WHAT DOES A KEY MAKE ARTIST DO? (In the Entertainment industry. What Does A Key Make Artist Do?)

Makeup Stations / Photo Credit: The Makeup Light

WHAT DOES A KEY MAKE ARTIST DO? (In the Entertainment industry. What Does A Key Make Artist Do?)

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What Does A Key Make Artist Do?

Everyone wears makeup in the movies. Seriously, everyone. The work of a makeup artist on a film or television show is not limited to glam-ing up the leading lady or turning a walk-on actor into a decaying dead body on the autopsy table, the job is also utilitarian and necessary to counteract the negative effects of intensely bright production lighting. Without makeup, all performers on screen would appear pale, washed out, and with facial expressions barely visible. 

A make-up artist or makeup artist is an artist whose medium is the human body, applying makeup and prosthetics on others for theatre, television, film, fashion, magazines and other similar productions including all aspects of the modeling industry. Awards given for this profession in the entertainment industry include the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling and even several entertainment industry awards such as the Emmy Awards and the Golden Globes. In the United States as well as the other parts of the globe, professional licenses are required by agencies in order for them to hire the MUA. Bigger production companies have in-house makeup artists on their payroll although most MUA’s generally are freelance and their times remain flexible depending on the projects. The use of digital cameras may have made the use of bridal make up more popular.

Make-up and Hair Artists must be able to create make-ups and hairstyles to meet production requirements. They oversee make-up and hair continuity during filming and remove products as required. Make-up and Hair Artists are employed throughout pre-production and production, and usually work on a freelance basis.

Make-up and hair are key elements in the overall design of films and television productions, creating a look for the characters in relation to social class, and time periods, and any other elements required to create the desired illusion.

On film and TV dramas, their work is directed by Hair and Make-up Designers who provide them with detailed notes, character and scene breakdowns and, if necessary, reference pictures about the characters they must create. Sometimes, they may only receive a rough brief, and must produce their own script breakdown, and research and create their own design notes. They work on principal and supporting Actors, usually looking after several actors throughout the shoot. They must maintain the continuity of the actors' ‘look’.

On smaller productions, they negotiate terms with suppliers and wig and prosthetic makers, providing them with design specifications and ensuring that they deliver on time. They discuss color palettes with Production Designers and Costume Designers. They make appointments for, and if necessary, go with actors to wig fittings, facial hair fittings, prosthetic castings, optician and dental appointments.

Personal Make-up and Hair Artists are specifically requested by one of the principal Actors to work on their make-up and hair. Although they receive a rough brief from the Make-up and Hair Designer, they prepare their own script breakdown, and research and create their own designs.

Dailies work on productions on a day-to-day basis, usually on large crowd scenes.

In all cases, Hair and Make-up Artists check whether actors have any skin and/or scalp conditions in advance, and make sure that any allergies or sensitivities are taken into consideration. They must also carry out full risk assessments and develop procedures to control risks. They apply make-up, affix prosthetics, wash, cut, blow-dry, style and set hair, apply products and use specialized techniques to create specific designs. They set and dress wigs and hairpieces, and work with facial hair and false pieces, such as beards and moustaches. They may also apply special effects make-up, e.g., grazes, cuts and bruises, and bald caps.

They usually accompany their performers onto set, standing by to touch up make-up between takes, and ensuring that continuity notes are maintained using photographs. When the scenes have been shot, they remove performers' make-up, washing out products from their hair and conditioning it. They remove wigs and prosthetics, ensuring that they are cleaned and prepared for further use.

Duties

Answering to the director and production designer, the key makeup artist is a department head that is responsible for planning the makeup designs for all leading and supporting cast, to include cosmetic makeup and facial/body hair applications. When a special effects makeup artist has been hired on to the production, the key makeup artist will consult with this person on the execution of all prosthetics and SFX makeup. In production, the key artist will perform most of the daily makeup applications, while delegating additional responsibilities to subordinate crew. It is common that the department head performs makeup applications on lead cast, with assistance, and allows other crew members to work with supporting and minor roles, depending on seniority. The department head will execute especially complicated or important makeup processes that are to be featured on camera. The key makeup artist and crew remain on set or in the makeup trailer throughout the entire shooting day to perform touchups as needed and to remove makeup from performers.

In support of the function of the makeup department, the key makeup artist is ultimately responsible for recording continuity of makeup during shooting. The task of making notes in the script and photographing the cast may be delegated to another crewmember, but the department head will closely supervise these activities. This is to ensure that if re-shoots must be done, the crew can accurately recreate the look to match the previous footage. This person is also tasked with tracking and purchasing makeup materials and equipment, scheduling crew, and fabricating special prosthetics. Again, these tasks may be assigned to subordinate crew but are ultimately the responsibility of the department head.

Skills & Education

A formal degree is not required for a career as a key makeup artist, but training and practice are essential. Education can be gained through attaining a degree in film and television production or theatrical design with an emphasis on makeup, or through attending a traditional cosmetology school. Many working makeup artists learn in part by mentoring under a veteran of the industry. Basic techniques can be taught in a classroom environment, but continuing education under a seasoned master is necessary to pick up those individual trade secrets. While it is not a requirement that a makeup artist be a chemist, a basic understanding of chemistry is beneficial in adapting and innovating how different products are used. Many professionals are known to work up their own proprietary blends for use on set. Furthermore, as production cosmetics can vary widely from consumer products, a makeup artist must be aware of how the makeup will react to specific conditions of heat, moisture, and other cosmetics. Specific training in applying makeup for film and digital video is essential; this should include an in-depth course in production lighting and cameras.

What to Expect

Like most creative and skilled trades, makeup in film and television production is a field that requires constant and continued re-education. Each time you have mastered a particular technique or found a product to swear by, someone has innovated a newer, better version. At the very least, it keeps the work interesting. On the job, makeup artists can anticipate to work irregular schedules and long hours, depending on the production schedule. While the trailers on set may look familiar, shooting locations may vary from a production lot in LA to unpredictable terrain in the middle of the desert or a rainy tropical region. The key makeup artist must plan for all eventualities that can affect the function of his or her department; that means accounting for weather, electrical needs (in coordination with the generator operator), and ensuring that there is a sufficient quantity of extra supplies. When on location in a remote setting, there is no sending an assistant out for more Q-tips or concealer. As makeup artists often find themselves in very intimate settings with the cast in the application of facial and body makeup, a good artist should be discrete, polite, and always gentle with the mascara brush. It should go without saying, but a breath mint and good dose of deodorant go a long way in a small trailer.

Sources, References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, WikiBooks, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide Magazine, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Truity, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety, Wolf Crow, Get In Media, Production Beast, Sony Pictures,

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Makeup Stations / Photo Credit: The Makeup Light