“Once my films have been cast, I turn the “talent” over to Van Smith. He gives them a once-over and mentally plans how to bring out their worst features. I like to keep Van on his toes by hiring ugly people to play beauties and vice versa. He totally understands the look of “inner rot” I demand and could come up with the perfect look for each character without my ever having to say a word. Van claims: “I like to start with a freshly scrubbed face. First, I apply pimples made out of eyelash glue, and if they have any natural glow, I throw dirt on their face as a good base. I then draw on blackheads, pencil in any age lines, shadow severe bags under their eyes and crack their entire complexion by letting egg white dry on their skin. If the script calls for it, I can whip up some snot to cake in their nostrils or apply scars made out of latex. Whenever I know they have a close-up, I’ll smear dabs of paint on their teeth to give an overly decayed appearance and recommend they eat a bag of potato chips, so they’ll have plaque. It helps if you film them in direct sunlight.” Van’s only beauty hints are a lack of sleep, alcoholism or drug addiction and he stresses, “Most importantly, it helps if the actor has embraced misery as a lifestyle” … When I complained that Divine’s wig wasn’t dry and brittle enough for one film, Van boiled it in a big pot and beamed: “There! Is it matted enough for you now?""
/ From Shock Treatment: A Tasteful Film about Bad Taste by John Waters, 1981 /
Born on this day 80 years ago: Walter Avant "Van" Smith, Jr. (17 August 1945 – 5 December 2006), the king of the “ugly make-overs” and genius make-up artist in John Waters’ films, from Pink Flamingos (1972) to A Dirty Shame (2004). Pictured: Divine as Dawn Davenport in Female Trouble (1974).
