The Innocent Hunchback: Complete Prosthetic Character Transformation
Hello! I'm Isabelle from Los Angeles, and my creative partner Adam and I collaborated on an original take on the Hunchback of Notre Dame, most notably inspired by Charles Laughton's iconic 1939 portrayal.
Victor Hugo described his character as having "that mixture of malice, astonishment, and melancholy" - but we wanted to explore a different emotional direction. What if this character had retained more innocence and childlike wonder despite his physical challenges- Our interpretation focuses on capturing his gentle spirit while staying true to the character's essence.
CONCEPT & COLLABORATION: We concepted and manufactured all prosthetics here in LA in our private studio. Adam handled the sculpture design, mold making, and silicone skin running, while I created his custom dental appliance, a custom colored wig, and handled all pre-painting and application. I also applied lace brows and silicone ears to complete the transformation. Adam also served as our model, bringing our vision to life through his compelling performance of the character.
As Hugo wrote, "The saints were his friends and blessed him; the monsters were his friends and kept watch over him."
Work created by Isabelle Anana (@greasepaintgirl) & Adam Conte (@adamcontefx)
Inspired by Victor Hugo's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1831) and Charles Laughton's 1939 performance
Los Angeles, CA
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