On Show

Isobel Shackleton

BA [Hons] Design for Stage + Screen Character MakeUp Design

My name is Isobel Shackleton and I am a graduate of IADT’s Design for Stage and Screen; Character Makeup Design program. In addition to my college degree, I went on an Erasmus to Croatia where I studied costume design and production design for theatre. I am especially skilled in character design, concept design, sculpting, makeup for film, prosthetic design and special effects makeup. I have worked on a multitude of short films and productions, both on a student and professional level over the last four years. I also have a lot of experience in fashion and editorial makeup for photoshoots and music videos.

To introduce my major project, The Bluebird, here is my conceptual video of the first scene where we are introduced to our main characters in the story. Tyltyl and Myltyl are brother and sister who are greeted by the fairy to find the bird that is blue. She gifts them with a magic hat that allows them to see the souls of the objects around them. These characters then become stuck in reality and go with the children on their journey through the magical dream realms to find the Bluebird of happiness. The characters in this script are very unique as many do not have relevance to the story at hand, however they have a symbolic relevance to the rest of the characters in the text. Everything revolves around Tyltyl and Myltyl, they are the representation of man, the other main characters represent aspects of mans psyche or elements needed for mans survival in some form.

**TOP :** *Tyltyl* is the protagonist of the story. He represents man’s progressive and self preservation instincts. He portrays the “hero” character archetype. **BOTTOM:** *Myltyl* is the secondary character of the story. She represents human nature’s timidness and fear. She portrays the “maiden” character archetype.

**TOP:** *The Cat* is a supporting character in the story. He represents influence and effect upon human decisions. He portrays the antagonist of the story. **BOTTOM:** *The Dog* is a supporting character in the story. He represents pure human instinct. He is a devoted character who's only aim is to serve and protect the children.

**TOP:** *Milk* is a supporting character in the text. She is part of the ring of characters who’s symbolic purpose is that they keep man alive. Their text purpose is less apparent. **BOTTOM:** *Light* is a guiding character in the text. She takes on a motherly role to the children and becomes their “guiding light” throughout the story. She also has an air of mystery about her throughout the text suggesting that man has yet to fully unlock all of her secrets.

**TOP:** *Water* is a supporting character in the text. She is part of the ring of characters who’s symbolic purpose is that they keep man alive. Their text purpose is less apparent. Water is an elemental and is less involved in the text and more concerned with her battle against Fire. **BOTTOM:** *Fire* is a supporting character in the text. He is part of the ring of characters who’s symbolic purpose is that they keep man alive. Their text purpose is less apparent. Fire is also an elemental who is more concerned about his battle with Water.

**TOP:** *Bread* is a supporting character in the text. He is part of the ring of characters who’s symbolic purpose is that they keep man alive. Their text purpose is less apparent. **BOTTOM:** *Sugar* is a supporting character in the text. He is part of the ring of characters who’s symbolic purpose is that they keep man alive. Their text purpose is less apparent.

This is a series of promotional images created for my production of *The Bluebird*. I used my final images to create these posters in photoshop as part of my production packet submission. The aim for these images was to be eye-catching and mysterious, leaving the viewer wanting more.

This is my animatic promotional piece created for advertising purposes as part of my production packet submission. This was to be used as a mobile ad or digital vertical billboard . The aim for this piece was to create intrigue and mystery for the viewer.

This is my full animatic storyboard for The Bluebird. This piece of work allows us to see the ever changing set in its entirety and also the characters within the set.

The Bluebird

The Bluebird was a symbolic fairy-play written by Maurice Maeterlinck, premiering on the 30th September 1908 at Konstantin Stanislavski’s Moscow Art Theatre.
Through my research I have found that Maeterlinck was a student of Emanuel Swedenborg, a theologist and mystic, whos teachings influenced the playwright greatly; especially in this text The Bluebird.

To summarize the text; siblings, Tyltyl and Mytyl, are sent by the fairy on a journey to find the bluebird of happiness for the neighbor’s daughter. They are given a hat with a diamond, which upon turning allows them to see the world as it truly is. The children travel to different worlds, along with a host of unusual companions, searching for the bird and overcoming the obstacles along the way.
It is a symbolic play representing mans journey in search of happiness.

I believe that the feeling the play evokes is that of an ethereal mysterious journey to be enjoyed by children and understood by adults.

Character MakeUp Design

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