By james art This story was originally published in 225 every day in October 2022
Through the smokestack mist of airbrush makeup in one of The 13th Gate’s backstage rooms, you can find the Baton Rouge artist Grace Lee creating terrifying transformations. She forms scars, darkens fingertips, paints teeth and airbrushes exquisite contours to transform cast members into their sinister alter egos who look as if they’ve just crawled out of the dark. (Editor’s Note: Lee is not participating in the 2024 season of The 13th Gate due to the arrival of her baby. But she continued to offer special effects makeup for friends and clients outside of her home and plans to return to the 13th Gate in 2025.)
From live painting to sculpted cakes, Lee says she’s been making art for as long as she can remember. Her artistic talent led her to join the film industry about 12 years ago. She even sculpted a food prop Dusk: Dawn when filming in Baton Rouge. At this job, Lee found himself supervising makeup artists. She realized that special effects makeup wasn’t that different from food sculpting, so she gave it a try. Soon after, she booked a make-up gig for a music video filmed for 13th Gate, and was then asked to audition as a make-up artist for the Halloween attraction. The rest, they say, is a ghost story.
We spoke to Lee about the 13th Gate’s haunted season and its trials.
Tell us about a favorite character you do makeup for.
Line artists are always a lot of fun. They are a bit more detailed because they are in full light a lot of the time, so doing their makeup is always a lot of fun.
Is there a particular detail that you think makes the special effects stand out?
Yes, doing heavy contouring and making people look very sunken and scrawny with sunken eyes, cheeks and stuff adds dimension to their look. … That heavy, heavy outline really adds to that, because then you can build on that with anything, whether it’s scars or blood for someone in a madhouse or a skin-peeling ride for a zombie. You kind of always have to start with that heavy contour foundation to make them look really inhuman in some way or very painful.
What three things can’t you live without as a special effects makeup artist?
Special for 13th gate, airbrush and airbrush paint. This is really useful because you have to go so fast. But I’d say liquid latex and probably quality alcohol-based blood or stage blood that stays wet looking are some of my favorites.
Does the makeup on the actors make the attraction less scary for you?
Absolutely. It’s not scary anymore. In fact, many friends ask me to go with them when they are afraid to go but really want to see my work. Now that doesn’t scare me at all. My husband always jokes that every time we pass by, I’m like, “Oh, good job! You scared me! Wait, let me fix your makeup or something before someone else comes. I will correct them in their scene if anything looks out of place.
What is your favorite part of working for 13th Gate?
Working with so many creative people. It is a joy for me to be able to enter there. You feel proud to be a part of something that is so highly talented with the cast and artists. It just becomes this spooky little family and everyone stays friends outside of work. The people you work with in this business are the most fun for me and I see what they bring to the table.
What other creative work do you do?
I still work in the film industry. My husband and I own a wedding and events company where we have DJs, photographers and videographers. It’s called Complete Weddings + Events. I also photograph weddings for them and do videography. We also do commercials and stuff through the company and I do makeup for that. We also have several scripts that we are currently working on to produce several films. We’re just still in the film industry and doing what we can in this kind of broad spectrum industry.
What do you like to do when you’re not wearing makeup for 13th Gate?
I like to make different types of art for myself. I love to paint and I still make sculptures and things like that. I am lucky enough to have a job that is almost equal parts hobby and work. It’s hard work, but I love it so much. When it’s our company, it’s our business, so every day is our job. We’re just lucky enough to be doing something we love to do.