The Art of Makeup in the Cinema

by Faezeh Sadat Moosavi

This article discusses the magical secrets of the art of makeup and creativity of makeup artists in the cinema.
In drama film – the art of the film industry and television – makeup designers help actors portray their characters using different and practical hairstyles and makeups.
In close collaboration with directors, makeup designers share their ideas with them in order to bring the outer appearance of actors as similar as possible to characters described in the script at each stage of production. In every step, they point to the necessary elements for makeups and hairstyles of actors, so they hire makeup artists who can fulfill those ideas.
First they meet actors to try wigs on and check the details of makeup. Then they explain makeup changes and qualities of hair for each scene to their assistants. They also take notes from every detail which is crucial during filmmaking. Sometimes, they examine scenes with cameras to see how the hair and makeup of every actor look in different lights.
In the process of filming, makeup designers are among those who show up early in the morning. They lead the team, arrange all the necessary tools and materials in makeup room, and manage the budget related to their own activity occasionally.
On a large scale, for example, hairstylists and makeup designers in the US film industry have two separate tasks, but on a small scale, their tasks are combined.

How can you become a makeup designer of a film and television?
Why wouldn’t you consider becoming a makeup designer if you love makeup, possess creative skills and think about the next steps towards your favorite profession? But you should know that there is a big difference between normal makeups for people at the hairdresser’s and makeups for actors in the cinema. However, if you have good teachers, a passion for learning and some experience, then you’re on the right track.
You can surely learn technical skills and get good degrees from college with experts’ support and under their guidance. This helps you choose a satisfying job in one of the most luxurious professions in the world, the glamorous film industry.
How can you become a makeup artist?
There are many ways to enter this profession, from internship and working as an assistant to studying film makeup. In fact, it is recommended to have hairdressing background because makeup and hairdressing complete each other. In most countries, a lot of film production departments want the makeup crew to do both.
Tamsin Barbosa, the vice principal of the Iver Make-Up Academy who at first was a hairdresser and also Emily Blunt’s hairdresser in “Mary Poppins Returns” gives some good advice in this regard. She believes you can never learn professional makeup in a professional educational academy without being already a creative hairdresser. So you need to learn the tricks of hairdressing and haircuts first and I definitely recommend taking a two-year hairdressing course. Therefore, working on hair and passing the course will always help you in the start of practice and I assure you that you will never waste your time.
As well as taking a course, you need to make sure that each training course includes practical work and brings you extensive work experience. Undoubtedly, the prominent experts who are still working in this industry are excellent teachers.
This implies that they not only have specialized knowledge and learned by various trial and error but also have good connections. They can be a great help to you to enter this industry. They know how valuable practical and professional learning is, which can be key to finding successful positions after you complete your training.
Bear in mind that media makeup courses taught in film colleges can often involve a lot of theoretical work, but they may not cover enough practical skills or don’t provide opportunities for you to establish necessary connections for finding jobs after graduation. You need to learn them either in workshops out of colleges or by attending film projects and doing practical work.
What skills do you need to acquire to become a makeup artist?
As I mentioned earlier, you need to be creative and talented in hairdressing and makeup. A makeup artist should work with a good team and pay attention to the details. They should be flexible, use their initiative and stay calm in stressful situations. However, they should know that the best belongings they can carry down the road are being professional and patient. Long and sometimes non-standard working hours, waking up early in the morning and attending locations in the first hours of a day even hours before the beginning of filming for weeks or months even on weekends, they all are part of this profession in the cinema.
During pre-production and before the beginning of filming, makeup artists need to attend the location for days of preparation, fitting and makeup tests.
In conclusion, you should remember that if you have a passion for learning, have enough practice and possess an acceptable level of art ability, then you can reach an exemplary position in the Seventh Art.