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"I begged you last week for any photo of the 'Mason Verger' character...and as I thought, there simply are none to be had until the film is officially released. Damn it!
HOWEVER....
I did locate the email address of Greg Cannom, who did the makeup
special effects on this film. (Wasn't easy and I won't reveal it out of respect to Cannom). I begged him to let me see a picture of the Verger effect. He responded....and told me the following:
1) There is no way he would email me a photo of the Verger makeup for a
few reasons: 1) Studio Confidentiality agreement. 2) He wants everyone
to see the total effect as designed in the whole film, with the story
line and other actors...the way it was intended. 3) He can't take he
chance of the effect being released to the internet prior to the film's
release. (Fair enough).
He told me that even his friends have begged him to let them see the
Verger makeup, but he isn't even showing them...he's telling everyone
to
just GO SEE THE MOVIE! Be prepared to have the shit scared out of you when you see his face. Pack a fresh pair of clean underwear.
He also told me:
-he thinks it's the best makeup effect he's ever done, bar none.
-he was so concerned that the makeup be shown in full context, ie. the
storyline with actors and dialogue, that he refused to even go see the
dailies...he himself wanted to see it uncut and in proper edited order
in the final film...NOT on a piecemeal day-by-day basis.
-the little "eyeball monocole spray mister" that sprays Verger's one
good eye every 30 seconds to keep it moist (no eyelids to blink,
remember?) was tried in the early versions of the makeup and was
discarded because it just didn't work. Either it kept dropping, or
Oldman's eyes couldn't resist blinking (which would ruin the effect). So don't expect to see that in the film effect.
-what you see in the film are Oldman's REAL EYES...they are not
prosthetic eyes or fakes. Cannom told me to see the film and then try
to figure out how THAT one was done!
-they toyed with the idea of digitally removing Oldman's nose from his
face in post-production, but eventually decided against it.
From PREMIERE magazine, I also know that this effect was based on a special translucent skin simulation product first tried out in 'Bicentennial Man.' This is a further development of it.
As you already know, some artistic license has been taken in the film
so
Verger is not really totally bedridden, he is pushed round in a
wheelchair."
-nothing has been done makeup-wise to Oldman's teeth (the effect just
didn't need it)
-Cannom closed by saying he doesn't get easily excited very often, but
he is DYING to see the crowd reaction (moviegoers) to this makeup
effect.