the narrative of their tumultuous marriage. Beyond The Roses, in our talk, PC also shares valuable insights for aspiring creatives on navigating the industry, the importance of collaboration, and how to handle meetings that may not feel like the right fit. PC is candid and gives amazing advice about how align with the right job for your career creatively and professionally. 00:00 Hello! 02:35 PC discusses the effort behind “effortless” looks. 09:06 How do you collaborate with talent on the job 14:35 Valuable career advice from PC 19:42 When you don’t get something, do you seek feedback or let it go 22:14 PC and her BAFTA win! Watch THE ROSES Get full access to Look Behind The Look at lookbehindthelook.substack.com/subscribe

Please Welcome Scott Barnes, the personal makeup artist to Jennifer Lopez, Makeup Department Head Maya Hardinge, and Hair Department Head Michelle Johnson. Kiss of the Spider Woman opened this weekend and now we need to talk about some of those gorgeous looks. In this episode, I am joined the talented team behind the Hair and Makeup in the film, including Scott Barnes, the personal makeup artist to Jennifer Lopez, Makeup Department Head Maya Hardinge, and Hair Department Head Michelle Johnson. Discover how the team came together, the creative challenges they faced, and the intricate details that brought the characters to life. From the vibrant nightclub scenes to the delicate balance of period authenticity and modern flair, the conversation touches on the artistry and collaboration that make this film a visual feast. Get ready for behind-the-scenes stories, insights into the creative process, and a heartfelt tribute to the incredible work that goes into film production. KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN ** From this interview I discovered a couple of things I’m really excited about: 1. The name of the RED that Scott Barnes used in the film on Jennifer. 2. Maya revealed that there will be a Special DVD coming for the film that will have gorgeous deleted scenes. Tactile Media is making a comeback, people, BELIEVE! 00:00 Hello 01:03 Scott says Colleen Atwood recommended him for Kiss of Spider Woman 03:39 What are some of the main differences between movies and the beauty, makeup world 11:59 The hair team. 16:41 Challenges of working in Uruguay. 17:18 The teams’ favorite scenes. 20:23 The secret weapon for selling the era. 23:16 Scott, are you gonna put together a little Kiss the Spider Woman package 24:18 The making of The Spider Woman 27:40 The teams favorite looks in the film. 31:13 Maya: Diego looked great in that one scene. He really looked like, uh. He came off like. He had been through it 33:05 Who’s audition tape made Michelle cry? But wait! There’s more... https://linktr.ee/lookbehindthelook Get full access to Look Behind The Look at lookbehindthelook.substack.com/subscribe