Halloween Horror

Special make-up effects long received little attention in Hong Kong. However, since more people are celebrating Halloween, it is distinguished in this commercial city.

Prosthetic makeup, a.k.a. special make-up effects and FX prosthesis, is the process of using different techniques to create advanced cosmetic effects. Since it was first revolutionized by John Chambers in the movies, this technique is widely used in film production. However, in Hong Kong, with few scientific and horror film productions, these special make-up effects artists have no scope for the exercise of their abilities.

Marco Tomato is one of the professional special make-up effects artist in Hong Kong. He first learnt prosthetic makeup in Youth Pre-employment Training Programme.

“Once I tried it (prosthetic makeup), I am obsessed by it,” Marco said.

There are lots of head models in Marco’s studio.

He did his make-up in different events in Hong Kong. For example, he worked in the movie I Come With The Rain in Hong Kong French Film Festival and Ocean Park Halloween. He opened the company Marco Tomato Fx Studio with another make up artist Remex Wu.


Here isn’t a murder scene. Apart from special make-up effects service, Marco also offers photo booth, providing scary costumes for the custumers to take photos.

When he was asked about the difficulties in doing special make-up effects, Marco said the major problem isn’t about the clients.

Companies come and ask Marco to do special make-up for event promotions. (photo credit by Marco Tomata)


“There are only two types of clients, either their ideas are beyond anyone’s imagination so we simply tell them these can never be achieved, or their ideas are practical so go ahead. The problem is there isn’t much business,” he laughed.

“But the situation is definitely better because of the increasing popularity of Halloween.”

More people come and find him to do Halloween make-up, not only for event promotion.

“Once a group of people working in the same company came and asked for prosthetic makeup because they were going to celebrate Halloween together,” he said.

“Some of my clients are big companies but some are normal people who just want to have fun.”

Marco’s company also offers different kinds of courses teaching different prosthetic makeup techniques. A few people are interested.

There are no more than a dozen special make-up artists in Hong Kong. (photo credit by Marco Tomato)

“They are interested in it but no more than “interest”. They see it like a hobby. Few people are really interested in joining this industry,” Marco said.

Marco demonstrates how to make a negative mold.
There are quite a lot of beauty schools in Hong Kong but not all of them provide special make-up effects courses.