Bishoy Nader studied anthropology, believing he could acquire a livelihood from the study of human biology, cultures and societies one day.
Soon, however, he realized that anthropology would be something of the past for him. This was when he became passionate about something else.
“I have always liked drawing and sculpting,” Nader an anthropologist-turned a movie makeup artist, told the Egyptian Mail.
Nader, 25, had dreamed of charting a course different from this taken by his peers.
He found this unique course in the making of masks. This was even more unique than drawing and sculpting. So, he worked hard to carve a niche for himself in this field.
Like a hardworking student, Nader avidly studied movie makeup effects. He is now a master of makeup tricks. Using his fingers, imagination and a wide range of materials, including foam latex, gelatin and silicone, he can turn a human face into something totally different.
“I was introduced to the world of movie makeup art seven years ago,” Nader said. “This was a good chance for me.
His movie makeup mentor helped him a lot master this art.
Nader and his mentor worked together, which helped him hone his skills speedily.
Nader’s mentor had a special knack for changing people’s facial features. He sometimes merged human and animal features in one face.
Movie makeup art brought Nader face to face with most of the nation’s acting celebrities, such as famous actresses Youssra and HalaSedky and actors Ahmed Amin and LotfyLabib – among others.
However, Covid-19, which negatively affected the cinema industry, in general, also negatively affected Nader’s work.
This caused Nader to change course to earn a living. He had to work with his father in the clothes trade for some time.
“I made successes in the clothes trade,” Nader said. “Nonetheless, I was deeply depressed because I had to stop doing the job I loved the most.”
Throughout all these ups and downs, Nader’s family was his biggest supporter.
“My father was always by my side me,” Nader said. “He was ready to borrow money to buy makeup materials for me so that I can pursue my passion.”
His father bought him materials as a gift one day to help him out of his depression. His mother and sister spent their times also beside him to give him encouragement.
Nader’s first model was a hand fingers-shaped medal. Most of those around Nader admired this work.
Nader now has a long list of clients, both inside and outside Egypt, including in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates.
Hehas his unique way of doing his work. He sculpts masks first, then he makes stamps, using fiberglass materials, before using silicone gel and colouring the final shape.
“Haired and mustachioed masks usually take a long time to make,” Nader said.
When making a beard, for example, he has to fix the hair on the chin one by one.
This is why masks of old males take more time to make than masks of old women because the male masks usually have more details than those of females, including, in some cases, the moustache and the beard.
Nader draws his different characters by his imagination before he starts actual masking-making.
“I always try to imagine the characters, including their facial details,” Nader said. “I try to visualize details, such as the neck,the cheeks, wrinkles, the eyes and the ears.”
The time Nader takes to make masks usually depends on the details in each mask. Some of the masks take ten days to make, others 15.
Nader now has a team of assistants who help him do his work.
He keeps growing and building a reputation as a professional mask-maker and a movie makeup artist.
He dreams of making a big name in the local and international cinema industry.
“I hope I can participate in as many films locally and international as possible,” Nader said. “This will satisfy my obsession with doing the thing I like the most in life.”
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