The Orient Express

Last Friday I received the final male prototype mask from "the new company" - the Asian mask. They will have a launch with three male and two female masks.

When I was discussing this mask with the principals, I said that I wanted to be a bit more versatile with it. I wanted a very smooth, shiny head with no stubble. In this way, I could wear a wig with it, or go for the Asian gangster look. As with the young black guy and the older white guy, the company is going for "average" rather than handsome. Sigh ... so much for Takeshi Kaneshiro ...

As far as the facial hairing went, I wanted to have a little bit of stubble on the upper lip and chin. You often see young Asian guys with a (very) little bit of stubble on their face, so I wanted to emulate that particular look. I also told the folks there that I wanted a bit more of a golden cast to the skin, versus the paler Han-type complexion you see in northern China.

Pulling off a truly realistic Asian face over a Caucasian one is sort of like the Holy Grail of mask-making. The Asian face has some slightly different proportions than your typical white guy, and getting those two to blend (as well as having a proper epicanthic fold on the upper eyelid) is a feat in itself.

I'm happy to say that they did it. Big time.

I couldn't wait to get home and try it on. I barricaded my office door and slipped it over my head. I couldn't believe how well the mask fit, how it moved and how excellently the eyes were done. Well ... after seeing both of their other prototypes, I wasn't too surprised. I did a photoshoot this weekend with all of the bells and whistles - little bit of eye makeup, brown contacts and wig (actually two - I got them on ebay).

I definitely got a sort of Korean or southeast Asian feel to the mask so "Dac Kien Nguyen" or "Darren Nguyen" was born.

This mask - along with my SPFX Player Mask as a prison inmate - effected one of the most amazing total  transformations I have ever done. Staring at myself in the mirror, I really saw a good-looking Asian guy looking back at me.

Here are some samples:

I then decided to do a more stylish portion of the shoot. I had a midnight blue shirt from Express and a pair of black linen Armani pants which I thought would look great together. All the ab workouts are paying off handsomely since I actually surprised myself how trim around the waist I've become...

A pair of lightly tinted sunglasses also provide a great look - just enough to barely obscure the eyes:

And finally, I wanted to see how Darren would look without a wig. I probably should have changed the outfit, but it was getting late and I had errands to run. I'd say he looks just as good bald as he does with a nice thick shock of hair!

I posted these (as well as some additional) pics on Facebook. Overall, the response has been great. So far, I think  my favorite comment has been:

Damn, you look like Bruce Lee LOL. You really look Asian. To be honest I was never convinced that any company could create an Asian mask, but now I am wrong. You just look Asian buddy. Amazing!

Candid shots: Rian and Graham

After dispatching Jordan Abbott, Rian and Graham decide to take a holiday together in Mallorca. 

Jason snaps a picture of the two in the pool.

Photo Study #12 - Dumb and Dumber - But Smokingly HOT

On February 14 of this year, a pair of dark skinned robbers made use of Composite Effect's "Mac" mask to disguise themselves as white cops and rob a check cashing store of $200,000. 

This story recently made the New York Post, and from there went viral to several other locations - the Boston Herald, the Washington Times, the Huffington Post, as well as news outlets in Europe and several prominent websites.

I had ordered a Mac with the same characteristics as the "Convict Mac" and decided I should do a "before the robbery" shoot.

We begin, then, with our intrepid criminal-to-be half-naked and about to start his morning jack-off session:

After shooting his load, "Edward" slips on a jock and ponders the actions he is soon to undertake:

The die is cast ... he needs to get dressed and get ready to meet his partner in crime,  Akeem. Edward's guardian angel (who at this point in his celestial life has but a little fringe of white hair left, a permanent twitch and a serious drinking habit) tries a final time to convince him otherwise. You can see that a fleeting pang of conscience occupies Edward's mind - but alas, it does not deter him.

He continues.

Now for his gat ... a dark Beretta 92 with the serial number filed off. He checks the clip of that intimidating piece of black steel, slams it home into the handle and tucks the gun into the small of his back.

A windbreaker completes his outfit; the slightly baggy jacket hides the bulge of the gun as well as his well-muscled body ... and in a case of nerves, he pulls out the gun once more to double-check it.

He stares at his reflection  - the transformation is nothing short of amazing. A handsome, rugged looking white guy stares back at him. Not bad. Not bad at all. he thinks to himself. He aims the gun at the man in the mirror and smiles. The white guy grins back at him. 

"You're gonna do just fine, man..." and he again tucks the gun into the waistband of his pants.

But due to a number of incredibly sloppy screwups, the duo are  caught. 

This incident has been a great source of publicity for the company and has also generated the new, unofficial tagline:

"Masks so good, it's a crime."

The Codex

Well readers ... it's DONE!

I've been working on a codex of all the people that have been populating my stories now for a good three months. So if you want to know about Danny or Xiphon or even who Everett Manoulis is ... now you can!

The link to the codex is directly below the header pic. Simply click on the "People" button to see a who's who. Click on the "Home" button to read the blog.

 

Enjoy!!

Now ... who wants to help me on "Places" and "Things" ???