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Makeup Artist, Theatrical and Performance

What They Do

Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Career Video

Insider Info

The imagination of make-up artists has created some of our most memorable villains, heroes and aliens. They also make our favorite stars look good on camera.

Make-up artists apply make-up for stage, film and television actors and models. They use their skills to make actors look good (or bad), make wounds and scars look believable and make monsters look frightening. Those involved in stage, film or television productions help the performer and the director create a particular look for a character. They're usually given a script and must decide what tools will be needed to create the desired effect.

The character and time period in which the drama takes place are both carefully researched. Changes in a character's age or physical appearance must be planned. Make-up artists also have to take into account what kind of lights will be used. Application is recorded in detail so that it can be repeated every night -- for live theater, for instance -- or weeks later, if a film is being shot out of sequence.

Sometimes, though, a make-up artist is given free rein to create a look for a particular character. "Star Trek often leaves characters open," says Hollywood make-up artist Paul Thompson. "For example, your script may say bug-like creature, and you go from there."

Make-up artists who work for photographers and modeling agencies are called cosmetic make-up artists. They use make-up to enhance a model's good looks. The training for doing make-up artistry for film and TV is more in-depth and generally requires more experience.

Some artists specialize in special effects make-up. That includes blood and gore make-up and the use of prosthetics, artificial parts that are added to an actor's body to change their appearance. Examples of prosthetics include vampire's teeth, head molds, special contact lenses, and nose, cheek and chin pieces -- basically anything that will change the actor's physical appearance.

"There are lots of companies out there doing that sort of thing," says Thompson. "If someone is leaning toward more of the make-up effects side of things, go into one of these places as a runner or mold maker. It's a good way to get a foot in the door and gain experience."

Nearly all make-up artists work on a freelance basis, meaning they contract with production companies on each project. Projects can last anywhere from a day to several years. Employers may be major theater productions, dance and opera companies, television studios, photographers, modeling schools and agencies or film production companies.

Make-up artists work both in studios and on location. "I work about 50/50, between location and studio work," says Thompson. "Film work isn't quite as glamorous as people think. You wait around a lot. The last film I was on I sat around for 12 hours and waited for my part to come up. And when my part came up, we had 10 minutes to do it."

Long hours and lots of standing are part of the job, says make-up artist Gail Kennedy. ."

The hours a make-up artist works usually depend on when and where the production is occurring. Artists are usually required to be on location two to three hours before everyone else. That means a filming day could start as early as 4 a.m. Television series are usually filmed eight to 10 months out of the year, and movies can take anywhere from a few weeks to a year to complete.

While there are long hours of sitting and some occasional heavy lifting involved in this job, physical limitations shouldn't be a problem.

Many make-up artists supplement their incomes by working as costumers, dressers or general stagehands. Others hold down completely unrelated jobs. Until a make-up artist establishes a reputation for delivering quality work, the contracts they receive are usually infrequent and unsteady.

"In the beginning it's difficult, because you're not going to get a job without experience," says Thompson. "You're going to have to do a lot of student films. You have to work for free. Just get that stuff on the resume."

Just the Facts

Want a quick overview of what this career is about?Check out Just the Facts for simple lists of characteristics.

At a Glance

Make actors beautiful or beastly

  • Nearly all make-up artists work on a freelance basis
  • Most make-up work is found in bigger cities
  • Volunteering is valuable in this field

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

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