Xurui Zhang is thankful that there is a great demand for those who work on the other side of the camera in the film industry. Though void of any aspirations to be in front of the lens, Xurui finds great fulfillment in supporting those featured on camera through her work as a hair and makeup artist. She delved into other fields like directing but Xurui feels that her true calling is in helping to shade the performances and character arcs through influencing the appearance of the actors. The films which she has contributed to range from dark thrillers to dramas with societal overtones to comedies. Praised across the globe, the popularity of these productions attest to how beneficial the utilization of Ms. Zhang’s creativity actually is.
Nominations for awards at the Chinese American Film Festival, Marina Del Rey Film Festival, and WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival for I Can’t Run Away indicates that Xurui truly knows how to elevate a character and deliver the greatest emotional impact. This film depicts the racism that many in the Asian community have experienced in America, particularly during the Covid-19 era. Jessica is a young woman who makes the decision to confront her racist bully head on and bring him to justice. Because the story takes place in modern times, Xurui’s overall approach leans towards a natural and clean aesthetic. The subtleties here make a notable difference in character believability. As a recent Chinese immigrant in the US, Jessica’s makeup reflects an Asian influence, but not overly so. Diana, her best friend, embodies a more Euro-American style with a polished appearance. In contrast, the antagonist, Allen, sports a harsher and more menacing look to convey his villainous nature. Overall, the aesthetic of the film’s makeup emphasizes simplicity, authenticity, and character-driven nuances.
2019’s Perfect Resonance is a truly unique film which leans into its Hitchcock-esque inspiration of a murder plot with a surreal twist. Primarily character driven, Xurui once again emphasized the motivational undertones of each of the trio central to the story. This murder mystery plot which revolves around the use of a Rube Goldberg machine in which a piano will be the catalyst to end the life of one of the main characters in an untraceable manner. Luke is the piano playing central character who has found himself pushed to his limits by Ben, the brother of Luke’s deceased wife Scarlett. Ben finds Luke to be an easy target for manipulation with his passive demeanor and somewhat introverted personality. Xurui describes the looks effect in communicating the essence of each character. She states, “Luke is a character who is initially subdued and oppressed, symbolizing his internal struggle and lack of assertiveness. We crafted his appearance to reflect this, with subtle makeup and muted colors, conveying a sense of resignation and vulnerability. As the narrative progresses and Luke undergoes a transformation, we introduced gradual changes to his look, incorporating dishevelled hair and subtle smudges to signify his descent into chaos and madness. Ben embodies rebellion and impulsiveness, serving as a foil to Luke’s passivity. We developed Ben’s look to reflect his rebellious nature, with rugged styling, unkempt hair, and a more intense color palette in his wardrobe and makeup. These visual cues helped to distinguish Ben as a catalyst for conflict within the narrative.” This alignment of the visual aesthetics with the emotional journey of each character massively deepens the audience’s engagement with the story and enhances the overall cinematic experience.
Although completely different in tone, Xurui’s contributions to the comedy Sour Soy Sauce are just as important and essential to achieving the proper tone. She points to the Japanese film “From Today, It’s My Turn” as an influence. Perhaps the most stark evidence of what she created for this film is the transformation of the main character Mao into the image of a Japanese yakuza boss. This strong visage is a powerful offset to the comedy of the story which mainly takes place in a restaurant and revolves around an argument concerning the condiments of said establishment. Blending the world of thugs and heroes, the delineation of these characters is the lynch pin of the entire film. Earning multiple nominations and one win from the Prague International Indie Film Festival, Sour Soy Sauce owes no small amount of its success to the artistry of Xurui Zhang.
Punit