{"id":398436,"date":"2026-01-10T02:48:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-10T02:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/398436\/"},"modified":"2026-01-10T02:48:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T02:48:14","slug":"prosthetics-artist-on-timothee-chalamets-transformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/398436\/","title":{"rendered":"Prosthetics Artist on Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet’s Transformation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tTimoth\u00e9e Chalamet<\/a>\u2019s character in \u201cMarty Supreme<\/a>\u201d was meant to embody a young kid from the streets of New York. <\/p>\n

\n\tDirector Josh Safdie<\/a> wanted to bring real authenticity to the film, not just visually but also in how the characters looked and felt. <\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cIt wouldn\u2019t make sense to drop Timoth\u00e9e in there and have him look like this clean movie star,\u201d says prosthetic makeup designer Mike Fontaine. Fontaine \u2014 who is nominated at the Makeup and Hair Stylists Guild Awards, as well as shortlisted for best makeup at the Oscars \u2014 worked closely with Safdie and makeup artist Kyra Panchenko to ensure Chalamet fit seamlessly into the gritty world of the film.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe story follows Chalamet as Marty, an ambitious young man from New York\u2019s Lower East Side, convinced that table tennis is his ticket to success. Set in 1952, Marty is a hustler working at his family\u2019s shoe store, where he pretends customers\u2019 sizes are out of stock to upsell them on pricier pairs. On the side, he\u2019s always looking for his next get-rich-quick scheme.<\/p>\n

\n\tFontaine explains, \u201cJosh knew what he wanted. He wanted acne scars, keloid scars, like he\u2019s been in some fights.\u201d Marty\u2019s face prominently features a scar on his cheekbone and additional scarring under his chin, suggesting a rough life. <\/p>\n

\n\tIn one scene, Marty jumps out of a window and climbs down a fire escape to evade the cops. \u201cLooking at that, you got the feeling maybe this isn\u2019t the first time he\u2019s done this,\u201d Fontaine adds. \u201cHe\u2019s probably taken a few falls and hits.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tThe question during production was how far to take the look. \u201cWe had the great advantage on \u2018Marty Supreme\u2019 of doing extensive screen tests with Darius Khondji. He filmed those tests with Timoth\u00e9e on a stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\n\tAfter reviewing the footage with Chalamet and Safdie, Fontaine realized the makeup was too extreme and decided to re-sculpt and remake everything. The goal was to ensure the makeup didn\u2019t distract the audience but rather felt invisible. \u201cMyself, Kyra and [hairstylist] Jimmy Goode would get Timmy done in an hour. We\u2019d be doing the hair and makeup all at the same time in Timoth\u00e9e\u2019s trailer,\u201d Fontaine explains. \u201cKyra would start on the brow, and Jimmy would be styling the hair.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tIn total, Chalamet wore five prosthetics. \u201cThere were large pieces that covered his cheeks to give the acne-pockmarked skin texture. He had another piece on his cheekbone to create a deep scar on one side, two smaller pieces for scars under his lip, and a long scar under his chin.\u201d <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\n\tSince Khondji was shooting close-ups with long lenses, Chalamet\u2019s face was front and center, requiring intricate attention to detail. Fontaine also had to \u201cdrench him in fake sweat\u201d during the intense table tennis matches Marty plays throughout the movie.<\/p>\n

\n\tSafdie wanted another level of authenticity when it came to distorting Chalamet\u2019s vision. Rather than using prop glasses, Safdie opted for a combination of contact lenses and prescription glasses. Fontaine explains, \u201cWe put contact lenses in Timoth\u00e9e\u2019s eyes that made his vision blurry, and then gave him very heavy prescription glasses on top of it, creating the illusion that his eyes were really beady and small.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t Safdie previously told Variety,<\/a> \u201cAt the time, we said we were going to put +10 contact lenses in your eyes, and we\u2019re gonna put -10 prescription lenses in front of them so that when his glasses fall off, he can\u2019t see anything.\u201d When Chalamet tried on the combination, Safdie recalls receiving a call from the actor. \u201cHe calls me and says, \u2018I\u2019ve got the +10s in right now, and I\u2019m pretty dizzy.\u2019\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tAccording to Safdie, Chalamet described the experience as feeling like \u201che was in a fishbowl.\u201d Still, Chalamet was determined. \u201cI\u2019ll do anything you ask me to do,\u201d Safdie recalls the actor telling him. <\/p>\n

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