Assignment 2 - Where You Find Work (cont.)

Make-up Artist

Job Description
The role of a make-up artist is to make sure that models, performers (people on stage, tv or even in magazines) have suitable make-up and hairstyles. The make-up artist applies it and will be the last person to look over it for any final touches, prior to the person going out to a live audience or appearing infront of cameras. The settings a make-up artist can be in are film, TV, theatre, live music and photographic shoots.

The artist's make-up choices on the client, is their own interpretation of what the client has asked for. They produce a visual representation which is creative and technically accurate. For example, a TV presenter will wear fairly basic make-up. Whereas, the make-up would more complex for someone who wants to create special effects facially. A make-up artist's work consists of creating characters through make-up and hairstyles, using a brief they've been given from someone of senior management.

Typical work activities for a make-up artist are:

• Communicating with clients to get the right look
• Study of production
• Reading scripts to confirm what materials and look is required
• Budgeting
• Conducting research when neccessary - if it was classical theatre, the make-up would be heavily white, and there should be no use of mascara or lipstick as they were products which didn't exist years ago. If modern day beauty products are used, it shouldn't be noticeable.
• Wigs - making and taking care of
• Producing and sketching ideas for make-up and hairstyles
• Ensuring that the hair and make-up has continuity
• Communicating with others in the design team, in order to achieve the overall effect
•  Understanding the impact on skin (make-up) - lighting, photographic processes, colours
• Taking appropriate action to reduce any unpleasant side effects, which would have occured from specialist hair and make-up techniques
• Awareness of health and safety issues, e.g. using straighteners
• Creating facial and body moulds - prosthetics
• Keeping up to date with what products are available
• Sourcing materials and equipment from 'specialist' suppliers 
• Time management - knowing how long it exactly takes for the look to be complete
• Maintaining a portfolio of work, by taking photographs of clients and having detailed notes of the processes they go through 
   
   

National Career Services 
The link above gave me the information on how to become a make-up artist and life as one: what qualifications/experience you need; preferable qualities and skills; training and development; income; working hours.

 

A career as a make-up artist normally starts by first gaining at least a Level 2 qualification in media make-up, or something of an equivalent. 

 

There are specific courses so that you can narrow down the make-up artist you want to become:

Level 2 Diploma in Hair, Photographic and Media Make-up

Level 2/3 Diploma in Hair and Media Make-up

Level 3 Diploma in Theatrical Special Effects, Hair and Media Make-up

Level 3 Diploma in Fashion, Theatre and Media Make-up

 

 

Universites can offer a foundation degree or a full degree in media make-up. To enrol, a person needs 5 GCSEs (A*-C), which have to include maths, English and science. Alongside this, they'll also need 3 A-Levels. In addition to academic grades, the site encourages people to get practical experience before advancing into a career. The experience will enable you to meet existing make-up artists in the industry and build a close network of contacts for the present and future. Experience can be gained through amateur theatre, student projects (fashion shows) and working with artists and photographers. Becoming a make-up artist is achievable in beginning in an apprenticeship. There are also 'short courses' in specialist and prosthetic make-up which is run at private academies, film schools and some universites.

 

National career services list preferable skills for the profession, which include:

• Ability to work well in a team structure
• Genuine commitment
• An interest in current and historical fashions
• Tactful manner 
• Willing to work longer hours than scheduled/expected 
• Punctuality
• Reliability
• Think and act creatively and imaginatively 
• Take extra attention to detail  

The training to be a make-up artist usually comes in being an assistant to a highly experienced one. To get this role, there are training schemes which are offered by broadcasters, regional screen agencies and media training organisations. However, the competition for the training is very strong, and some broadcasters only hire at certain times of the year, for example the BBC.

 

 

The table above shows the recommende income for make-up artists - by the National Association of Screen Make-up Artists and Hairdressers.  Make-up artists typically work on a freelance basis, meaning they get paid a fee per contract.

 

In the list of skills, the site asks for partcipants to be prepared for working longer hours. This is because the job working hours are unpredictable a lot of the time, as it depends on the demands of the task. For instance, an artist will begin working very early morning before filming begins, if they're working for live morning television. Contrastingly, working late into the night is most likely the case when working in theatre or concerts. Due to the variation of hours, it is good for a make-up artist to have built up their own make-up kit which they can take with them to each different job. 

To find out about the life of a make-up artist, I looked at Karla Powell. She is an international make-up artist, recently working with Katie Price and Magnum for their 25th anniversary.

Karla is honest about the pros and cons of the job role. She says the advantages of being a make-up are that it is easy to take on the career, as it only takes 1-2 years of study and then you are able to start working in the industry. Another advantage is that being a make-up artist is exciting because it allows you to portray your creativity onto another person. Seeing the results of your work immediately is highly satisfying (when the client is happy.) Lastly, the job allows you to meet many new people and travel abroad. It is also a lot of fun working with celebrities.

On the other hand, the business is very competitive. Karla advises that if you want to remain on top you have to get yourself noticed by being really assertive and creative. Furthermore, there is no working schedule. If you begin to moan at clients due to your long hours, you could be seen as unprofessional and therefore not be hired again. It is difficult for there to be constant regular work which means you have to find something to do on those days, like networking. Through networking, you can show others your techniques on blogs and YouTube. By sharing your tutorials and tips, you are still serving clients and wanting to make them happy. 

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