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.

Look Behind The Look

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

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