Meet a Former CIA Chief of Disguise | Object of Intrigue | Atlas Obscura

Meet Jonna Mendez, the former CIA Chief of Disguise (a real job!). During her tenure, Mendez oversaw the equipment used by spies to conceal their identities, including a five-second mask, which had been inspired by Hollywood. The technology, developed over a period of 10 years, allowed for facial movement—and, unlike its cinematic counterparts, which required hours in the makeup chair, it could be put on and removed at a moment’s notice. Listen to Mendez explain the ins and outs of this unique piece of spy technology. 

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[carsonpower]

i was waiting for her to peel her face off to reveal that she was wearing a mask the whole time lol

[joshuatheargonaut]

Well if they are showing us this now, one wonders what they use at present

[AJOH-IO]

The fact she admits to being able to show this now makes it very scary to imagine what the CIA is currently doing. Sure doesn't seem so crazy to hear people saying Dave Chappelle isn't Dave Chappelle anymore 🙄

[murunbuchstanzangur]

Someone out there is looking at this, and saying that's frank! I fucking knew there was something off about him!

[gigimarino]

So we really don;;t know who we are looking at anymore on tv

[benjaminnguyen]

what could be faster than this 5 second mask thing and more realistic!? this gives me goosebumps

[Sabocat]

I wish I could hear Jonna Mendez over the music.

[leonadrian]

Are there any vids of anyone wearing one?? I’d love to see!

[MrArtVein]

The larger issue is now as an operative they have your actual face mould. Imagine pissing someone off and now someone's committing crimes with your face as blackmail

[ZakWolf]

Joanna joined the CIA back in 1970. Before the 1960s, such masks used to only exist in comics and cartoons, for the most part (such as the Looney Tunes, or Batman's disguises.) Then Hollywood and the CGI managed to make them a reality. And today we have impressive silicone rubber masks that cover the head and neck that can be even more realistic and durable than latex. One maker of such masks even had a similar tagline: "Put on a five-hour makeup job in just five seconds!"

[namaste]

Of course it's Joana Mendez. Legend.

[oglowkey]

And this is what I mean by them celebrities are CLONED, other people are playing that character with a mask

[roughneckwoman]

I believe wholeheartedly that Joe Biden is not Joseph R Biden you could interrogate me with force I would say the same

[joetheplummer]

Billy has been using this latex for the Paul McCartney role.

[Whisky_Tango_Foxtrot-jcuq]

This job sounds like a hell of a lot of fun.

[jackmomma]

At 0:05 ... they just spilled the beans that Ringo Starr... isn't. He's just a rubber Scooby-Doo mask

[peterdegraff]

Great rhythmic background "music" BUT WE CAN'T HEAR THE

[krustserver]

Wtf where is the demonstration? I was looking forward to it!

[LovenArtiste]

I was hoping, at the end, she’d reveal she was wearing a mask the whole time.

[sambray]

Think how much better they must be now, considering they are comfortable sharing this information on the internet.