Do I need makeup for a low budget short film?

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Raptor1138

New member
Next week I'm going to shoot a no budget, one scene short film with no major technical requirements. We'll be shooting at night, and I will have no budget except equipment I either own or am borrowing, and no personnel but my actors and friends to help out as crew. What I'm wondering is how important it is to have makeup on just a small shoot like this. I don't know anybody who knows how to do professional film makeup, and I don't know exactly what would be required of a makeup artist for this scene. My only goal is for the actors to look normal. Is it really important to have makeup work, and if so, what are my options if I don't know anybody experienced in film makeup, no budget to hire a makeup artist, and I'm shooting next week?
 
Most women will do some makeup. So, for the most part, what ever they do, is probably 'good enough'. Most men do not do makeup, so they will not probably do anything.

The biggest problem for most men and women when shooting is 'shine'... and so, probably you should learn enough to apply some 'powder' to cut the shine. There are several color casts of powder for different types of complexion.

You should see if any women working with you on the film, either in front of the camera or behind, would add 'powdering' to their duties.

Or if you have a family, wife/daughter/sister may be drafted into this sort of 'work' to support your efforts.
 
Why not go to your local department store and talk to the ladies who work at the makeup counter? You might find one who loves the idea of working on your film -- for free -- and can at least cover the basics, like 'powdering'. Worth a try.
 
It's pretty basic. Like was said above - key is taking off the "shine", so some powder makes sense. Also important to keep in mind: are you going to have super close ups, or a woman who needs to look good very close up - the resolution on some of the digital cams these days can be pretty unflattering on the skin in close ups; if so, you may need some basic concealer, which is easy to apply, you just have to match the skin tone... might also consider throwing on some kind of filter for closeups, that way you don't get that razor sharp focus on the skin; play with light a bit, you can hide/reveal a lot that way.
 
David W. Richardson said:
Why not go to your local department store and talk to the ladies who work at the makeup counter? You might find one who loves the idea of working on your film -- for free -- and can at least cover the basics, like 'powdering'. Worth a try.
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That is really a last resort. Your average female friend (or heck, your favorite gay buddy or anyone into hair styling, etc) likely know 10 times more about makeup than you will ever learn. You'll be managing too much crap to drop the camera and go looking for a powder puff. It's much better to be able to call out to someone who can run in and do a fix while you check through camera.

Also, more often than not, issues will be a stray hair or lock, a cowlick, an upturned collar, a mis-aligned necktie. It's too much for the director to babysit, especially if you're also the DP and the cameraman.

Many women really love fashion. You should be able to find someone who's into it and understands makeup and hair to some extent (ask every female you know, they'll know just the girl, the one with stacks of Vogue magazines) (make sure she's a "nice" person who can be a team player). When she finds out she's going to do hair & makeup on set, she'll likely be excited.

HERE'S HER JOB:

Bring powders and so on - tell her what you expect to be issues - shine, etc, and the skin types of your talent.

Bring concealers if your talent may have issues;

Bring hairspray, small scissors, brush/comb to deal with hair issues;

Bring a tape roller, a stapler and some two-sided tape (for apparel issues) -the tape roller is big is you have dark clothes and closeups.

PAY HER something for her supplies, esp. if she has to buy them.

TELL HER TO WATCH EVERY SETUP and keep an eye out for stray hairs, shine, and apparel hijinks. Tell her to think of continuity from shot-to-shot.

LET HER LOOK THROUGH THE VF for key shots (it will make her feel important, too).

Tell her the moments before you roll are key - if she sees something wrong, she can call out "wardrobe fix" or "hair fix" - when you acknowledge, she can call "Coming in" to say she's entering the shot to do her thing.

And for closeups, mild diffusion can be important, but not if suddenly the shot turns to 1940's dream-world. (Did you know: the entire 1st iron man film was shot with a 1/8 and 1/4 promist -diffusion is used more than you think).

And this is really huge, for stills or motion: learn that right before you trip the shutter or roll camera - look ALL AROUND THE FRAME - circle the frame edges with your eye and then the center - look for anything out of place.
 
There are some easy things you can do with makeup to add to the character of the person. Add a mole or enhance wrinkles. Put dark circles under the eyes. Smooth out a complexion with pancake. Mottle a complexion with dots, red spots, etc.
 
Put an ad on craiglist for junior makeup artist, at most you'll need to get rid of any shine/grease on your talent. Makeup is put on in the morning and usually needs a retouch half way or even throughout the day.
 
Michael Carter said:
That is really a last resort. Your average female friend (or heck, your favorite gay buddy or anyone into hair styling, etc) likely know 10 times more about makeup than you will ever learn. You'll be managing too much crap to drop the camera and go looking for a powder puff. It's much better to be able to call out to someone who can run in and do a fix while you check through camera.
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I wasn't suggesting the OP get the makeup counter gal to teach him how to do makeup. I was suggesting that he might convince her to come and DO the makeup on the shoot. Many of them might do it for free, just to be on a film shoot.
 
I carry some basic neutral powders and a brush to prevent a bit of shine but it is a good idea to get someone who might wish to have some real on set experience and add it to their C.V. We all have to start somewhere.
 
Not a necessity. All women do theirs every morning, they are more than qualified. Guys only need a bit of powder to kill the shine and anyone can do that. At a micro budget level, makeup goes to the bottom of the priority list. Our strategy has been to cast photogenic people, who need little makeup. We might have a MUA one day out of 12 shooting days, when someone has to be radically aged for example.

Now if you are making a zombie flick, ignore everything I just said.
 
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