Motoko on television makeup

Motoko offers advice on makeup for television

TV Makeup

Hi Motoko,
I’m trying to break into the television business. Do you have any recommendations on techniques and products for makeup that will look good on TV?
Jenna

Hello Jenna,

Welcome to our make-up world!

I am not a TV specialist, but I can give you some suggestions.
If you have no experience as a make-up artist or beginner, I recommend that you go to make-up school and get a good education there. They teach you how to do make-up for TV, film and still photography. Usually, the school which you graduate from tries to help you get jobs. First, you may have opportunities to volunteer or assist TV make-up artists. You will learn a lot by working with experienced artists. The main point is you have to work as much as possible. You can also search for jobs through movie/TV industries trade magazine like Back Stage West.

If you are already an experienced make-up artist, you can still find jobs through trade magazines. You can also go to TV production companies or studios, and find out if any shows need a make-up artist or assistant; however, if you are not in the union it is hard to get a make-up position on most TV shows (non-union shows are more accessible). You need to know who to contact — who you know in this industry is key.

Nowadays, high definition TV shows all details of the face, so you have to learn how to deal with this. You cannot do old school make-up techniques, which uses heavy make-up (although they still seem to do old style make-up for Soap Operas). You have to do beautiful make-up, showing nice skin tone and covering where you have to, but not look like powdering the face or piling on foundation. You may have to choose micronized powder, whose particles are tiny.

Also, it’s important that you should know who and what you are dealing with — this means you have to know the script, character, and audience very well when you apply the make-up on talent for TV shows.

Please get lots of experience and learn as much as you can.
Good luck!

Please leave your questions for Motoko and she will be glad to answer each and every one.