Director’s Journal – May 4, 2009
I feel very nomadic lately. I don’t even have a permanent place to call home at the moment – instead I rely on the kindness and couches of family and friends. When this is all over and I have a permanent residence, I will owe lots of couch-surfing time to so many people. The reason for all the traveling is that the Spider Babies cast and crew are scattered across different cities in Texas and Oklahoma. I am putting lots of mileage on my sad, abused Honda Civic. Yesterday, I paid a visit to Jacknife Ruby on my way back to Austin. She has already completed a ton of work on the costumes – but I was even more excited to see another production wall. At every stop I make, it seems like there is some kind of collage-style wall, each wall reflecting a different aspect of the movie. I snapped a few photos.
Originally, we had planned on bringing in Jacknife for just hair and makeup on the girls. But she is way too talented to use in such a limited capacity. Over time her role has grown to encompass hair, makeup and costumes for the entire production. She has taken the ball and run with it and the results are going to be amazing. Here’s a preview of Polly’s bikini!
We’ll have a lot more for you to look at in the weeks to come. Meanwhile, check out this interview with Jacknife Ruby.
The Spider Babies Director’s Journal is reprinted from the official website of writer/director Christopher Sharpe.
Jacknife Ruby Interview
Jacknife Ruby is a hair and make-up artist from Dallas, TX. She contacted us in response to one of our Craigslist casting ads and after director Christopher Sharpe looked at her MySpace profile, he knew he had found the perfect person to style the girls. “It wasn’t just that her portfolio was incredible, but her list of favorite movies and music indicated that she would be totally in sync with what I am trying to pull off,” said Sharpe. “We worked out the logistical details and now in addition to doing hair and make-up, she is doing all the costumes as well. We’re going to let her run wild with it.”
ROCKHOUSE PICTURES: When did you first realize you wanted to become a make-up artist?
JACKNIFE RUBY: I started doing makeup when I was four years old. My mother would buy me every failed ex-Avon/Mary Kay rep’s kit she could find at garage sales. My favorite victim was my 70 year old grandmother. She never minded that I made her look like a haggard streetwalker.
RHP: What would you say is your favorite look to create?
JR: I really like to do color studies. Very clean with vivid pops of pigment.
RHP: Do you have a favorite movie monster?
JR: So many. If I had to pick one it would probably be Medusa.
