Creative, Theatre & SFX Makeup

This type of career requires you to work on television, commercial or film sets, or in designated makeup trailers throughout the filming duration.

It can be quite complex or it can be simple so it varies on the production and character role. An example of a complex one is the special effects makeup artist working on a zombie character portrayed by an actor. A simple one could be enhancing the actor’s appearance through small touch-ups. 

There are four types of different film and television makeup artist roles: the main leader being the “key makeup artist”, next is the “makeup artist”, the “makeup assistant” and lastly the “special effects makeup artist” (also known as the “SFX makeup artist”).

• Key Makeup Artist (KMUA): They are in charge of designing each individual actor’s makeup. They get to apply makeup on lead roles and actors however they carry out the complex designs. On the other hand, they do delegate the makeup artists and makeup assistants to make sure the makeup runs smoothly throughout the film shooting. 
• Makeup Artist: These artists are responsible for applying makeup for non-leading actors and supporting roles. They are under the supervision of the key makeup artist and they’re responsible for achieving the original designs by the KMUA. 
• Makeup Assistant: They assist the makeup artists with body makeup application on the actors (for example, body painting or body art) along with organising the makeup kits and other smaller tasks. The KMUA may also send them tasks to accommodate the “photographing casts’” makeup and ensure that it is consistent in reshoots (if necessary). 
• Special Effects Makeup Artist: Known as an SFX Makeup Artist (as mentioned previously), their job can be quite divisively challenging. They are required to have knowledge of basic film makeup and advanced SFX makeup techniques. They are responsible for any special makeup effects alongside applying prosthetics (i.e wounds, winkles, supernatural features for dramatic effects, etc) or applying “foam latex” (these are used to create three-dimensional prosthetic effects).

Your job is to apply makeup to characters portrayed by actors to enhance their natural physical appearance. Other times you will be working with different characters that require heavy specialty makeup for that desired look (such as airbrushing, wigs, prosthetics, hairpieces and more). Not only will you be applying makeup, but your job might also require you to read scripts, and study the characters and background settings to create the sketches. 

The front-row audience (remotely from the stage) will be looking at the actors’ expressions so it is crucial to make the actors “look their best” by making their cheeks rosier and eyes look bigger. Lighting will also have an effect on their makeup as well