Careers

Make Up Artist

From Phil Breman, former About.com Guide

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Job Description:

A make up artist does everything from make Cameron Diaz look completely flawless to turning Arnold Schwartzeneggar into a Terminator. It is an essential part of the entertainment industry as it helps breathe life into a character by making them more three dimensional.

An actor has a much easier time being able to commit to a role if they truly believe that they have been transformed into the character they are playing. This belief is mandatory for the audience as well. For us to by the story, we need to believe that there is actually a robot under Schwartzenggar's skin, or that Jennifer Lopez has bruises on her face, or whatever.

The best make up artists are those whose work you never really notice. As an audience member, assuming all other elements are met (acting, writing, directing), it becomes that much easier for you to become invested in the characters on the screen when the make up is done well. It is a true artistry.

There are four different jobs in a make up department. How many of these positions exist on a project depends on the project's needs and budget:

Key Make Up Artist: They are in charge of the make up department. They actually design the make up for each actor/actress and assign individual make up artists to apply it.
Make Up Artist: These are the individuals who actually apply the make up to the actor.
Make Up Assistant: They help with some of the lesser tasks like body make up and organization.
Make Up Effects Artist: They design and create special make up effects using prosthetics, latex and animatronics.

Skills & Education:

Becoming a make up artist is no easy task. Especially depending on where you want to work. Many make up artists get their start by first working as assistants on a movie set or television show. Their first gigs are usually on student films, low budget features or television which are the perfect training ground. Many actors and actresses develop relationships with make up artists and often request them by name at the beginning of a project.

Cosmetology school is an important step toward becoming a make up artist. It's not mandatory, but it gives you a solid educational foundation on which to continue building your career. In Los Angeles and New York, there are numerous schools that offer make up for film and television classes which will not only help you learn the craft, but will introduce you to others in the industry. You might also consider taking a class in color theory which will help you to understand the basics of color.

Experiment and familiarize yourself with the wide variety of products available. Watch a number of movies and see what a make up artist did to achieve certain looks and experiment on your own. To become a make up effects artist, you'll want to have a basic understanding of chemistry as many of the pieces you develop will be quite technical.

Career Advice:

A good make up artist is creative with their craft, but also listens to the directors, actors and producers so that they can achieve the desired results. You must be a people person and it helps to have a great personality. The hours are often quite long and initially, the pay may be extremely low, but if you remain tenacious, you will achieve your goals.