Makeup, does a Drama film really need it? Can I take role as makeup artist?

Clint Nitkiewiz Hernandez

Clint Nitkiewiz Hernandez

Well-known member
So Im directing a feature film, a drama, no bloody moments, etc, so,

Should I really hire a makeup person?

There will always be girls around, can I just buy a big thing of powder from the local beauty shop or ebay and say if a guy's or another girl's face is shiney, I can just ask them to powder him up?

I don't really want another person on site for shooting, we are going for everything without permits, so another head would just call more attention, so,

Is makeup really necessary?

Is there something that the makeup artists do in great drama films that I don't know about? For regular shots and not blood or sweating scenes? Any one know of any links where one can read up on for basic makeup stuff?
 
I think some anti facial-shining powder is always useful, but i full on makeup department may not be necessary. If you dont need bruises or blood the maybe its not worth the hastle, but defiantly take some antishine stuff...
 
Send me a PM. I'll hook you up. And YES, if you are serious about you film, you need makeup. On a Hollywood show, that would be the same as asking if you need a camera operator.

Any one know of any links where one can read up on for basic makeup stuff?
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Makeup is a serious technical skill and art. It's not applied as an afterthought without extensive training.

(You will get opinions differing from this which I will not respond to. But it is just as important as wardrobe, set design, or 1000 other aspects of a film. Often MORE important, but not always.)
 
I'm glad this was brought up as I had much the same question. I do have another similar question.

Any tips for getting GUYS a bit more comfy of the idea of makeup. I'd like to learn the basics of this as an indie guy at least for quick interview jobs. I won't always have the luxury of someone experienced with this.
 
I would like to know as well, how much makeup do actors reallt need, I know that you should never go heavy on makeup because light will look shinny, unless that is the look you are going for,but please someone with experience please fill us in on tips reagading makeup
 
You'll get responses on how to do "quick" makeup, but most women have been applying makeup their whole lives and dont know the proper way. Just just knwo the way they always have. This is similar to doing your own graphic art. Sure you could put together a crappy logo, poster or website, but there are people that STUDY and do that for a living. People with DEGREES in graphic arts that do that work. Same with makeup.

If you aren;y going to get a makup artist DONT do it yourself. At the most get these: Oil Blotting sheets

Those will remove the oil that causes shine but not risk doing anything wacky.

The "FX" in my name comes from 10 years special makeup effects and studio makeup work. Went to school, worked in print and film then went to special effects. It's really no joke and bad makeup can make or break a film just like bad VFX or bad wardrobe. Look at Aetas (Timefest) and the people commenting on the MASCARA in that.

What city are you in, Perrone? I'll figure something out for you.

As for guys not wanting it, tell them to sack up. It's part of what is needed. IF DONE RIGHT, no one will ever know they are wearing it and they will look their best. If someone that is not trained does it, you run the risk of them looking like trannies. That's not good.

And I'm not a fan of just powder since it completely flattens the face and covers natural coloring. That's why blush, lip color, eye color, contouring, etc. exist. Because once you apply foundation or even just powder, then you know just have an empty canvas without any definition. The oil blotters will remove the shine, but not cover natural color. Of course if there are natural color "problems", that is where you need the makup artist.
 
I would like to know as well, how much makeup do actors reallt need...
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How long is a journey?

You cant answer that question. Every actor needs something different. And, I am more than qualified to TEACH CORSES on makeup but you will not get ANYTHING from me beyond "Get a makeup artist" or "Use the oil blotters".


I know that you should never go heavy on makeup because light will look shinny...
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I dont even know what that means.

Get a makeup artist. OR.... go to makeup school.
 
GageFX said:
Look at Aetas (Timefest) and the people commenting on the MASCARA in that.
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(groan)

I used a makeup artist. Observe. For the record, I like the eyelashes. I liked them on set, I like them now. But given the response I'll take a note for the future.

Makeup.jpg
 
LOL.
yahoo_rotfl.gif
I wasnt knocking the makeup, I was just using it as an example. Dont be mad.

But I think this exemplifies my point. Even with a makeup artist there can be issues.

So my point is, if your trained and skilled makeup artist did eyelashes that some thought to be too heavy, then what are the odds of Klint or Perrone doing it right?
 
I'm not completely ignorant to the idea of getting someone. My "daughter" studied cosmetology but that isn't a pro makeup person. But it's better than ME doing it. About the only thing I wanted to learn to do is use a concealer and maybe a light powder to take the sheen off the face.

I have a couple of hair people but only locally.

For the record, I am in Tallahassee. We have an excellent film school here, so I could probably tap some of those resources.

If you know of resources in the area, I'd certainly appreciate it. Can't EVER have too many contacts...



GageFX said:
Those will remove the oil that causes shine but not risk doing anything wacky.

The "FX" in my name comes from 10 years special makeup effects and studio makeup work. Went to school, worked in print and film then went to special effects. It's really no joke and bad makeup can make or break a film just like bad VFX or bad wardrobe. Look at Aetas (Timefest) and the people commenting on the MASCARA in that.

What city are you in, Perrone? I'll figure something out for you.

As for guys not wanting it, tell them to sack up. It's part of what is needed. IF DONE RIGHT, no one will ever know they are wearing it and they will look their best. If someone that is not trained does it, you run the risk of them looking like trannies. That's not good.

And I'm not a fan of just powder since it completely flattens the face and covers natural coloring. That's why blush, lip color, eye color, contouring, etc. exist. Because once you apply foundation or even just powder, then you know just have an empty canvas without any definition. The oil blotters will remove the shine, but not cover natural color. Of course if there are natural color "problems", that is where you need the makup artist.
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About the only thing I wanted to learn to do is use a concealer and maybe a light powder to take the sheen off the face.
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You dont use concealer without foundation, and powder only will flatten the features and do you no good.

Using a cosmetologist is better than nothing, but not a great substitute for a trained theatrical makeup artist.

PM incoming.
 
I think with some practice... Anyone can do anything.

There are some pretty good tutorials on wonderhowto.com

I think if you have a person with some experience (cosmo school), and they get some more knowledge (for film makeup), they'd do the job.

I'm working on a project pretty soon (twilightfest), and I am going to need EXCEPTIONAL special fx makeup.

Hm... how do I go about finding a makeup artist?


_____

I think we should set up a Q&A for gagefx.... What do you guys say? I have some basic questions as to what I'd need in terms of supply to achieve my special fx (liquid latex, etc).

I don't know why we don't have an FX section on this fourm...
 
I think with some practice... Anyone can do anything.
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Absolutely. Well, no. There are some people that just cant manage to do ceratain things. So "absolutely", but within reason.


I think we should set up a Q&A for gagefx...
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Ok. Sure. Here it is.

Q: GageFX, how do you properly apply makeup?

A: Get a trained makeup artist or go to makeup school.

The end.
 
FYI - street makeup also is not the same as makeup used for photography.
Imaging systems, be they film or digital, "see" somewhat further into the UV end of the spectrum, so when you think you have blemishes covered nicely they often still photograph right through the makeup.
 
GageFX said:
Send me a PM. I'll hook you up. And YES, if you are serious about you film, you need makeup. On a Hollywood show, that would be the same as asking if you need a camera operator.



Makeup is a serious technical skill and art. It's not applied as an afterthought without extensive training.

(You will get opinions differing from this which I will not respond to. But it is just as important as wardrobe, set design, or 1000 other aspects of a film. Often MORE important, but not always.)
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haha, pretty much. I wouldn't shoot a serious project without a makeup artist, but I don't have the type of budgets to hire BOTH a makeup artist and a hair stylist, then on top of that a wardrobe person. That really is not necessary on most projects, even features. The first feature I want to shoot has 5 people in it. There's absolutely no need for a wardrobe person, not when it all takes place in the same night. We can task someone else to manage the clothing continuity, like the script supervisor, who I will have. Then as far as makeup and hair, there's again no reason the same person can't do both. There are many talented people who are used to doing both on indie stuff.

I have noticed that more than some other technical professions, makeup artists think they are worth ridiculous amounts of money when really most of the time they just aren't. I had people write to me saying, "Oh, low budget music video, sounds cool. I'll work for $750." Uhh, I said low budget moron, $750 is not even close. I got a great makeup artist for $150, she's worked on a ton of stuff, she actually asked for $100 but I said I'm not comfortable paying you that little, haha, so make it $150, and I've worked with her since, she's always done a good job. The needs we had for makeup and hair weren't extremely complicated, but on the music video they were actually pretty advanced, a lot of changes for the girl, so she did a fantastic job. I had someone else ask for $900. A few $600s. Most of them in the $300 range, which is reasonable and fair, but come on, $900, get real. A makeup artist can be a high school dropout, I'm not paying someone who does freakin' makeup $900 per day. Not until my budget is $100 million, then maybe I won't care enough and we'll get some ridiculously overpriced professional because they're 5% better than someone who is 500% cheaper, lol.
 
A makeup artist can be a high school dropout, I'm not paying someone who does freakin' makeup $900 per day.
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^^

The reason your post doesnt deserve a real response.
 
LOL, only a makeup artist would think they are worth $900/day, sorry to burst your bubble. It's not THAT complicated of a task. Now if you're doing horror makeup where it's really intense and closeup are being filmed of zombies, great, that's tough work, and you have to be really good at what you do. There may only be a handful of people who are really the best in the world at that and major features need their services. They are worth it because it's simple supply and demand. But simple beauty makeup? Get real. If you think you're worth $30, $40, $50 per hour or more, you have to be kidding yourself.

And people with ridiculously inflated opinions of what they do don't deserve real responses.
 
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