In the world of television, creating realistic and gruesome makeup effects is an art form that often goes unnoticed. However, the talented Myriam Arougheti, department head makeup artist for 'The Pitt', is here to shed light on the process and the incredible craftsmanship that goes into bringing these gory moments to life.
The Challenge of Season 2
After the success of season 1, which featured heart attacks and burns, Arougheti knew she had to up the ante for the second season of 'The Pitt'. The show's focus on the dramatic lives of doctors at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital demanded even more intense and realistic injuries.
Clamshell Thoracotomy: A Realistic Chest Stab
In the season premiere, a patient is stabbed in the chest with a kitchen knife, and Dr. Garcia performs a thoracotomy. Arougheti explains the challenge of making it look authentic, from the design of the silicone to ensuring the right amount of flexibility. The use of real body parts, like the head and arms, adds to the realism, but it's the attention to detail that truly impresses.
Margarita Burns: A Surprising Reality
Episode 8 introduces us to a patient with 'margarita burns', a real-life condition caused by exposure to citrus fruit and sunlight. Arougheti's research and design process for this makeup was extensive, and the result is a gruesome yet believable representation of this unusual injury. The use of silicone blisters and careful painting techniques adds to the realism, and the team had to strike a delicate balance to avoid it looking comical.
The Head Flap: A Six-Week Challenge
Episode 12 features a head trauma with a 'head flap', a gruesome laceration that required arteries gushing blood and hair shaving. This makeup took a whopping six weeks to build, with detailed processes like casting the head and matching the hair. The challenge was to create a realistic effect while also allowing the actor to perform and react.
Brandon's Knee: A Needle-Penetrating Gag
In episode 6, Brandon's knee laceration required a unique effect where a glowing liquid is injected to check for nerve damage. Arougheti's team had to quickly build a fake leg and create a channel inside the foam to guide the liquid, ensuring it didn't glow the entire leg. The suturing also had to be precise, forming an eight-shape to hold the wound open.
Tongue Laceration: A Retainer-Based Effect
For a tongue laceration in episode 8, Arougheti's team built multiple tongue sizes attached to a retainer. This allowed the actor to move and react naturally, and the longer tongue effect was achieved by simply switching to a larger tongue size.
A Gory Birth: Multiple Elements
The season finale features a wild pregnancy and an emergency C-section. The makeup required a blended prosthetic belly, swollen ankles, and a realistic stomach cut with liquid oozing out. The use of cream cheese as a dupe for vernix was a clever touch, but the real challenge was resetting the entire pregnancy setup for each take.
Conclusion
'The Pitt' showcases the incredible talent and dedication of its makeup team, led by Myriam Arougheti. From realistic injuries to unique effects, their work enhances the drama and immerses viewers in the world of medical trauma. It's a testament to the power of makeup artistry and the often-overlooked craft that brings these stories to life.
