1 answer
Keilana
Student
Asheville, North Carolina
4
Questions
Updated
732 views
How can I go from being an art student to a steady, paid special effects makeup career in film or theater?
I am a college art student, and I focus on special effects makeup, horror looks, and creative character design. I want to understand the real steps people take right after school to turn this into consistent paid work, not just one‑off gigs. Any specific examples of paths you or people you know took would help a lot.
1 answer
Michelle M.
Actress
3276
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Keilana !
I think I can re-direct you for your plan to be a professional Makeup Artist for film as your concept of how it works is not going to benefit you for this path. It's such an exciting facet of entertainment and I hope that being on the right track and learning more will help guide you.
To begin with I advise highly that you change your major from Art to Theatre because a degree in Theatre is the strongest option for this career. It's not so much the actual degree, but rather the path through a Theatre Program. You will definitely need to take as many Stage Makeup courses that the college you go to offers. This is where you will learn the skill of various one dimensional makeup as well as masks and prosthetics. You will need to learn costuming, too, and how costuming and make up sometimes are integrated and expected work of a film make up artist.
Even though you'd be working with stage plays for this major, you will need to learn how to read a script and let the information in the script guide you for how to do the makeup, not your own idea. Well, it would be partially your own concept after reading about the story and the characters which will tell you how to do each one. A degree in art is not connected to film or theatre and the path is very different, so if you want the foundational knowledge and to work on shows, I highly suggest switching your Major to Theatre. Plus you'll meet a lot of contacts for possible work. I obtained film and TV work during the time I was a Theatre Major.
It's great to have your favorite genres, we all do, but as a professional make up artist for film, you would have to be content to sometimes do street and beauty makeup as that is as important for the film as the fun stuff. If you want work, you will apply for the career job and ace whatever genre is called for. You cannot write the script for or put in an order for this career. Understanding what the job is will give you better insight.
No one can tell you how to obtain a steady and on-going job as a make up artist for film. Regarding employment structure, the film industry primarily operates on a project-based model. Makeup artists are typically hired on a per-project basis rather than as permanent employees. Also, the size of make up crews varies. The way make up people obtain work is through persistence, building a strong portfolio, and maintaining professional relationships within the industry. So you must explore the industry in North Carolina.
It may be a good idea to work on student films since you are not in Hollywood or New York City where most of the film production is done out of. Not that there aren't films done in North Carolina, but working on student films will start your resume and portfolio for while you are a student. But you'd get experience as a Theatre Major on the department productions, too. Some colleges in your state that have film students that you can connect with to do makeup are The University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, The University of North Carolina at Wilmington, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Western Carolina University, and two community colleges that have a film program are Cape Fear Community College and Blue Ridge Community College. Also see if your current college has a film department and inquire about possibly doing make up for student films.
For any make up you do on all your shows, make sure to photograph the actors for your portfolio. Also photograph any three dimensional work you do if it is for a project even if someone isn't wearing it.
You can start networking by attending the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham. Make a Linked In profile and follow all of the film production companies in NC as well as companies connected to film. Workshops, seminars and events for makeup artists will be a good way to network and make contacts. Also connect with Western North Carolina Film Commission as a key resource. Also explore the City of Asheville’s Department of Community and Regional Entertainment Facilities to see what they may have. Learn your local film community and as you do, opportunities may come your way.
I hope that this sheds some light on the career and I wish you all the best moving forward !
I think I can re-direct you for your plan to be a professional Makeup Artist for film as your concept of how it works is not going to benefit you for this path. It's such an exciting facet of entertainment and I hope that being on the right track and learning more will help guide you.
To begin with I advise highly that you change your major from Art to Theatre because a degree in Theatre is the strongest option for this career. It's not so much the actual degree, but rather the path through a Theatre Program. You will definitely need to take as many Stage Makeup courses that the college you go to offers. This is where you will learn the skill of various one dimensional makeup as well as masks and prosthetics. You will need to learn costuming, too, and how costuming and make up sometimes are integrated and expected work of a film make up artist.
Even though you'd be working with stage plays for this major, you will need to learn how to read a script and let the information in the script guide you for how to do the makeup, not your own idea. Well, it would be partially your own concept after reading about the story and the characters which will tell you how to do each one. A degree in art is not connected to film or theatre and the path is very different, so if you want the foundational knowledge and to work on shows, I highly suggest switching your Major to Theatre. Plus you'll meet a lot of contacts for possible work. I obtained film and TV work during the time I was a Theatre Major.
It's great to have your favorite genres, we all do, but as a professional make up artist for film, you would have to be content to sometimes do street and beauty makeup as that is as important for the film as the fun stuff. If you want work, you will apply for the career job and ace whatever genre is called for. You cannot write the script for or put in an order for this career. Understanding what the job is will give you better insight.
No one can tell you how to obtain a steady and on-going job as a make up artist for film. Regarding employment structure, the film industry primarily operates on a project-based model. Makeup artists are typically hired on a per-project basis rather than as permanent employees. Also, the size of make up crews varies. The way make up people obtain work is through persistence, building a strong portfolio, and maintaining professional relationships within the industry. So you must explore the industry in North Carolina.
It may be a good idea to work on student films since you are not in Hollywood or New York City where most of the film production is done out of. Not that there aren't films done in North Carolina, but working on student films will start your resume and portfolio for while you are a student. But you'd get experience as a Theatre Major on the department productions, too. Some colleges in your state that have film students that you can connect with to do makeup are The University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, The University of North Carolina at Wilmington, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Western Carolina University, and two community colleges that have a film program are Cape Fear Community College and Blue Ridge Community College. Also see if your current college has a film department and inquire about possibly doing make up for student films.
For any make up you do on all your shows, make sure to photograph the actors for your portfolio. Also photograph any three dimensional work you do if it is for a project even if someone isn't wearing it.
You can start networking by attending the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham. Make a Linked In profile and follow all of the film production companies in NC as well as companies connected to film. Workshops, seminars and events for makeup artists will be a good way to network and make contacts. Also connect with Western North Carolina Film Commission as a key resource. Also explore the City of Asheville’s Department of Community and Regional Entertainment Facilities to see what they may have. Learn your local film community and as you do, opportunities may come your way.
I hope that this sheds some light on the career and I wish you all the best moving forward !
Delete Comment
Flag Comment