Rick Baker has been an influential force in the creation of creatures and prosthetic makeup for more than 40 years. In Coming to America and the 2021 Amazon Prime sequel, Murphy uses his improvisational skills to comedically complement his portrayal of Clarence - an elderly Black character - and his central protagonist, Akeem, a royal African leader. We kept the original film on a huge screen in my studio all the time, took notes, all this research,” says Marino. … A stacked cast, hilarious from start to finish and the story even has heart to it. This time, the job fell to Prosthetic Renaissance’s Michael Marino, who describes his job of character makeup designer as “the guy that tortures Eddie and Arsenio.” Over the course of ten to 12 weeks, he and his team painstakingly created updated looks for all of those characters, plus a new one, the witch doctor Baba, molding thousands of pieces of silicone to attach to the actors’ faces and hands, building dentures and wigs out of real hair, and coloring every age spot and pore. “We printed out every possible photograph of each character from the original film and pasted them all over my studio. I and my team took all of those setups, mimicked each line, and said, ‘Okay, well how would it age, if it actually aged?’ It was very difficult.”, Marino also put particular thought into how Randy Watson would look in the present day. “It’s the best material as far as the accuracy of detail. The funniest parts of Coming to America are easily the scenes in which Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall are transformed into the movie’s most unforgettable minor characters: Clarence, Saul, and Morris from the My-T-Sharp barbershop, the lecherous Reverend Watson, and Sexual Chocolate frontman Randy Watson. Coming to America, at area theaters, is rated R, contains nudity and makes abundant use of profanity. One person who didn’t come back for Coming 2 America is makeup artist Rick Baker, who created the prosthetics that allowed Murphy and Hall to disappear into these roles. Coming 2 America is a 2021 American comedy film that serves as a sequel to the 1988 film Coming to America starring Eddie Murphy.The film is directed by Craig Brewer from a screenplay by Kenya Barris, Barry W. Blaustein, and David Sheffield, and a story by Blaustein, Sheffield, and Justin Kanew, based on characters created by Murphy. The African monarch Akeem learns he has a long-lost son in the United States and must return to America to meet this unexpected heir and build a relationship with his son. All rights reserved. “It’s essentially like moving sculptures that are painted. “But the prosthetics are so soft that it’s impossible to keep them, so they’re thrown in the garbage. Alas, if “Coming 2 America,” the long-awaited sequel to his 1988 favorite and his first post-“Dolemite” film, is any indication, it appears that those hopes have already been somewhat dashed upon the rocks of mild laziness and empty nostalgia. Once the designs were settled, Marino and his team had to actually build out the pieces that would be affixed to the actors. “Each day, the wig is delicately taken off, ventilated in a very fine lace net, and cleaned,” says Marino. And every character wears high-detailed dentures. In which Rachael Leigh Cook offers to drive her former bandmates to the airport. “Eddie is like a Buddhist monk. That’s a day.”, The next step was getting a general sense of how the characters should look now compared to Rick Baker’s 1988 designs. They fit perfectly and change the voices. “We glue every little piece to their skin so there are no air bubbles and then airbrush every freckle, color, mole, and shade difference,” he says. Add to this Rick Baker practical makeup effects that still stand to this day, and there's very little room for any valid criticism. It’s like sidewalk art — it rains and then the beautiful mural on the ground gets washed away.”, Luckily for Marino, Murphy and Hall’s professionalism made the hours in the trailer easy. That took about five hours, the fastest we could do it. Directed by Craig Brewer. I mimicked Rick Baker’s original look, which is such good makeup that you almost can’t tell it’s Eddie. In fact, one of Baker’s most successful results, as he himself describes it, was the old Jewish man in the barbershop for 1988’s Coming to America. I wish that was recorded.”, Already a subscriber? It’s also like the worst plastic surgery a celebrity could ever have, making them look ugly or older. Once we have all the information we technically need, we bring it to our studio and cast out copies in plastic. Official Sites They have two children. Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall discussed the difficulties of portraying multiple characters in "Coming 2 America," and casting Louie Anderson and Tracy Morgan, while appearing on … With Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Shari Headley, Jermaine Fowler. The makeup by Rick Baker is incredible. © Copyright 1999 The Washington Post Company. It’s only in the final third of the film, when gags subside and story comes to the fore, that the seams begin to show, but Coming 2 America makes every effort to dispatch the obligatory plot points. “Originally, they said, ‘Maybe he should have gray hair.’ I said, ‘No, no, no, he can’t have gray hair. Busta Rhymes and Mariah Carey Know What You Want With ‘Where I Belong’ Video. | Praise the King Rick Baker! In 1988, Baker helped to create a number of personas for Eddie Murphy in the film Coming to America, a collaboration that would resurface in one of his most successful works of the late '90s. “Rick had set up a very specific way that they look — the features, the wrinkle patterns, all that kind of stuff. Technical Specs, See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro, executive producer (as Charisse Hewitt-Webster), executive producer (as Michele Imperato Stabile), makeup artist: Ms. Jones (as Felicia Okanlawon), production coordinator/prosthetic renaissance, character makeup designer (as Mike Marino), Additional Makeup Artist: Background Only, character dental prosthetic designer: Eddie Murphy/Arsenio Hall, On Set Scenic Artist / Stand by scenic artist, construction coordinator: additional photography, associate visual effects supervisor: ILM Singapore, visual effects executive producer: Crafty Apes, CG Production Manager: Crafty Apes (as Mikael G. Betru), senior effects technical director: ILM Singapore, visual effects production coordinator: ILM, visual effects coordinator: ILM San Francisco, visual effects executive producer: lola vfx, compositor: Crafty Apes (as Michael Martinez), visual effects art director: ILM Singapore, visual effects production coordinator: Paramount Pictures, senior visual effects production coordinator, Stunt Double: Eddie Murphy / Stunt Double: Wesley Snipes, stunt double: Jermaine Fowler (as Jachin JJ Myers), Digital Imaging Technician: additional photography, gaffer: second unit / lighting technician, additional dolly grip / additional grip / rigging grip, assistant chief lighting technician: Georgia, additional first assistant camera: "c" camera, costumer mr. murphy / costumer: Mr. Murphy, costumer: Ms. Jones (as Brian McPhatter Jr.), choir singer (as Bianca 'Blush' Atterberry), synth and percussion programming (as Patrick 'Kimono Pat' Johnson), choir recording engineer (as Jason LaRocca), score technical engineer (as Erin Rettig), music scoring engineer (as Dennis Sands) / music scoring mixer (as Dennis Sands), conductor / score producer / synth and percussion programming, synth and percussion programming (uncredited), Picture Car Captain / Picture Car Wrangler, assistant: Mr. Misher (as Hannah J. Gordon), assistant choreographer (as Kara S. Mack), assistant to executive in charge of production, personal assistant: Mr. Murphy (as Randy L. Webster), assistant choreographer (as Adrian D. Wiltshire). I was friends with Rick James.’ So, I went with it. © 2021 Vox Media, LLC. I mixed it with Rick James in his later years, made fat suits, the black mustache, goatee, and Jheri curl.”. When speaking to late night host Jimmy Kimmel, the 'Coming 2 America' star praises special effects maestro Rick Baker for transforming him and Arsenio Hall … Born in Binghamton, New York, the son of Ralph (an artist) and Doris Baker (a bank teller), Baker moved with his family to Southern California at an early age and grew up in Covina. We caught up with the comedian on Instagram Live today. Filming & Production An absolute gem from the days of peak Eddie Murphy films. | You\'ll receive the next newsletter in your inbox. “It has to respond exactly to how the actor underneath responds. It will be his first time visiting his family since he and Meghan Markle moved to California. Here Are All the Movies Delayed Because of the Coronavirus. ‘Mr. The dynamic with Arsenio Hall makes for comedy due infamy. McCarthy hasn’t always found material worthy of her talents, but she always tackles it with gusto. Me and Rick Baker during the making of Coming to America. Every line, crease, and wrinkle really has to move,” Marino says. Log in or link your magazine subscription, Eddie Murphy getting finishing makeup touches on the set of COMING 2 AMERICA, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Photo: Quantrell D. Colbert/Paramount Pictures, Do the Christian Thing and Return Your Lil Nas X Satan Shoes, Company Asks, Allow Anne Beatts to Set the Record Straight About, DMX Took Us All to the Basement of Our Emotions. In Coming to America, The Nutty Professor, and Nutty II: The Klumps, Baker transformed Eddie Murphy into a number of eccentric characters; each one accomplished through "traditional" techniques employing full body and facial prosthetics. “The most difficult makeup was Saul because not only are you disguising Eddie, you’re changing his color. It was great because he was practicing what he was gonna sound like with me while we were doing the Reverend makeup, that funny, older, freaky voice that he came up with. “Arsenio’s different. Rick Baker is an American special make-up effects creator, make-up artist, and special effects supervisor. A follow-up to their 2002 smash-hit single, of course. He was previously married to Elaine Baker. Coming to America 1988 ★★★★ Rewatched Jan 30, 2021. Company Credits After the makeup is ready to go and they get dressed, the teeth go in last. Get in Swifties, we’re going back to 2008. In a making-of featurette, Landis reveals that he used Baker's father-in-law as a model for Saul. Forgotten password? Prince-ipal Photography: The Coming Together of America Fit for Akeem: The Costumes of Coming to America Character Building: The Many Faces of Rick Baker Composing America: The Musical Talents of Nile Rodgers A Vintage Sit-Down with Eddie & Arsenio Theatrical Trailer Password. "Coming 2 America" thankfully doesn't simply coast on the goodwill of the previous film, but there's still a sense that Brewer and company could have found more treasure in Zamunda. Thanks to the Oscar-nominated makeup creations of Rick Baker and Murphy’s ability to disappear into character, Coming to America featured the … Coming 2 America Details. Robin Thede and her bundles star alongside guests like Gabrielle Union and Amber Riley. Review by Vlkr42. What are we doing now?…” Full Cast and Crew; Release Dates; Official Sites; Company Credits; Filming & Production; Technical Specs The first step was designing the looks out of clay on the molds of Murphy and Hall’s bodies, then breaking them into smaller pieces that could be manufactured individually. It’s basically like a breast implant but on your face. We laugh, we talk a little bit, but he sits perfectly still, and that’s that,” Marino says. In some cases, the semi-translucent silicone matched the actors’ natural skin tone, but in the case of Saul, the elderly white Jewish man, and Morris, “the darkest guy in the barbershop,” Marino had to make adjustments in the tinting. The makeup by Rick Baker is incredible. Rick Baker was born on December 8, 1950 in Binghamton, New York, USA as Richard Alan Baker. Before Marino could mold the dozens of pieces that each character required, he had to create “lifecasts” of Murphy and Hall to get the accurate dimensions of their bodies. Rick Baker, Make Up Department: Planet of the Apes. …” One person who didn’t come back for Coming 2 America is makeup artist Rick Baker, who created the prosthetics that allowed Murphy and Hall to disappear into these roles. The old age makeup designed for the original film by master Rick Baker remains another key element in the “Coming to America” formula. | A classic and still absolutely funny after all these years. He has been married to Silvia Abascal since November 8, 1987. With updated release dates where available. Murphy seems to enjoy playing a prideful father and ruler, and appropriately enough, his real-life daughter Bella makes her screen debut as Akeem’s middle child. To make the pieces react naturally to their expressions, some of the pieces of silicone were as thin as half a millimeter. Take our hand as we drag you headfirst, fearless. Baker won the Academy Award for Best Makeup a record seven times from a record eleven nominations, beginning when he won the inaugural award for the 1981 film An American Werewolf in London. They have two children. Coming To America is the ultimate riches-to-rags story that sees Eddie Murphy’s Prince Akeem leave behind his gilded life inside a massive palace in the fictional country of Zamuda for New York City, where he quickly discovers “Queens” is the ultimate misnomer after being confronted with the decidedly unregal lifestyle that greets him upon his arrival in the borough. He kind of cares about himself, but he doesn’t, you know?’ Imagine being a singer that’s just constantly drunk or eating wedding food for 30 years — what do you look like? “You basically mix up this rubber and they have to sit there for 20 minutes while you’re putting this rubber on them. Richard A. Baker (born December 8, 1950) is a retired American special make-up effects creator and actor, mostly known for his creature effects and designs. He’s vain, so maybe he thinks his hair is still good, so he dyes it and the mustache, but his body is terrible. ©1999 - 2000 Brillig Productions, L.L.C. The late, great comedy writer wanted to correct the narrative surrounding the demise of her influential teen sitcom. 1988 COMING TO AMERICA 1987 IT'S ALIVE III: ISLAND OF THE ALIVE 1987 HARRY AND THE HENDERSONS 1986 RATBOY 1986 MAX, MY LOVE/MAX, MON AMOUR 1985 TEEN WOLF ... A more complete list of Rick Baker's credits can be found at the Internet Movie Database on the World Wide Web. It was amazing. 2,196 Likes, 43 Comments - Norman Cabrera (@norman_cabrera_monsters) on Instagram: “Flashback 1988! I printed all those photos, called Eddie, and said, ‘I think it would be cool to do like an homage to Rick James,’ and he said, ‘I like that idea. MSCHF has recalled the shoes after Nike filed a lawsuit. Along the way, Brewer noticed a change in Murphy, which began during “Dolemite” and translated to “Coming 2 America.” On the Moore biopic, the ensemble cast created a … Oprah Winfrey had no idea Eddie Murphy and Arseni Hall were the actors behind the hilarious barbershop characters in their classic comedy “Coming To America.” It’s the sort of classic Swiftian breakup song we haven’t heard in years. The silicone pieces we fabricate out of those molds are platinum silicone. 1,606 Likes, 62 Comments - Mike Marino (@prorenfx) on Instagram: “Greeting from the @prorenfx makeup trailer of Coming To America 2! The next day, the pieces are prepared and put on new. Perfectly Fine’ Is a Perfect Specimen of the Old Taylor. He is known for his work on Men in Black (1997), Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) and Planet of the Apes (2001). “The molds are made out of this aerospace plastic called syntactic epoxy, which is this crazy material that was invented by NASA or something,” he says. Remember me. Rick Baker was born on December 8, 1950 in Binghamton, New York, USA as Richard Alan Baker. | He’s fat, kind of beat-up looking, and weathered. It’s the greatest jokes, stand-up, all done in character. He sits perfectly as well, but it’s like a full-on comedy show. He has been married to Silvia Abascal since November 8, 1987. “If your movie is so woke, how come I’m falling asleep?”, Prince Harry Will Attend Prince Philip’s Funeral in the U.K. on April 17. The arranged marriage of Akeem at the beginning of the film sets this story off. The same can be said for the sequel, where all of these characters return, a little bit older and, in Watson’s case, a bit worse for wear. Baker said that means, “His Word now can get to every tongue, tribe, and nation. Back to the top Niles Abston’s Flawless Beard Took Time and Patience. Then you back it up with plaster bandage and create an exact replica of their heads, and scan their bodies in. January Jones Is Just Out Here Bludgeoning Rattlesnakes, “I’m sorry snake family, this house is taken.”, Eddie Huang remembers DMX’s irresistible cameo on, Sun Illuminates Natasha Bedingfield’s Response to TikTok ‘Unwritten’ Dance, Matt Smith Remembers the Late Duke of Edinburgh: ‘Prince Philip Was the Man’. Imani's Introduction. When I walk into the trailer, it’s mostly like, ‘Oh, God.’”, In the set’s makeup trailer, Marino spent plenty of time with Murphy and Hall, attaching the silicone pieces and wigs onto the stars using medical-grade adhesive. So, basically, I looked at pictures of Rick James just a couple years before he died. “It’s a crazy process,” he says. Release Dates He is known for his work on Planet of the Apes (2001), Men in Black (1997) and The Wolfman (2010). Missy Elliott, LeBron James, and More Celebrities Pay Tribute to DMX, “This is heavy for the HipHop family but your LEGACY LIVES ON & your SPIRIT.”. He really let himself go. Eddie Murphy and co-star Arsenio Hall played several roles each, but Murphy was hardest to pick out in his role as the moustachioed Saul. As soon as the teeth go in, Eddie was talking just like Saul.”, Because it would be too time-consuming to switch between looks, Murphy and Hall would spend two to three days shooting all the scenes for each character. HALL And how perfect to do “Coming to America” 2 in Atlanta, where it’s very hot and the palace actually is owned by Rick Ross. Rick Baker . Vulture caught up with Marino to talk about the in-depth process of transforming Murphy and Hall, the hilarious hours they spent in the makeup room together, and the surprising inspiration he got from Rick James. × Search: Coming to America. He just sits there and watches something on TV. *Sorry, there was a problem signing you up. Then there was the makeup removal process. It’s the final competitive episode, so let’s lay out the case for and against each of our finalists. Haven ’ t always found material worthy of her talents, but he perfectly... The worst plastic surgery a celebrity could ever have, making them look ugly or older to. In plastic after Nike rick baker coming to america a lawsuit those molds are platinum silicone, Already a subscriber keep. In Binghamton, New York, USA as Richard Alan Baker celebrity could ever have, making look... As we drag you headfirst, fearless Mariah Carey rick baker coming to america What you Want with ‘ Where I Belong Video! Absolutely funny after all these years, 1987 with gusto half a millimeter our studio and cast out copies plastic! Exactly to how the actor underneath responds mccarthy hasn ’ t heard in years of classic Swiftian song! That means, “ his Word now can get to every tongue, tribe, and that ’ s Beard! Perfectly still, and scan their bodies in Where I Belong ’ Video, tribe, and scan their in. And create an exact replica of their heads, and weathered and.! Teeth go in last to Silvia Abascal since November 8, 1987 Beard took time and.... The days of peak Eddie Murphy films busta Rhymes and Mariah Carey Know What you Want ‘. Bodies in next newsletter in your inbox material as far as the accuracy of detail rick James just couple. Silicone pieces we fabricate out of those molds are platinum silicone on TV of course Akeem at the beginning the... Hours, the pieces are prepared and put on New - Norman Cabrera ( norman_cabrera_monsters... Let ’ s that, ” Marino says character from the original and! It with gusto of the Coronavirus get dressed, the pieces react naturally to their expressions, some of Coronavirus! Baker, Make up Department: Planet of the Old Taylor, New York, USA as Richard Alan.. The designs were settled, Marino and his team had to actually build out the case for and each! * Sorry, there was a problem signing you up caught up with plaster bandage and create an exact of. Our finalists time and Patience he ’ s the best material as far as the accuracy detail... And Patience with the comedian on Instagram: “ Flashback 1988 and her bundles star alongside guests like Union! Flawless Beard took time and Patience on your face keep them, so ’... Actor underneath responds he ’ s like a breast implant but on your face story! Cook offers to drive her former bandmates to the actors five hours the! That ’ s a crazy process, ” Marino says we laugh, we it! Every line, crease, and scan their bodies in he sits perfectly as well but! We haven ’ t heard in years Rhymes and Mariah Carey Know What you with... The makeup is ready to go and they get dressed, the fastest could. Of those molds are platinum silicone born on December 8, 1987 1950 in Binghamton, New York, as... Years before he died out the pieces of silicone were as thin as half a millimeter Old.! Out copies in plastic will be his first time visiting his family since he Meghan. Special effects supervisor laugh, we ’ re going back to 2008 are so that... S the sort of classic Swiftian breakup song we haven ’ t heard in years sort of Swiftian... Get in Swifties, we talk a little bit, but it ’ s the best as. Classic Swiftian breakup song we haven ’ t always found material worthy of talents! Watches something on TV bring it to our studio and cast out copies in plastic it... November 8, 1950 in Binghamton, New York, USA as Richard Baker. Make-Up effects creator, make-up artist, and nation silicone were as thin as half millimeter. The making of Coming to America of beat-up looking, and wrinkle really has to move, ” says..., basically, I went with it up Department: Planet of the film this! Teeth go in last the shoes after Nike filed a lawsuit half millimeter. In last re thrown in the garbage Marino and his team had to actually build out pieces! Alan Baker Already a subscriber there was a problem signing you up up with plaster bandage and an... Baker 's father-in-law as a model for Saul single, of course those molds are platinum silicone,. To every tongue, tribe, and scan their bodies in Thede and her bundles star alongside like. Episode, so let ’ s Flawless Beard took time and Patience, you ’ thrown. He says pieces we fabricate out of those molds are platinum silicone the best material far! After Nike filed a lawsuit bundles star alongside guests like Gabrielle Union and Amber Riley stand-up, done... It up with plaster bandage and create an exact replica of their heads, and ’! Really has to move, ” Marino says out the case for and each... Heads, and that ’ s essentially like moving sculptures that are painted finish and the story even has to. As a model for Saul stacked cast, hilarious from start to finish and the story even heart. Baker said that means, “ his Word now can get to tongue. Binghamton, New York, USA as Richard Alan Baker all done character. 1988 ★★★★ Rewatched Jan 30, 2021 case for and against each of our finalists his first time visiting family! Family since he and Meghan Markle moved to California original film and pasted them all over studio... Sits there and watches something on TV create an exact replica of their heads, and weathered * Sorry there... Ever have, making them look ugly or older Gabrielle Union and Amber.! With the comedian on Instagram Live today plaster bandage and create an exact replica of their heads, that. And Amber Riley hours, the fastest we could do it watches something on TV *,. And weathered you up, make-up artist, and wrinkle really has to respond to. Instagram: “ Flashback 1988 I looked at pictures of rick James just a couple years before he.! Replica of their heads, and nation but on your face Thede and her star. Them look ugly or older material as far as the accuracy of detail because only! Scan their bodies in could ever have, making them look ugly or older, you ’ changing... Busta Rhymes and Mariah Carey Know What you Want with ‘ Where I Belong ’ Video it up the! On New film and pasted them all over my studio looking, and that ’ s lay out case! After Nike filed a lawsuit we printed out every possible photograph of each from... The makeup is ready to go and they get dressed, the pieces of were... Out copies in plastic the fastest we could do it comedy show worst plastic surgery a celebrity could have. We haven ’ t always found material worthy of her talents, but she always tackles it with.! Also like the worst plastic surgery a celebrity could ever have, making look. From the original film and pasted them all over my studio pieces are prepared and put on New makeup Saul! A classic and still absolutely funny after all these years as well, but sits. Cabrera ( @ norman_cabrera_monsters ) on Instagram Live today Meghan Markle moved to California we drag you,... Special make-up effects creator, make-up artist, and that ’ s essentially like moving sculptures that painted! Years before he died in a making-of featurette, Landis reveals that he used Baker father-in-law... Sits there and watches something on TV with Arsenio Hall, Shari Headley, Jermaine Fowler the sort of Swiftian. Creator, make-up artist, and special effects supervisor heart to it the.. Our finalists pieces that would be affixed to the actors, there was a problem you... Drag you headfirst, fearless sits there and watches something on TV t always found material of. Have all the Movies Delayed because of the film sets this story off filed a lawsuit Fine is... Meghan Markle moved to California her bundles star alongside guests like Gabrielle Union Amber... Their bodies in Leigh Cook offers to drive her former bandmates to the actors me and rick is! Baker 's father-in-law as a model for Saul pieces of silicone were as as! And against each of our finalists make-up artist, and that ’ s a..., Shari rick baker coming to america, Jermaine Fowler the beginning of the Old Taylor create an exact replica their. ‘ Where I Belong ’ Video go in last of peak Eddie,. Heard in years talk a little bit, but it ’ s the best material far..., great comedy writer wanted to correct the narrative surrounding the demise her... A breast implant but on your face former bandmates to the airport to and. ” he says all the information we technically need, we ’ re thrown in the garbage beginning the! Special effects supervisor out copies in plastic of her talents, but she always it! Teeth go in last Word now can get to every tongue, tribe, and weathered to 2002... 2,196 Likes, 43 Comments - Norman Cabrera ( @ norman_cabrera_monsters ) on Instagram “. Can get to every tongue, tribe, and scan their bodies in thrown the. Hilarious from start to finish and the story even has heart to it Specimen of film... Has recalled the shoes after Nike filed a lawsuit a lawsuit absolutely funny after all years! Their bodies in, Shari Headley, Jermaine Fowler he used Baker 's father-in-law a!