Rubber mask
A rubber mask, commonly referred to as a Halloween mask, is a mask made of rubber such as latex or silicone, or a soft plastic like PVC as a form of theatrical makeup or disguise.[1][2] Typically, rubber masks are designed to be pulled over the head, or cover only the wearer's face and are supported in the back by ties or a strip of elastic. Rubber masks are commonly associated with Halloween costumes
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History
[edit]In 1938, Don Post, also known as "The Godfather Of Halloween"[3] had a significant role in coming up with some of the very first over-the-head latex masks and became a staple in the history of rubber masks and Halloween merchandising, creating and selling carnival masks that were lightweight and held their shape.[4]
In the 1950s, Don Post Studios created licensed masks for franchises such as Planet of the Apes, Star Wars and the Universal Classic Monsters.
In the early 1960's, his son Don Post Jr. took over the company, allowing it to take focus on the Halloween/horror industry.[5][6]
The 1978 film Halloween depicted the killer Michael Myers wearing a white Captain Kirk mask made by Don Post Studios.
In 2003, SPFX masks was founded, creating the first silicone masks.[7][8]
Materials
[edit]Rubber masks are first sculpted in clay, then molded in a rigid material such as plaster, and then the rubber can be poured into the mold cavity and cured.[9]
Foam Latex
[edit]Foam latex is commonly used as a material for prosthetic makeup because of its light weight and flexibility. For creature suits that require facial movement, foam latex may be used as a skin to go over the animatronic components for lifelike movement and expressions, such as the mask developed by Stan Winston Studios for Predator.
Latex
[edit]Latex is the most ubiquitous material for commercially available masks, due to it being a cheaper rubber making it a much more affordable material to produce. Similarly, the process for creating a latex mask is less complicated than that of a silicone mask.[10] Because of the limitations of the material, latex masks are less flexible and expressive than silicone.
Silicone
[edit]For more professionally made masks, silicone is likely to be the rubber of choice due to its flesh-like, translucent qualities and its ability to "hug" the wearer's face which allows it to move along with different expressions. Silicone tends to be much higher in price, but has a much more realistic appearance and texture. [10] Because of the expressive nature of the masks, they can serve as an alternative to prosthetic makeup, saving time and money on a production. [11]
Urethane
[edit]Urethane is often used in the construction of superhero costumes for film and tv productions for its strength and flexibility, allowing for pieces that are thicker than latex but stronger than silicone. Batman's cowl in The Dark Knight trilogy was cast in urethane[12] as opposed to the foam latex used in the 90s films.[13]
Vinyl
[edit]PVC is typically used for lower end Halloween masks, and is also a common choice for licensed masks, with Don Post Studios beginning to produce vinyl masks in the 1960s. These masks are often more rigid and thicker than latex. The killer Ghostface in the Scream films is depicted as wearing one of these vinyl Halloween masks
Gallery
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See also
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References
[edit]- ^ Arabella Mazzuki; Raymond Siljander; Simon Mitchell (2015), "Full-head Silicone Masks and Related Silicone Prosthetics for Disguise", Undercover Disguise Methods for Investigators, Charles C Thomas, p. 133, ISBN 9780398090821
- ^ "Actors' Rubber Masks to Replace Make-Up", Popular Science Monthly: 44, October 1934
- ^ Woloski, Sarah (2016-10-06). "139: Don Post Jr. the Son of the Godfather of Halloween". Skywalking Network. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
- ^ "Don Post". Trick Or Treat Studios. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
- ^ Lambert, Lee (2015). The illustrated history of Don Post Studios (2nd ed.). Los Angeles, California: Blacksparrow, Inc. ISBN 978-0-9966175-0-5.
- ^ "The Exclusive Don Post Studios History". House Of Hauntz. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
- ^ "Creating Monstrous Realism With SPFX Masks". Smooth-On, Inc. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
- ^ "Masks so realistic they're arresting the wrong guy". LAPPL - Los Angeles Police Protective League. 2010-12-08. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
- ^ "How to Make a Latex Mask in 10 Steps". Distortions Unlimited. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
- ^ a b Chapman2022-10-21T05:41:00+01:00, Kit. "What are Halloween costume masks made from?". RSC Education. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "What is a Silicone Mask?". CFX Masks. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
- ^ "DARK KNIGHT RISES, THE (2012) - Batman's (Christian Bale) Cowl". propstore.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
- ^ Institution, Smithsonian. "Batman cowl from Batman and Robin". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
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