11/21/2023 0 Comments Real life betty boop makeupHowever, a “pinch me” moment was when I was working on the film Tick, Tick, Boom. Mikey: I never truly feel like I’ve “made it.” Each new experience is a level up, and I’m constantly learning and growing. Do you have a moment where you felt “Wow, I’ve made it”? One of the best things about makeup…it comes off! You can always remove or revisit an aspect of the look that may be out of one’s comfort zone. Find out what they are comfortable with and what they may not have much experience with and go from there. Michael “Mikey” Clifton: Makeup is a collaborative process! Before you begin any makeup, a consultation is key. How do you make sure that the person sitting in your chair walks away feeling their best? For some it is how they express themselves, for others it is a way to get a confidence boost. Tiara Nock: Makeup is a huge part of many people’s lives. (The following conversation has been edited for length and clarity). I had the absolute pleasure to with Mikey to seek his expertise and guidance. Today, Mikey’s work as a Makeup Artists and Designer, with over two decades of experience, brings characters from the page to life on Broadway, in film, and on the small screen in the vibrant heart of New York City. Their pivotal moment came as a teenager when Mikey stumbled upon Kevyn Aucoin’s iconic book, Making Faces, which solidified his career path. Over the years, he honed his skills, exploring different facets of the makeup industry, from the bright lights of fashion shows to the behind-the-scenes magic of film and theatre productions such as The Lion King, New York, New York, West Side Story, and so many other shows! Hailing from a small town in rural Kentucky, this remarkable artist’s journey began humbly with a rather unconventional experiment involving neon sidewalk chalk. In the world of makeup artistry, some simply apply cosmetics, and then there are those like our featured guest, Michael Clifton, whose passion for visual art, illustration, and acting paved the way for an extraordinary career in the world of makeup. Mikey described himself as “gagged” as he did not know when the photos would debut, nor the overwhelming positive response they received. It was none other than the makeup look he had meticulously crafted for the announcement of a particularly significant Broadway-bound musical- Boop! The Betty Boop Musical, which is now a viral sensation. Like many commuters, he was casually browsing through his Instagram feed when he stumbled upon something truly exceptional. ![]() On a recent seemingly ordinary Wednesday morning, makeup artist Michael “Mikey” Clifton experienced something far from the usual. ![]() She is, however, mentioned in many documentaries and books about the Harlem Renaissance, and her legendary way of singing does live on in the iconic Betty Boop character.By Tiara Nock, Digital Marketing Associate, Broadway Licensing Global: During her entire career, she was mostly only known locally in the New York City area, and she reportedly died at a very young age. In fact, she never even really achieved mainstream success. Meanwhile, the very woman who inspired the character, Baby Esther, was never compensated in any way. It's estimated that the Betty Boop franchise generated millions of dollars in revenue from televison networks and sales of merchandise. But soon after, she was transformed into a white woman and remained so until her character was finally retired. ![]() She appeared in at least one animated scene in the popular Popeye The Sailor Man series. Initially, Betty Boop was shown in cartoons as an African American woman. That very same style was heavily imitated by the Betty Boop animated character. Her stage name was "Baby Esther", but unfortunately, when her character become the first and most famous sex symbol in animation she was whitewashed with most people having no idea where the original inspiration came from.īaby Esther had a popular cabaret act at the infamous Cotton Club in Harlem, New York where she sang with a unique vocal style that featured “boop-boop-a-doops” and other similar scat sounds. PBS has confirmed that Betty Boop, the popular cartoon character introduced to the world by cartoonist Max Fleischer in 1930, was actually inspired by a real-life African American jazz singer and entertainer from Harlem named Esther Jones.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |