Claudia - Development - Innocence Lost

My original idea of Claudia stated that I wanted her look to be influenced by 60's horror films - which are provided to her by Mrs Laderman as a ploy to make her identify with these women who are often victims.

The people I found most interesting from these films were actresses Barbara Steele, considered the queen of horror in the 60s, and Mia Farrow (Rosemary's Baby).

I found Barbara Steele's looks in her many horror films most intriguing.

Black Sunday (1960)

The Horrible Dr.Hichock (1962)

The Horrible Dr. Hichock (1962)

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (1962)

I found Steele's character in most of her films, most particularly the two featured above, was often portrayed as a victim. In Black Sunday (1960) she plays a beautiful witch who is burned at the stake and later seeks to exact revenge on her murderers. In Dr.Hichcock (1962) Steele plays Cynthia Hichcock, the second wife of Dr.Hichcock whom intends to kill cynthia to restore his first wife whom he accidentally killed during a sexual funeral game. 

I feel that these characters played by Steele align themselves greatly with my Claudia - who is a victim and manipulated in to something evil due to someone else's influence - which makes her redeemable to the audience - much like Steele's character in Black Sunday who is an innocent turned evil due to her murder. 

I find the make up and hair styling of steele's quite reminiscent of the 60's decade - nude lips,heavy emphasis on the eyes, long lashes, dark prominent brows, a flawless matte complexion, miminal contouring. The hair is very reminsint of 60s styling also, with backcombing at the crown, side fringes. 

It was also suggested to me that I look at the 60s horror film entitled 'Rosemary's Baby' (1968). This was a film I'd heard of but never seen. 

The film is about a young woman called Rosemary (Mia Farrow) who becomes pregnant under very mysterious and frightening circumstances. Strange occurrences begin to happen and Rosemary begins to suspect her neighbours are manipulating her pregnancy. In the end it turns out that her husband and neighbours have been manipulating her in to conceiving a child fathered by the devil. At first after delivering the child, Rosemary fights against this but eventually gives in and the film ends with her cradling the child. 

You liken this story to that of Claudia's as it is about innocence being manipulated and lost. 

Mia Farrow in Rosemarys Baby (1968)

In these images of Mia Farrow you can see how the film makers have tried to influence your perception of the character. She comes across quite naive and innocent, this is created through the use of a very short pixie cut - which gives the impression she's very young - almost like a child - this further emphasises by her often featured in a long, shapeless night gown. Her make up in the film is similar to that of Barbara Steele's. She has very pale, natural looking skin with emphasis on the eyes, pale lips which echo the 60s trend. 

I think ill be taking inspiration from both these characters looks to help create Claudia's person of 'innocence lost' due to mrs ladermans manipulation. I also really like the idea of the night dress in styling - Claudia rarely leaves the house so she wouldn't have the need to wear anything else - this item is also seen in both Rosemarys Baby and films that feature Barbara steele as a victim so i think it would further my representation of tainted innocence.