DESCRIPTION:
Some of the bands/musicians featured include: Ashes (Static X), Dr. F (Mushroomhead), Abby (Combichrist), Dagon (Inquisition), Taime Downe (Faster Pussycat) and Impaler.
The primary objective of this documentary is to focus on the meaning behind why many musicians conceal their identity or alter their appearance through the use of makeup and/or masks.
Although these "fashion statements" are relatively new to mainstream music, using makeup and masks to entertain originated in ancient Greece, so actors could perform multiple roles. This trend was later mimicked in the 16th century with the advent of Opera and the Kabuki Theater in Japan. Also, Native American, African and Aboriginal tribes have decorated their faces for centuries to reveal such traits as bravery, spirituality and power.
As music evolved, so did its image. Some of the pioneers to incorporate an alternative persona into their stage presence included Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Arthur Brown, David Bowie, Alice Cooper and Kiss. Otherwise known as "shock rock", these artists combined face paint and theatrics to create a signature style and spectacle previously unseen.
In retrospect, what's the meaning behind a musician's artistic expression. Why do they go through the trouble of doctoring their faces to create an alter ego? To some, it makes them feel empowered. Others use symbols or markings to honor their heritage or roots. Some make statements against society's focus on beauty by looking "ugly" and others use it as an outlet to display their inner demons.
In the Black Metal community, many resemble corpses because of their fascination with death. Some use makeup to pay homage to the musical idols before them and bands such as Kiss initially donned the makeup to create comic book characters that reflected certain traits about each member.
This documentary will not only explore the meaning behind the makeup and masks, but why some bands and artists decided to forgo this look. Some of the underlying themes will include, how (un)natural they felt the first time they dressed up. What or who influenced them to do so? What were the initial reactions from friends, family and their audiences? What's the best type of makeup to use? Are they trained by professionals to apply the cosmetics and has wearing makeup become too cliché?
This documentary will truly be a journey into a world most fans are unfamiliar with and have never experienced. It's a behind-the-scenes look into the mythology of using makeup and masks for reasons pertinent to each musician.