[This is a page I’m putting into my Fall 2020 Stage makeup class where the class is now moving online. Normally this is an exercise I just have folks do in the mirror in the makeup room, but now need proof they are doing it at home. This is how it will happen now, and they can do it all on their phones! If this seems like a good idea to you, feel free to copy and stick it in your newly online stage makeup classes!]

Making a collage:

Once you have practiced making funny faces for a while it is time for you to make a PicCollage  of your faces so I can document that you actually did your funny face-making homework :

You can choose to do a series of exaggerated emotions like the set I do above, or you can do a series of face stretches where you focus on the particular muscles that move the parts of your face. 

Need Help with Face Stretching?

If you are still having trouble doing face stretches there are two European acting teachers in the video below who will teach you how to flex your face like putty (this is a funny video, but you mainly need it if you are having difficulty with flexing your face and want to learn more of how to do this):

This type of exercise can let you make all sorts of face muscle stretches like the ones I do in the grid above the video.

How to do this project:

Take your phone and take a lot of pictures of your face as you try to pull each of the muscles of your face as far as you can.  Try to:

• Raise both your eyebrows as high as they can go
• Lift one eyebrow
• Crunch your brows close together like you have a terrible headache
• Make you eyes wide and big as possible
• Crunch up your nose like you smell something very bad
• Raise one nostril
• Grin as wide as you can with teeth clenched
• Pull your lips into a small pucker
• Try to touch your nose with your upper lip
• Pull the corners of your mouth down and your lower lip out
• Try to crinkle the corners of your eyes.

Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t do movement as extreme as I do.  I am over 60 and I have been practicing pulling faces in the mirror since I was 2 (and I still can’t lift just one eyebrow).  Results will vary by where you grew up, who you grew up with, your temperament, your family, your facial expression recognition, your friends, your genes, and your age. Most of all it will vary by practice.  The more you do it the better you will get at it!

If on the other hand, you are still having fun:

I suggest you also watch Jason Hewlett, a man who has made a very successful performing career built on the foundation of being able to do this. (Watch this one even if you don’t think you “need” it, as it will teach you face tricks you likely have not seen before, with an explanation of how to eventually do them.)

His motivational speaker talks are even better.  But now it is time to…

Take photos of emotions:

Then do a series of photos where you try to show the most extreme emotion you can show.  There is a list below to give you ideas. If you have a neurological difficulty recognizing facial expressions, you can try copying them from this awesome Emotions and Facial Expressions chart.

There is also a handy lecture on the 7 “Universal” facial expressions, that will demonstrate them for you.  While most of you are lucky enough to just understand intuitively what they mean, it is very helpful for actors and for life in general if you know exactly what muscles you need to move to correctly to “fake” these emotions on cue.  One of the most important skills to learn in life, and one most people do not learn, is how to “fake” the smile of genuine enjoyment on cue, simply by doing the correct eye-crinkle.  Being able to flash this at people when they need reassurance (or on stage) is a great way for getting people to like you.  The best bit is when you do it, it bio-feedbacks to your own brain as well and actually makes you feel a little bit good too:

However, you need more than 7 emotions for a good face grid, so to try to do:

• Joy
• Fear
• Anger
• Sadness
• Confusion
• Contempt
• Disgust
• Smugness
• Surprise
• WTF?
• Amusement
• Annoyance
• Dislike
• etc.

Choose your collage theme:

Look through the photos and decide which of the two groups you want to use for your collage:

Making the collage on your phone:

Download the free version of the phone app PicCollage ), or any other free (and easy to use) collage-maker app you can find to work with your phone, tablet or laptop. 

 In PicCollage , open Grids:

Select the photos to put into the grid.

Arrange the photos to taste and click on the check mark to go to Save or Share Screen. 

On the Save or Share Screen, save the finished Collage to your Library. 

Uploading Your Photos to Canvas:

Then go to the share options below, and clip on the lower right hand circle with three black dots for “More”

This will make the screen show you all the apps you can share with, including Canvas Student.  Select Canvas Student.

Choose Introduction to Stage Makeup, followed by the name of this assignment:  “Photograph Your Funny Faces” and upload to turn in.

See the next Makeup class project: Make Your Alien Replicant Twins