By Lexi Stewart
Arjen Tuiten, a Dutch Boy With a Dream
In 2000, a Dutch teenager with determination and a passion for makeup FX showed up at the studio doorstep of one of his boyhood heroes, Stan Winston. His name was Arjen Tuiten. Flash forward to 2018 and Arjen has made his own mark in the industry, with his own studio, R-E-N, a Best Makeup Oscar-nomination on Wonder, and a long list of film credits working at some of the top makeup effects studios in Hollywood.
Like many leading artists, Arjen came from humble beginnings. He cites Stan Winston Studio's practical makeup FX for The Terminator as one of his earliest influences. At age ten, he even created his own Terminator out of paper, PVC pipes, and aluminum foil. Years later, he would work on Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines at SWS, achieving the dream of his ten-year-old self.
Jump To Section
- Building a Career in Makeup Effects
- Taking on Wonder (2017)
- Challenges and Solutions
- Behind the ‘Auggie’ Makeup
- Lessons Learned and Looking Forward
(Left: 10-year-old Arjen with his Terminator creation. Right: Arjen working on Terminator 3 at Stan Winston Studio.)
Building a Career in Makeup Effects
While at makeup school in the Netherlands, Arjen absorbed everything he could and began corresponding with makeup pioneer Dick Smith to further his study. At 19, he moved to Los Angeles to work as an intern for creature effects studios, including Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc (ADI) and, eventually, Stan Winston Studio, a work experience that would change his life. Stan soon saw Arjen's potential and wanted him to continue working in the states. Over the next couple years, Arjen honed his skills at SWS on films including Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Tim Burton's Big Fish, and Doom.
Circumstances caused Arjen to move back to Europe temporarily, but it was this apparent setback that led him to work for Barcelona-based FX studio, DDT Efectos Especiales on Guillermo del Toro's masterpiece, Pan's Labyrinth, a relatively low-budget Spanish film that went on to achieve worldwide critical acclaim and box-office success. After Pan's Labyrinth, Winston helped Arjen with his US immigration papers, and Arjen returned to Stan Winston Studio where he worked on Terminator Salvation and Pandorum. "My time with Stan changed my life," said Arjen. "I miss him terribly, and I hope he sees what's going on, not just with me, but with so many SWS artists that have gone on to do great stuff."
(A younger Arjen Tuiten sculpting his homage to Stan Winston.)
With Stan's passing, Arjen continued to work alongside many of Stan's former team at the newly founded Legacy Effects, where he contributed his artistry to films including Alice in Wonderland, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Cowboys & Aliens. Three years later, Arjen was contacted by another one of his makeup effects heroes, Rick Baker, to work on Maleficent, and would continue to work with Baker until he announced his retirement from the film industry in 2015. At that time, Baker encouraged Arjen to go out on his own and start R-E-N Studios. It was also Rick who recommended Arjen for an upcoming job unlike any other. A project called Wonder.
(The character 'Auggie’ as portrayed by Jacob Tremblay in the film Wonder. Image courtesy of Lionsgate.)
Taking on Wonder (2017)
Most makeup artists would run for the hills after hearing the brief for Wonder. The production needed someone to design prosthetics that could convincingly replicate the look of Treacher Collins syndrome on a nine-year-old boy. Additionally, the child actor would have to wear the makeup for forty days!
It was such a daunting task that initially the producers thought it could only be done successfully with visual effects. Arjen fought back and took up the challenge of convincing them he could do it. "Like me, director Stephen Chbosky never saw Auggie as a CGI character but as a real boy in real makeup," recalled Arjen. "I knew a bunch of tests at other places hadn't gone well. But when I read the script, I teared up, and I thought, there has to be a way we can do this as a makeup."
There were huge sighs of relief from everyone on the production team when Arjen presented a successful test makeup. "I remember Stephen cried when he first saw Jacob in the 'Auggie' makeup," said Tuiten. "It did something to him. He was like, 'You just made me cry watching an eight-year-old boy eat potato chips.' You could feel it. Everything turned around. Then he said to me, 'We're gonna make this film.' "
(Jacob Tremblay’s 'Auggie' transformation for Wonder by Arjen Tuiten and his team at R-E-N. Image courtesy of Lionsgate.)
Challenges and Solutions
The next challenge was meeting the lead actor, 11-year-old Jacob Tremblay, and determining if this was something he could do, given his young age. Luckily, his enthusiasm, professionalism, and supportive parents made Arjen's job much more manageable. "I warned Jacob to really prepare for it in his mind," said Tuiten. "This makeup is going to be fun one or two times, but by day twenty, you're going to be really, really tired of it. I asked his parents to help me when that time comes. When he doesn't want to do this."
(Makeup artist Michael Nickiforek and Arjen Tuiten apply the ‘Auggie’ makeup. Image courtesy of R-E-N Studios.)
(Finished prosthetic pieces, ready for application. Images courtesy of R-E-N Studios.)
Despite Jacob's talent and commitment to the character, filming still had its challenges, the most significant being that he was only allowed to work nine hours maximum per day. Given these time constraints, Arjen knew from the start that his makeup design would need to be applied in half the time it usually takes for a transformation of this complexity. Arjen and his team overcame those challenges using a few creative ideas and were able to get the application time down to 75 minutes. "Michael Nickiforek, a Vancouver makeup artist, helped me apply the makeup," said Tuiten. "And we were always trying to make it as comfortable as we could for Jacob." To keep things fun, Arjen added, "When the makeup came off every day, we'd run around, play little pranks and jokes."
(Russell Don Sing working with the molds. Art Sakamoto refining the mechanical skull cap. Images courtesy of R-E-N Studios.)
(Top: Toi Rodchompu working on the ‘Auggie’ wig. Bottom: Aimee Macabeo coloring the wig. Images courtesy of R-E-N Studios.)
Behind the ‘Auggie’ Makeup
'It was a very intricate molding process to get the pieces out," said Tuiten. "But once they were out, it was one piece to slide over his head, which included the neck, chin, and cheeks. Then a forehead piece with the nose and upper lip, and a mechanical carbon fiber skullcap under everything. The skullcap had a wire system that connected eye bag prosthetics to fishing line, which would pull the eyes down. Also, Treacher Collins kids don't really have ears, only under-developed cartilage. So not having to apply prosthetic ears cut 15 minutes off the application time. We pre-painted the pieces as much as we could, and there were only a few edges to blend off in the end."
(Top: Michael Nickiforek pre-painting the pieces. Bottom: The ‘Auggie’ sculpt before and after. Images courtesy of R-E-N Studios.)
Most audiences don't realize that every inch of Jacob Tremblay, from head to shoulders, was covered in silicone prosthetics, including dental prosthetics, contact lenses, and a wig to complete the look. Arjen and the team also had to ensure everything was flexible, to contend with the reality that Jacob was still a growing boy.
(Jacob Tremblay during application vs. the completed ‘Auggie’ makeup. Images courtesy of R-E-N Studios.)
"What an amazing actor. The other kids are great too, but Jacob is something special," said Arjen. "Even if he never does prosthetic makeup again, this character will have a special place in his heart. He'll go on to be famous and handsome and you know, all those things, but 'Auggie' will forever be immortalized on the screen. He'll outlive us all."
(Jacob Tremblay and Julia Roberts in Wonder. Image courtesy of Lionsgate.)
Lessons Learned and Looking Forward
The success of the 'Auggie' makeup earned Arjen a well deserved Oscar nomination earlier this year, proving that passion and willingness to take on a challenge can be worth the effort and hardships. "The main thing that I learned from Stan Winston was to take the challenge, and not be afraid to bounce back from failure," said Tuiten. "With Wonder, I thought of Stan a lot. I had two moments where I really wanted to quit because it was so hard to figure out, and VFX were fighting me. But you find a way. That's what I picked up from Stan, to not be afraid to take on the challenge and push it to another level."
Mentored by industry icons like Dick Smith, Stan Winston, and Rick Baker, Arjen has risen the ranks to become one of the masters of makeup effects working today. Wonder may be behind him now, but it's a job he will cherish and remember for the rest of his life. Busy as ever, he's now moved on to join Angelina Jolie for Maleficent 2. "Stan once said that as long as there are actors, there will be makeup. It helps everybody," recalled Arjen. "Recently Angelina Jolie told me during Maleficent 2, 'I don't always let you know, but without my cheeks and my nose, and horns and ears, I can't find the voice of Maleficent. I NEED to see this in the mirror.' That's the power of makeup. I don't think that will ever leave."
Wonder's 'Auggie' Makeup Team
Makeup Designer - Arjen Tuiten
On-set Application Team - Arjen Tuiten & Michael Nickiforek
R-E-N Studios Team - Art Sakamoto, Steve Koch, J.D Bowers, Bill Sturgeon, Jessica Nelson, Aimee Macabeo, Russell Don Sing, Mr. Ray, Toi Rodchampu, Linda Sturgeon