July 9, 2018• byMichael Strangeways

Northwest Film Forum has been ON FIRE lately with terrific documentaries about LGBTQ people…we had fashion journalist André Leon Talley featured a couple weeks ago in “The Gospel According to André” and opening on Wednesday, July 11th, we have another major influence in the world of fashion and beauty, the documentary “Larger Than Life: The Kevyn Aucoin Story” about the iconic gay make-up artist Kevyn Aucoin who did the make-up for EVERY major model and actor in the late 80s throughout the 90s and until his early death at age 40, in 2002 (from kidney and liver failure due to acetaminophen toxicity due to pain treatment for issues related to a pituitary tumor that caused his elongated facial features).

Aucoin’s frequent appearances on television and the publication of several best selling books on make-up, made him a mentor to thousands of aspiring make up artists.

Here’s more info on the film, which has a short run through Sunday:

Larger Than Life: The Kevyn Aucoin Story

Wed Jul 11: 7.30pm

Thu Jul 12: 7.30pm

Fri Jul 13: 8.00pm

Sat Jul 14: 8.00pm

Sun Jul 15: 3.00pm, 5.00pm

$12 General Admission
$9 Student/Senior
$7 Member

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Tiffany Bartok

2017

1h 43m

About

From the age of 11, Kevyn Aucoin was sure that he wanted to be a makeup artist, so sure that he left his small town of Lafayette, Louisiana for New York to pursue it. Young, eager, and very talented, Kevyn created a name for himself through his technique and warm personality. But his drive, coupled with his personal struggle with depression, presented many challenges.

Using archival footage of intimate interviews with family, friends, lovers, and many of the celebrated models and actors that he worked with (Cynthia Crawford, Isabella Rossellini, Kate Moss, Cher), filmmaker Tiffany Bartok presents a man that shook up the make-up industry and left an indelible mark on both the art and the people whom he loved.

“Make-up artist Kevyn Aucoin wasn’t just a man who knew how to apply blush… Aucoin was a painter and sculptor. A maestro of the face,” who beautified “every diva from the late 1980 into the early aughts you can name.”– Cleveland

About the Author: Michael Strangeways

As the Editorial Director/Co-Owner, Michael Strangeways writes, edits and does about a million other jobs for Seattle Gay Scene, Puget Sound's most visited LGBTQ news, arts and entertainment website now celebrating its 14th year as a media outlet. A semi-proud Midwesterner by birth, he's lived in Seattle since 2000. He's also a film producer who would like you to check out the Jinkx Monsoon documentary, "Drag Becomes Him" now available on Amazon.com. In his spare time, he gets slightly obsessive about his love for old movies, challenging theater, "otters", vodka, chocolate, "I,Claudius", Lizzie Borden, real books made out of paper, disaster films, show tunes, Weimar era Germany, flea markets, pop surrealistic art, the sex lives of Hollywood actors both living and dead, kitties, chicken fried steak, haute couture and David Bowie. But, not necessarily in that order.