Behind the scenes of the Vietnamese indigenous costume transformation in Kong: Skull Island

Makeup artist Tuan Tu was one of the Vietnamese collaborators on makeup for the Kong: Skull Island film crew when they came to Ninh Binh to film in late February 2016.

Tuan Tu and a team of domestic experts worked on set for four days, during the filming of the project, which featured Vietnamese extras playing indigenous people.

According to Mr. Tú, the makeup process begins with the artists using silicone makeup molds shipped from Australia. These are then glued onto the actors' bodies using an adhesive..Afterward, the technicians remove all the trim and have to redecorate, checking for any missing areas to fill in.

Next, the actor had to be transformed from a person with fair skin into a native living a wild life. Every millimeter of the character's skin, from freckles and age spots to even the smallest details, was meticulously cared for. Each fingernail and toenail was also darkened to match the role. After filming, removing the makeup with warm water and the intricate details took up to 30 minutes. All of this was done under the close supervision of a foreign crew.

Anh Tú and another expert focused on applying makeup to a Vietnamese girl who would play the role of a native guide for the main characters. This was one of the most important characters among the extras, with many scenes and lines of dialogue.

The filming process lasted two days. On the first day, after the makeup was applied, the Vietnamese actors rehearsed, and the actual filming took place the following day. The indigenous people in the distant scenes only needed minimal makeup, but for the actors in close-up shots, the time spent on each person ranged from 4 to 6 hours.

Makeup artist Tuan Tu applies makeup to a Vietnamese female extra at a film studio in Ninh Binh. Photo: Tuan Tu.

Anh Tú recounted that the fee he received from the Hollywood film crew was equivalent to the combined earnings of several days working with numerous Vietnamese film crews. In return, he underwent an extremely rigorous work process and adhered to schedules down to the minute.

"When we arrived at the film set, every morning someone would wake us up, take us to the car for breakfast, then to the work room. We'd rest a little at lunchtime and then continue working in the afternoon. The members from Vietnam had to sign many confidentiality agreements. Every position on set was constantly monitored, and those taking pictures were required to delete their photos immediately," Tú recounted.

There were ten chefs and five containers serving food for the film crew. Hollywood stars like Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, and Samuel L. Jackson were all friendly and sociable. They ate together with the entire crew, from the technical team to the Vietnamese extras.

However, there's an "unwritten" rule: don't disturb the stars during the meal. Lacking experience with international work, many Vietnamese people approached to ask for photos as souvenirs. The stars smiled, but the people told their security guards to intervene.

The indigenous village is set in Ninh Binh province in "Kong: Skull Island".

Filming for the blockbuster Kong: Skull Island began in October 2015 in Hawaii (USA). In December, the film crew moved to Australia and worked there for a month. Vietnam was the final destination. Filming began in Phong Nha - Ke Bang (Quang Binh) on February 23, 2016, and finished the final scenes in Ha Long - Cat Ba at the end of March. The production budget for this blockbuster was $190 million.

Kong: Skull Island is scheduled to be released to audiences on March 10th under the title Kong: Skull Island.

According to VNE