Kazu Hiro, an Oscar-winning prosthetic makeup artist, has dedicated over 30 years of his life to the film industry. As he approaches retirement, the allure of collaborating with incredible creators and filmmakers keeps him engaged. Notable names like Bradley Cooper, Gary Oldman, and Charlize Theron have reignited his passion for the craft, and now it’s the creative vision of Benny Safdie that fuels his enthusiasm.
Hiro’s latest endeavor is with A24’s film "The Smashing Machine," featuring Dwayne Johnson as the real-life MMA fighter Mark Kerr. The film also stars Emily Blunt as Kerr’s wife, Dawn Staples, alongside Bas Rutten, Lyndsey Gavin, and Oleksandr Usyk. This project marks Safdie’s solo directorial debut after previously collaborating with his brother, Josh Safdie.
In "The Smashing Machine," Dwayne Johnson undergoes a stunning transformation that makes him virtually unrecognizable. Hiro, who is set to receive the prestigious TIFF Variety Artisan Award, chuckles at the frequent use of the term "completely unrecognizable" in reference to many of his past transformations, including Cooper into legendary composer Leonard Bernstein and Oldman into Winston Churchill.
Despite the remarkable transformational abilities of prosthetic makeup, Hiro and Safdie opted for a more subtle approach for Johnson’s character. “There will be a lot of physical activity, sweating, and fighting, like a punch in the face,” Hiro explains, emphasizing the importance of maintaining Johnson’s expressions throughout the film. The makeup process for Johnson took an impressive two hours, during which Hiro applied eyebrow covers and reshaped the nose to match Kerr's features.
Hiro also focused on wig design, ensuring that Johnson’s hairline and head shape closely resembled Mark Kerr. In a pivotal scene where Johnson’s character ends up in the hospital missing a tooth, Hiro crafted a quick dental cap. “Once we put the cap on, it broke the color, so VFX had to add what’s behind it later,” he notes.
A daily challenge for Hiro was covering Johnson’s numerous tattoos. Once that was accomplished, he added swelling effects to the eyes, cheeks, and nose, depending on the storyline. However, the sweat from intense fight sequences posed a significant challenge. “His nose would start to peel off, which is unavoidable due to sweat,” Hiro explains. Continuous maintenance was required to keep the makeup intact, particularly during action scenes.
Hiro collaborated closely with German makeup artist Bjoern, who applied products that enhanced the durability of the makeup. Hiro notes that this teamwork was crucial for achieving the desired look for Johnson’s character in "The Smashing Machine."
As for Hiro's future in the industry, he hints at a mysterious new project after "The Smashing Machine." “It’s a crazy project,” he promises, leaving fans eager for what’s next.
The TIFF Variety Artisan Award honors distinguished creatives who have excelled in their craft and made significant contributions to cinema and entertainment. Previous recipients include Clément Ducol & Camille in 2024, Łukasz Żal in 2023, Hildur Guðnadóttir in 2022, Ari Wegner in 2021, Terence Blanchard in 2020, and Roger Deakins in 2019. Hiro’s upcoming recognition underscores his incredible impact on the film industry and the art of prosthetic makeup.
