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Keilana
Student
Asheville, North Carolina
4
Questions
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What early jobs or credits help SFX makeup artists move from random gigs to steady, repeat work?
I am an art student who wants to specialize in SFX makeup. I am comfortable learning new skills and collaborating, but I do not know which types of early projects (student films, theater, haunted houses, low‑budget shoots, etc.) matter most for getting hired again and again by the same teams.
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Michelle M.
Actress
3276
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Michelle’s Answer
Hi, Keilana !
I am happy that you are asking questions about being a Film Makeup artist, but once again, I must emphasize as I did in your other inquiry that you will have to change your major to Theatre as the Art Major will not prepare you for this career.
To begin with, there is no predicted steady, repeat work and nothing can prepare you for that. Makeup people are hired on a per project basis and this is something that you will have to come to terms with. It's the nature of the business and again, you are going to have to be in a location which will afford you a wide range of possibilities for work and that would be New York City, NY or Los Angeles. That is the reality if you want to work tech on film. It doesn't necessarily mean that you would do all your work in NYC or Los Angeles, it means the companies are there and a lot of times, travel is involved as they film in different cities. But to apply, there are the most companies in NYC and in L.A. If you switch to a Theatre Major, the business will become apparent to you.
You will not be able to put in an order for your career or do things uninformed. You need a strong theatre program that will have good stage makeup course(s), theatre graphics as well as theatre literature so you get used to reading scripts and are able to do the makeup for the period and types of characters.
You need to know how to expertly work with latex, liquid latex, wax, gelatin, foam latex, silicone, flesh tone and FX palettes, along with airbrush paints and face paints. You will also need to know how to use Adhesives such as spirit gum and specialized prosthetic adhesives like Pros-Aide. If you switch to being a theatre major, you can probably do many practicums for credit under the supervision of the stage makeup professor.
So it's not what specific projects you work on, they are all important, it's more like you need the right path for the career. You can do any project, however, that doesn't mean you will be hired or get steady work in the future. This work is done by being hired for projects, not a permanent long term type job. You do projects where you're at for the experience. You become a Theatre major to learn how to be a Makeup artist. Once you're ready for your career, you make decisions about where to live based on the potential for the most opportunity to apply for the work. This is how the career is.
You will need to be comfortable with the way the film business is run. You should be starting a stage makeup collection, especially materials for SFX makeup. You will need these for the projects you do in Asheville, most likely. You can even invest in some stage blood for your collection (it's expensive) or go online to see how to make it from scratch.
You can buy theatrical makeup online from Stage Make Up Online, Camera Ready Cosmetics, Stage and Screen FX, Ben Nye (Ben Nye was the make up kit I bought for my stage makeup course when I was a theatre major in college), and Graftobian Professional Make Up.
So, remember that this career takes lots of networking more than anything, but having a substantial resume with every project you've done will help to show that you've worked a lot on a variety of shows. If you change your major to Theatre and your classmates do one act projects, they may want you to do the makeup and that is valuable experience. So really give it consideration about taking a more accurate path other than being an art major.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best moving forward !
I am happy that you are asking questions about being a Film Makeup artist, but once again, I must emphasize as I did in your other inquiry that you will have to change your major to Theatre as the Art Major will not prepare you for this career.
To begin with, there is no predicted steady, repeat work and nothing can prepare you for that. Makeup people are hired on a per project basis and this is something that you will have to come to terms with. It's the nature of the business and again, you are going to have to be in a location which will afford you a wide range of possibilities for work and that would be New York City, NY or Los Angeles. That is the reality if you want to work tech on film. It doesn't necessarily mean that you would do all your work in NYC or Los Angeles, it means the companies are there and a lot of times, travel is involved as they film in different cities. But to apply, there are the most companies in NYC and in L.A. If you switch to a Theatre Major, the business will become apparent to you.
You will not be able to put in an order for your career or do things uninformed. You need a strong theatre program that will have good stage makeup course(s), theatre graphics as well as theatre literature so you get used to reading scripts and are able to do the makeup for the period and types of characters.
You need to know how to expertly work with latex, liquid latex, wax, gelatin, foam latex, silicone, flesh tone and FX palettes, along with airbrush paints and face paints. You will also need to know how to use Adhesives such as spirit gum and specialized prosthetic adhesives like Pros-Aide. If you switch to being a theatre major, you can probably do many practicums for credit under the supervision of the stage makeup professor.
So it's not what specific projects you work on, they are all important, it's more like you need the right path for the career. You can do any project, however, that doesn't mean you will be hired or get steady work in the future. This work is done by being hired for projects, not a permanent long term type job. You do projects where you're at for the experience. You become a Theatre major to learn how to be a Makeup artist. Once you're ready for your career, you make decisions about where to live based on the potential for the most opportunity to apply for the work. This is how the career is.
You will need to be comfortable with the way the film business is run. You should be starting a stage makeup collection, especially materials for SFX makeup. You will need these for the projects you do in Asheville, most likely. You can even invest in some stage blood for your collection (it's expensive) or go online to see how to make it from scratch.
You can buy theatrical makeup online from Stage Make Up Online, Camera Ready Cosmetics, Stage and Screen FX, Ben Nye (Ben Nye was the make up kit I bought for my stage makeup course when I was a theatre major in college), and Graftobian Professional Make Up.
So, remember that this career takes lots of networking more than anything, but having a substantial resume with every project you've done will help to show that you've worked a lot on a variety of shows. If you change your major to Theatre and your classmates do one act projects, they may want you to do the makeup and that is valuable experience. So really give it consideration about taking a more accurate path other than being an art major.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best moving forward !