Behind the scenes…

Have you ever thought about something that you would love to do but didn’t think it was actually ever possible? I have had this thought with working on movie sets for many years. I wasn’t a part of a union, I have never gone to an accredited makeup school and I don’t have special FX training. I just thought there was no way I would be able to get my foot in the door.

That was until I was doing this wonderful gals makeup one day. She happened to work for the film industry and had for many years. It just so happened with the pandemic that a lot more movies were going to be filmed where I live this year, and of course it is cheaper for production companies to hire local. These were also going to be “B” list movies, which are tv movies. I was informed that typically they will have a special FX artist working if its required for that particular show. This was eye opening and exciting news for me! Getting your foot in the door means basically means assisting the key makeup artist so it’s a great chance to learn and grow as an artist; and learn something in a completely different industry.

I started to put my name out there to people that typically hire for this industry. During this process, I was told by one contact that my chances were going to be pretty slim as my makeup kit was not large enough and I would need to know how to do certain effects such as cuts, bruises, tattoo covers etc. and that there were already enough artists out there that live in my area. To be honest, at this point I did feel deflated but still had the desire to do it. Thankfully, I didn't give up on the idea. Then, out of the blue in September I got a call from a producer asking if I would like to assist with makeup and have a chance to learn and grow. I jumped on that opportunity! It only wound up being one day on set for that movie. But then again in October, my friend and fellow makeup artist, called me to assist her for 3 days on set. Literally a dream come true!! I was able to do 2 of the leads makeup; as well as touch ups with both makeup and hair on all the cast for those 3 days. What an incredible experience! I must say it's amazing how much you learn in that short amount of time.

Some things I learned:

You have to work quick. You typically only have 20-30 mins to get the cast member's makeup done before they go onto set. The makeup for this movie was pretty natural. Meaning it was pretty simple makeup…and mostly kept matte for the camera with the exception of a lip gloss or balm. Usually the key makeup artist will discuss the makeup requirements before filming starts. It is also extremely important to create the exact same makeup look that the actor/actress already had, especially if it’s the same scene being filmed. Continuity is so important…that goes for both hair and makeup. You will need to use pictures as a reference, and you will also need to separate the makeup out, based on the actor, to ensure you are using the same makeup on them for the same scene.

When you are on set, it is very important that you are able to work well with the team. In other words, do your job great and fast. Everyone is waiting for you in between takes, so you need to be able to work under pressure. You have to be “on” while on set. Make are you are paying attention at all times, because if a piece of hair falls out of place you need to be able to run in and fix it right away. There is also a whole new lingo with the crew that you need to learn…ie when you hear “Finals” being called, that means you need to jump in to make sure makeup/hair looks as it should. Something else to consider while working on set especially if you are working outside, is to dress in layers. It can get cold fast while standing around for numerous hours. It is not all as glamorous as it sounds. The days can be quite long…to the tune of 14/15 hours. I must admit, I have not felt that tired in a long time…for eg trying to pick out what I was going to wear for the next day, after a full day of work, seemed like such a daunting task lol! Regardless of this, I loved every minute of it! You will find out real fast if its something you like or not. I have a whole new appreciation of all the work that goes on from both the cast and crew. It's the most incredible form of teamwork I have ever seen! I am so grateful for the opportunity, and a chance to learn and grow and I hope that I get many more of these opportunities in the future. Comment below what your experience was working on a movie set.