Michael Westmore, the Makeup Designer and Supervisor for Star Trek. Mr. Westmore has just been nominated for an Academy Award for his work on Star Trek: First Contact.

Question: I would like to see some non-humanoid aliens. Something imaginative, yet possible. Will it ever happen?
MKSANTOS

Michael Westmore: Non-humanoid aliens must be designed through computer and opticals because of time constraints on the show.

Q: What/who was your most difficult/time consuming Star Trek alien you have ever created?
Brown_Beard

Q: What/who was your most challenging alien?

Q: If you could design the alien of your dreams what would it be and could the television series afford it or would it have to be for a movie?

MW: The most time consuming alien ever created was when Geordi had to transform into a lizard and he was covered with hundreds of luminescent veins. It took five make-up artists six hours.

(Identity Crisis)

MW: The next to the most time consuming would be Brent Spiner playing Dr. Soong, which took five hours, and my all-time favorite make-up was Leonard Crowfoot, Lal in the "Offspring" episode.

There isn't any idealized alien I'm looking for. Every one is new and challenging and it presents its own creative problems. Whatever comes along is what we're thrilled to do next.

Q: Which actor/actress do you most enjoy creating a look for, and with whom do you have the most fun.
SYLVIANNIE

MW: Next to Brent Spiner as Data, currently my favorite person is Terry Farrell (Dax). I meet her at 5 AM to make her up and to paint her spots. As of today, I have made her up 464 times. I know that because I sign her neck in Roman numerals every time we do the make-up.

Q: I was watching TV the other day and I heard a Bob Westmore name mentioned in the design of the Costume/Make-Up for "The Creature from the Black Lagoon." Is this person related to you?
Brown_rice

MW: The name that you heard for Creature from Black Lagoon was my Uncle Bud. He was head of make-up at Universal.

Q: Congratulations on your Academy Award Nomination for Star Trek: First Contact. Is this you first nomination or have you been nominated and or won any awards before?
silver-surfer

MW: I'm very excited about being nominated for Star Trek: First Contact. I have been nominated 3 times before for Oscars, and I won for the picture Mask, with Cher. In the honors, one of my greatest thrills is with the Emmys. I have been nominated 32 times and half of those are for Star Trek.

Q: What got you interested in make-up?
Zodiac

MW: I was an art history major at UCSB planning on a degree in archeology. I received an apprenticeship at Universal Studios in makeup in 1961. After graduating, I went to Universal and studied with my Uncle Bud and John Chambers, who was the make-up artist that created Planet of the Apes.

Q: I know t hat Kathryn Janeway and Kate Mulgrew's hair are not the same length. How do you get Janeway's hair to look so natural when it's down. Is it a hairpiece? Extensions? vc195964

MW: I don't do Janeway's hair.

Q: Can you name some of the film or TV shows that you have done make-up for?
Coolio

MW: "Land of the Lost," "Munsters," the Rocky films, Raging Bull, Roxanne, Clan of the Cave Bear, Masters of the Universe... to name a few.

My bio is in the service (I'm told) if you want to read more.

Q: What was the first big break you got and who gave it to you?
JoeJoe-57

MW: My Uncle Bud gave me my first break and John Chambers gave me my inspiration.

Q: What was the most difficult make-up assignment you have ever had to do?
Yamoney

MW: The most difficult makeup assignment I had to do in motion pictures would be Mask and my most challenging, outside of Star Trek, was a small movie entitled Why Me? A true story about a woman who had her face ripped off in an automobile accident, and went through 2 years of reconstructive surgery. The doctor that actually performed the surgery was my consultant for the television show.

Q: Coming from the Hollywood Family lineage that you do, did you feel pressured into going into the make-up field or was it something you actually wanted to do after seeing what your family did?
Wipe_out

MW: I was not pressured into the make-up business. I went to Universal and after my 3 years of apprenticeship, it was something I really learned to love.

Q: What do you feel is your greatest Make-Up accomplishment, your greatest goal achieved? Do you ever see anything you have done and go "Wow, that is impressive, I am Damn Good!"?
Noscomius

MW: Due to the pressure put upon me by my family and its past reputation, in looking at most of my projects, I'm proud of all of it. It's easier to find something you're not proud of.

Q: How do you go about breaking into the Make-Up field? Are there any particular schools that you can learn this trade?
Arch_bung

MW: There are several schools in the LA area that teach theatrical make-up. Many new artists get their beginnings by apprenticing in some of the laboratories that furnish special effects makeup to the studios. There are probably 50 of those in Los Angeles.

Q: How long does it take for you to dress up someone as a Borg? Is it very difficult?
Jrabrego

MW: The Borg make-ups take a total of 5 hours each. that includes approximately 3 1/2 hours in make-up, an hour dressing and a half hour of movement back and forth.

Q: I was wondering, what is your favorite alien species to do? Ferengi? Romulan? Bajoran? Vidiian? Cardassian? Something else? Also, I would just like to say that everyone I know thinks that the makeup on Star Trek is incredible! You do a great job, so keep up the good work!
CameronMB

MW: I don't have a particular alien race, although I was sorry to see the Kazon's disappear from Voyager. As you might notice, I'm always trying to upgrade our designs, which you might notice with the Jem'Hadar.

Q: Do you have any outside projects you are working on?
pat-98

MW: A few outside projects that I'm working on seem to always be related to Star Trek. There's the new Viacom store, opening in Chicago, the first of Viacom's stores. We're working on exhibits for the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, and continually preparing for more CD-ROMs. Presently there are several traveling tours and permanent tours throughout the world that we're constantly sending new material into. If you happen to be watching "Sliders," my nephew does it and occasionally I give him a hand.

Q: Do you still do actual hands on make-up or are you more of an over-seer now?
Joee_cul

MW: Most of the time I have to be an overseer, but I still enjoy getting my hands dirty. I continue to do Kate Mulgrew (Janeway), Robert Beltran (Chakotay), and Terry Farrell (Dax). And I miss Data.

Q: Is it difficult working on two shows that are in production at the same time (and sometimes also a movie)?
Over_load

MW: I don't find it difficult having to run several projects at once. It's a matter of balancing your time and keeping records of everything that has to be accomplished and not looking much further ahead than the next day.

Q: Do you have any say or have you ever created a character for Star Trek?
Chronos

MW: Most every character on Star Trek I have personally designed. When I receive a script, it will only say that it is an alien or a humanoid and the producer, Rick Berman, leaves it up to me to come up with the concept.

Q: What was it like working on 2010 trying to age Keir Duellea?
Magitronic

MW: It was a challenging project, aging Keir for 2010. There was no research pictures from 2001 and I had to match the make-up. They made a 20x30 blow up of the film cell and he was laying in bed most of the time. The make-up consisted of 17 overlapping pieces and took 5 hours to apply. When we finished, I was walking down the street with Keir, in costume. A man in a car drove up, stopped and said to Keir, Aren't you that actor in 2001?

Q: Was doing Raging Bull similar to that of Rocky or was it easier or more difficult due to the fact that the movie was all in black & white?
GSG9

MW: Raging Bull was the ultimate in the fight films. Rocky was the preparation to do it. I was on it for 14 months (Raging Bull) and I designed 21 different noses and 11 different sets of eyelids before we finally settled on number 11. Scorcese and DeNiro continued to test until the last minute.

Q: Was it difficult to keep Dr. Spock's ears on during scenes of high action?
Jbierhoff

MW: Dr. Spock's ears are glued on real tight. Everybody is glued the same because while the stunt men may have to have some high action, the actor has to work in the make-up for possibly 12 to 14 hours.

Q: How can you explain the evolution of the Klingon race? Human looking in The Original Series and drastically different it TNG.
MGHJr

MW: The original Klingons had no prosthetics except for dark make-up and the hairdos... beards and mustaches and bushy eyebrows. Then in the features they added subtle foreheads... and some not so subtle. When the TV show came along, I added the nose to go with the forehead and over-emphasized the bones in the forehead using for research cross-sections of dinosaur vertebrae.

Q: My favorite character in all the Star Trek series is Quark. Armin Shimerman has mentioned how the makeup is affecting his skin in past chats. I was wondering, what exactly is it doing to his skin, and I know the makeup takes a couple of hours (or more, depending on character) to put on, but how long does it take to take off, and is it difficult to remove?
Quarks_Lady

MW: Armin's make-up only takes about 20 minutes to take off and his skin is all right.

Q: How many hours per week do you put in ?
RUNFITZY

MW: In the beginning, I would work up to 80 hours a week. With my assistant and the additional help now, I've been able to reduce it to 60 to 65.

Q: Did you work on Howard Stern's Private Parts?

MW: No, I've only listened to Howard... I've never touched his Private Parts.

Q: What types of special course work, education, or internships would you suggest for someone who was interested in working in your field as a career? P.S. I have admired your creative work for a number of years!
KMcCumby

MW: Anyone interested in make-up needs a good art background: being able to paint, sculpt, and use an airbrush.

Q: I work as a Surgical Assistant. I have wondered whether any of your primary cast members have had plastic surgery to facilitate their Alien faces, prosthetics or characters? I have noticed subtle changes in certain characters over the years and wondered if they had surgery, and if so, would this be elective or do you know of any subtle pressure to have this done? Thanks for considering this question...LOVE and RESPECT your work...
tesstalk

MW: I don't know of any of the cast members that have had any elective surgery for any reason.

Q: How many days did Alice Krige have to endure the lengthy makeup process as the Borg Queen?
Rookie

MW: Alice Krige endured her contact lenses, a tight-fitting suit, impaired hearing and many hours in the makeup chair for three weeks. It took 5 hours to do her make-up.

Q: what is the fastest make up you've applied?
TimothyHill

MW: The fastest would probably be a black eye or a cut.

Q: Regarding Alice Krige as the Borg Queen. How long did it take to do that makeup? How did you make such a beautiful actress so sinister yet sexy? What special challenges did that present?
Tuvok74656

MW: Alice was sinister and sexy through her own acting ability and facial features. We just gave her a little bit of make-up to play with. And a tube of KY Jelly.

Q: did you find it a challenge to redesign the borg for the big screen?
TimothyHill

MW: It was not only a challenge, it was high-pressure.

Q: Didn't you also makeup ladies from the Universal Studios Tram Tour with your uncle Perc?
HistBuff

MW: In 1964 I made up women with my Uncle Perce in the basement of the commissary for the Universal Studios Tour, and each week we would see approximately 1000 visitors.

Q: Are you still involved in working with accident victims, helping them do makeup to hide their injuries?
DrJ

MW: Presently I don't have the time to pursue working with accident victims full time, but if called upon, I would always help.

Q: The Westmore family invented motion picture makeup, working with beautiful actresses and handsome actors, but your work with alien creatures seems to be unique. What inspired you to take this path?
Rookie

MW: I was inspired to take the path into Star Trek because I've always been interested in the world of fantasy. My first experience in this, besides The Munsters, was Masters of the Universe. I still enjoy doing a beautiful beauty make-up on a woman and I fondly remember the 2 years I spent with Elizabeth Taylor.

Q: If you are married, does your wife ask you to do the make-up on her?
Surfnerd

MW: I am married, 32 years. I have made up my wife twice. Once to meet her and the other time as a horse for Halloween. I went as Don Quixote and she went as my horse and WON 2nd place.

Q: Do you have a most embarrassing moment related to doing make-up?
Furgerson

MW: I don't have an embarrassing moment, but one time I was pantsed in the make-up room. As soon as my pants hit the floor, I started to scream, thus embarrassing the young lady who pantsed me.

Q: Mister westmore....I would like to know what happens to the makeup appliances once they can no longer be used.....are they sold to collectors...if so , where can I find one....?
LANDRU-1-ONE

MW: The used appliances are destroyed when we're finished with them because they are the property of Viacom. But, in the near future, specific appliances will be available through the Viacom stores.

Q: Do you teach make-up anywhere in your spare time.

MW: In my spare time I sleep. I used to teach at LA Valley College and UCLA, for ten years.

Q: Do you plan to endorse or create your own brand of makeup like Maxfactor?
Surfnerd

MW: I am presently working on a new cosmetic project to be announced in the near future. There are also some appliances available from Rubie's Costumes with the Michael Westmore signature on them.

Q: What part of the body would you say is the most difficult to work on?
Surfnerd

MW: The most difficult parts of the body are areas that are flexible.. particularly the mouth.

Q: You do Kate Mulgrew's makeup every day on Voyager. How is it to do a more typical beauty makeup instead of a Klingon or something?
MichelleRW

MW: I don't find any make-up boring, be it Kate's make-up or a Klingon makeup. You go into each of them with a creative spirit.

Q: Why does Data look so different in the movies than he did on TV?
Zippy

MW: The only reason that Data might look a little different to you is that he's 10 years older now, but Data's make-up and hairstyle is the only one that hasn't changed from the beginning.

Q: Do you often try to improve on the look of certain characters as the star trek series go on? i've noticed, i think, Dax's spots getting darker, also Worf's forehead seemed to change quite a bit in TNG.
k_mcgregor

MW: We do always try and improve on our characters. Dax's spots going darker or lighter may be due to wearing thin towards the end of the day, but Worf's make-up hasn't changed since the 3rd season of TNG. I felt we could stream-line Worf's make-up and make it a bit less busy, thus making the House of Mogh more distinctive.

Q: Do you ever play practical jokes or had them played on you while working on a project?
Furgerson

MW: Yes, I have had practical jokes played on me. One of the biggest was one my wife did before we were married. During a demonstration on stage one day, with 200 people in the audience, she put plastic bugs in all the make-up and scotch-taped all the jars closed. On stage I had to untape and pick bugs out of everything. At the same time she was wearing Gorilla mask and hands, standing in the back of the room, jumping out from behind a post and waving at me. No one could see her but me.

Q: how long from the time you receive a script untill the finished design goes in front of the camera do you have?
TimothyHill

MW: I only have about 2 weeks or less to create and build any alien you see on the Star Trek series.

Q: After all these years on Trek and with your numerous projects, is it still fun? What drives you?
gleknar

MW: The creativity of Star Trek continues to drive me. When it isn't fun... I'll leave.

Q: Have you ever wanted to portray one of your own creations in an episode of Trek? If so, which one?
Furgerson

MW: My creations for Trek are actually specifically designed for the scripts I'm given. I don't try to think ahead. I collect pictures from dozens of different magazines and continue to file them so I have research readily available. I can draw on this at a moment's notice and create a new design.

I think I would like to wear one someday. Since I hate glue, I want to wear something simple. Maybe I'd sit there as Morn.

Q: did you have any input on deniro gaining so much weight in raging bull for the character?
TimothyHill

MW: A rubber stomach was built for Robert DeNiro but he gained weight so fast, it wasn't used. He did all that under a doctor's supervision. During the weight gain period, he stuffed himself with pasta, donuts and chocolate malts.

Q: Do you have any particular genre of movie make-up you like doing the most?

MW: No. I like all types of make-up. Everything that comes along is challenging. I think that's why I've had such an interesting career.

Q: Do you think that digital enhancement of film and television could make work scarce for makeup artists?
LZ

MW: The digital enhancement of film could make less work for make-up artists and I think in the future it will, because there are designs that can be done that we can't put the human body into. Presently, some of the people designing those kinds of designs are make-up artists.

Q: What is your favorite material to work with while creating prosthetics?
TimothyHill

MW: All the materials are used in conjunction with each other. I don't think there's a specific material that stands out. Prosthetics are sculpted with an oil clay, plaster molds are made and the actual piece is made out of foam rubber.

Q: Aethestically speaking, which do you consider to be the most beautiful race you've created?
gleknar

MW: Going back to TNG, there are some humanoid aliens that seem to have a sexy yet alien appearance to them that I think lend to their characters. The Boslic Captain is one, from DS9. In The Perfect Mate, Famke Jansen was where we first started using the spots that would appear on Dax.

Q: Who is your competetion this year for the Academy Awards? Do you feel you will win?
Oscar

MW: Our competition for the Academy Awards this is year the Eddie Murphy film and the Woods film, Ghosts of the Mississippi. I feel we're going to win because Star Trek has something new and unique and very different for the audience and I'm hoping that all those Academy members vote for us.

Thank you, Mr. Westmore, for taking the time from your very busy schedule to chat with us today. This has been a most enjoyable and informative chat.

MW: Thank you very much for having me into your homes and I'll be back... Live Long and Prosper.