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"Mask"erading in the Movies

Costumes are integral to the popularity and success of any movie or play. In the ancient times, the symbol of two masks was used to denote Greek comedy and tragedy -- one joyful and the other sorrowful. In the plays of the ancient Greek era, the actors had to wear huge masks that amplified their voices. The ancient Greek drama boasted of characters as tall as seven feet thanks to their enormous masks and high shoes. After all, the characters had to be viewed by people sitting even far back in the audience.

Due to today's dependence on lighting, microphones, and video cameras, actors have it a lot easier. They can now literally dress for the part that they are playing. One may say that ultimately, the costumes merely heighten the effect of the movie. To combat that view, we have the old adage, "Clothes maketh the man." Clothes can also decide how well the movie does. You might have a wonderful script with superb actors. However, if you end up making the blunder of getting the look wrong, success will become somewhat uncertain. It is no wonder that stylists and costume designers are so sought-after in the media world of today. If you want an example of how the look of the actors can impact the success of a movie or TV show, Sex and the City is a great example.

As a result, the makers of the movie, Shakespeare in Love, invested much time and energy in recreating the Elizabethan times by creating costumes that were true to the time. The crew was finally rewarded with the Academy Award for Best Costumes for their efforts. Apart from this, Titanic, Moulin Rouge, and Chicago are examples of relatively recent movies that put in a lot of effort to get the look right.

As for masks, they are most visible only superhero movies. However, Spiderman was not the only one to hide his identity in a mask. Remember how Robin Williams pretended to be a woman in Mrs. Doubtfire? Nobody can forget that mask. More recently, we saw Gwyneth Paltrow don a similar mask in her portrayal of an overweight woman in the hit movie, Shallow Hal. If you love fantasies, the face of Harry Potter's arch enemy, Lord Voldemort is unforgettable. His mask is very apt for the character of "the one who is not to be named".

From the movies to costume parties, masks are constantly in demand. And movies such as The Man in the Iron Mask, and the Jim Carrey starrer, The Mask, have only added to the demand for masks.

By: Ajeet Khurana

Masks can make the character. Find out about getting a silicone halloween mask or about professional halloween masks and silicone clown masks.

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