Hey all!
We still don’t have a Makeup Artist Lounge where we could discuss all things makeupy for film & TV – but I’m really hoping it will catch on. I don’t even see the ‘Anything Goes’ forum lounge in the dropdown list of all lounges in the banner/header up top. Can we at least get that? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? :)
For those of you who missed it, here is the link to my Makeup Department (Part 1: The Basics) article to copy and paste for your reference:
https://www.stage32.com/lounge/anything_goes/Makeup-Department-Part-1-Th...
BTW, I stand it solidarity with my writer counterparts – the executives of the streaming services need to give the content creators fair pay! (I saw this protest sign pic the other day and I thought I’d share it :) I think it struck me funny as entertainment MUAs often start out doing bridal.)
This post is long, but I promise, there are some really great tips here. Let’s get to it!
How to find a Makeup Artist (MUA):
- Aside from the obvious (searching for an MUA here on Stage 32) you can peruse FB, Insta, or ProductionHUB (provided you have an account), or you can Google entertainment industry makeup schools in the vicinity of the production location. Contact the school, ask if they have an alumni work placement program, then tell them what you are looking for. They will likely give you a list of talented, certified artists that could be of tremendous assistance to your search.
Be sure to check out portfolios and read bios. You won’t regret having taken the time to find just the right person for the job, I promise.
What to look for:
- Does your production require vintage or historical makeups and hair? Horror, zombies or other creatures of the night (that don’t sparkle – or maybe they do)? Character makeups such as bruises, scrapes or black eyes (or the like)? Something else?
If your production requires more than beauty/male grooming and hair, you will want to find someone who can get the job done…and done realistically.
Obviously, you want to see professional photographs on their websites…right? Well, that can be a blessing and a curse. If the pictures seem TOO professionally shot, there is always the possibility of heavy photoshop use. Look for a mix of behind the scenes/makeup room shots and actual finished product like production stills and/or headshots.
Describe your production and ask questions of the potential MUA:
- Describing your production, the locations, and what you require is the easy part. But if you want a polished look to your film, then you or your producer should really take the time to ask questions. After you have found a candidate (or two) and have looked at their portfolio, you can ask about certain shots that are in line with what you need for your production. You can ask if they do hair, or how long a particular black eye or monster makeup took, or how long it would take to do, say, 4 men’s grooming and 3 beauty makeups – or how ever many talent/faces you have in your project.
Rate Negotiations for Producers/Directors/Makeup Artists:
- I can’t tell you how many people don’t know how to negotiate rates, and I admit, it’s an uncomfortable thing to do. But it’s entirely necessary so that both parties go in fully informed of what is expected. This can be done over email – but you can also do it by phone – although, I warn you, there will not be a paper trail to refer back to, if needs be. The following is a sample dialog when dealing with rate negotiations:
Producer: Can you tell me what your rates are?
MUA: Sure. I take into consideration how many faces -- which determines what my kit fee is, if I need to bring my hair kit, if there is SFX involved and how much, how far the drive is from my base to the location. Can you tell me what will be involved?
Producer: Hair and makeup for one lead woman, very natural with long, brunette hair, one lead man, one supporting man and three male extras – two of them have been in a fight, so there is some blood and initial swelling/bruising. We will be shooting (insert dates here), two days at an office in Glendale, then days three and four will be up near the Hollywood sign.
MUA: Four days, here in town, six people – H &M, plus some SFX. My rate for that would be $200 a day. (Side note: For a professional MUA, between $200 - $250 is a standard going rate. Heavy SFX artists and more faces, the rates can go to $300 - $400 per day. More faces may require an assistant, but trust your MUA to determine that, and hire and pay them.)
((Now, THAT is often where the conversation comes to a screeching halt. But you need to know, it doesn’t have to end here! A confident, informed producer or director is totally allowed to go in with a counter offer! My advice is, do NOT expect a MUA to provide their services for next to nothing. This is how they make a living. You wouldn’t expect your editor or writer to cut their fees in half, would you?))
Producer: I see. Well, we only have it in the budget for $160 per day. Would you be willing to go down a bit?
MUA: Tell you what, can you make it $185 per day?
Producer: We could probably do $180. Can you make that work?
MUA: If you have the supporting man and the extras come with their hair camera-ready, I can do it for $180/day.
Producer: Done!
Send the MUA a deal memo, the script for a proper H & M breakdown, get their contact info to the production coordinators for any last min changes, and you are good to go!
I know you will be thrilled when you see the finished product. You’ll never want to go without a Makeup Department ever again.
Have questions? Need advice? Did I leave anything out?
If I have opened a dialog or made you think, then I have done what I set out to do: INFORM and EDUCATE.
Thanks for reading!
:)
Gina
