A DEFINITE FOR HIGH DEFINITION!

I have to rave about this fabulous product.

I have been using the ‘Graftobian High Definition Pro powder’ palette for just over a year now and it is the best of the best.

Graftobian Makeup Co. was established in 1978 and is a manufacturer and distributor of virtually every type of makeup.

The palette has lasted for the whole year and has been used on many films and photo shoots with only two of the colours having to be replaced.

Apart from the obvious, being that it is suitable for High Definition work as it is undetectable on screen or film, it lasts for ages and can be reapplied without any hassle.

I use it for concealing, highlight and shade and keeping shine at bay.

I purchased my palette from the fabulous online store ‘Makeup and Glow’ and haven’t looked back since.

You can purchase the complete 8 pan palette and any refills from www.makeupandglow.com.au while you’re there check out all the other amazing products they offer.

COMPETITIVE CLIENTS

When a potential client approaches you to do their Hair and Makeup for a competition, think strongly about whether you wish to be a part of this type of arrangement.

Now, I am speaking about competitions like amateur Karaoke contests or other amateur performing comps.
They will leave you saying that they love what you have done and are happy with the result.
Everything will be just peachy keen.

However, from my own experience, I can tell you it’s not worth the hassle.
They usually want things done on the super cheap and expect too much bang for their buck.
They’re expectations are set way too high and as a result, they have a long way to fall.
They’re amateur performers and have very little experience with winning and losing and as a result they are usually very sore losers.

Apart from this the main reason I suggest not doing someone’s Hair and Makeup for a competition is because when or if they don’t win, instead of understanding that it could be a number of things that made them lose, they will blame you and the Hair and Makeup.

My suggestion is to steer clear of them.

A DAY AT THE OFFICE

Sometimes people ask me what it’s like to work in the Film Industry doing what I do.
Many think it’s fun and glamourous and that there’s lots of sitting around doing nothing.
Well, it can be fun and glamourous and there might be some times when you have to wait for hours while other crew members set up and such, but let me reassure you that it is NO picnic!

You see, I don’t rock up to work at 8:30am and sit behind a desk until lunch when I enjoy a one hour break then return to the desk and continue until 5:00pm when I leave and go home, cook some dinner, potter around for how ever long, then go to bed.
I don’t get to just switch everything off, including my brain, and then leave.

Of course all the people who currently work in this Industry will relate to exactly what I am saying here but there are a lot of people who aren’t aware of what we do.

So for all those who would like to know?
This is a basic breakdown of a day in my field of work on a low budget project…
(This doesn’t differ much from when you are working on a big budget project except for a few things here and there.)

3:00am – Wake up, get ready and check that I have everything needed for the day.
4:00am – Travel to location.
4:30am – Arrive to location and set up.
5:00am – Hair and Makeup begin - most of the time I am making up a couple of actors at a time.
7:00am – Be on set, which may be quite a distance away.
The next 5 hours is spent running back and forth from set - retouching makeup’s to off set - doing other actors makeup’s, keeping track of continuity, setting up any SFX rigs and doing any SFX makeup on set and off set when required. Sometimes changing locations when needed.
12:00pm – Lunch - supplied at the location.
12:30pm – Hair and Makeup revision, retouches (especially mouths) and more actors’ makeup’s.
1:00pm – Be on set, sometimes in a different location from the one prior.
Again, the next 5 hours is spent running back and forth from set - retouching makeup’s to off set - doing other actors makeup’s, keeping track of continuity, setting up any SFX rigs and doing any SFX makeup on set and off set when required. Sometimes changing locations when needed.
6:00pm – Dinner, if you’re lucky - supplied at the location.
6:30pm – Begin “wrapping” the talent, removing Makeup, any prosthetics and Hair styling.
7:30pm – Pack up, clean work area and liaise with Producer, AD’s and Director about next day.
8:30pm – Travel home or to where you are staying.
9:00pm – Clean and sanitise makeup kit, brushes, tools, wash towels and hang to dry.
– organise makeup kit, brushes, tools and anything else required for the next day’s shoot.
10:00pm – Go to bed, if you can.

Repeat this, 5 – 6 days a week for however long the shoot period is.
Add to this - very strict time pressures, handling a wide gamut of creative personalities including some really needy actors, running everywhere, carting makeup bags everywhere, having makeup, blood and hair up to your elbows, constantly washing your hands, standing in broad searing sunlight or freezing cold dark for 14 hours, hearing your name called at least 100 times a day, supervising any assistants you may be lucky to have and remaining pleasant and approachable at all times.

As you can see, to have a career in this Industry, being talented and well connected is a must but stamina, patience, passion and massive sacrifice plays a more major role.

And yet, if I ever do apply for a normal 9 to 5 job, with all my professional and personal experience – I don’t even get a reply from the employer. Hilarious!! Rude!! I say, “Work one day on set with me and see how long you can last”.

Now I am not saying that the average job is not stress filled and tiring but it does kinda make you laugh when you hear a desk jockey complain about how tired they are or how bad their day at work was.

But hey…

Apart from all of this, and call me mental if you wish, I LOVE this Industry and I LOVE working in it!

HEAVEN ON EARTH?

I get a great number of emails asking me where to buy casting, molding and sculpting products and tools as well as SFX supplies, so, in case you haven’t heard, there is a fabulous new place open in Woolloongabba that sells everything you need.

The company is ‘Barnes’ and they have been around since 1986 and they've been growing ever since, now they are in Brisbane!

If you need anything for casting, molding, sculpting and special effects this is a “must visit” place!

My dear friend Kym Sainsbury is there to assist you with all your enquiries and because she has been a prosthetics guru for 20 odd years in the Film Industry she knows her stuff.

There are also future plans for Kym to hold workshops on many aspects of casting and mold making. Learn from the master!!!

You will also get to meet my fabulous Dad who works there as well.

Make sure you say a big hello from me.

Trust me – go there, you’ll think you’re in heaven…

All the products are a really excellent price and you will get all the advice you need to use them.

But take your credit card because you’ll end up spending big time!

Visit the Barnes website for more info.

JUST FOR THE RECORD

A film producer is someone who selects a screenplay, initiating the process of film making. They oversee the entire process including coordinating, supervising and controlling matters such as fund-raising, hiring key personnel such as the film director, other producers involved on production, line producer, accountant and they arrange avenues for the films distribution.

They also advise and control creating the scenes and conditions for making movies. The producer is totally involved throughout all phases of the filmmaking process from development to completion of a project.

I have worked with a number of Producers over the years and I accept that this role is one which requires hard work and dedication – most of the Producers I have worked with have been pretty much on top of their game and I would gladly work with them again.

Unfortunately though, there is one “Producer” I have worked with recently who shall remain anonymous that was completely delusional in thinking that they were able to refer to themselves as a Producer.

This person has worked on other projects and has been demoted and even fired from most of them because of their inability to come through with the promises they made, straight up lies and deceit, theft from the production budget and apparent attempts at sabotage.

The whole project, the cast and crew were all put in highly dangerous and stressful situations due to this person simply not doing their job and when anyone attempted to resolve these situations they were met with complacency and denial.

Currently, there are Chinese whispers being spread about the shoot and certain people who worked on it and I would ask anyone who hears such rumours to take them with a grain of salt as it is just this persons attempt at covering their footprints.

If you ever wish to know the truth about people then go to the source and don’t listen to any he said she said rubbish.

I will never work this person again and I will make certain that whenever their name is mentioned I will inform those who need to know about their ongoing blunders.

If you are hired to work on a gig make sure you do some research into the person who is hiring you and have a very strict contract signed prior to any work being initiated.

PRE PRODUCTION OR PREMATURE PRODUCTION

To all the independent, low budget filmmakers, Directors and Producers out there please understand that in order to have your production run smoothly and look great you need to allocate a decent amount of time for pre production.
There is a reason why major films are in pre production for months and months prior to the commencement of principle photography and this is because when you do eventually begin filming you don’t have time to even scratch your arse let alone organise requirements for the film.
This growing trend of thinking that you can pull a film together in a week or two is not only incorrect but it is immature and mindless.
Remember, the Industry has been around for a lot longer than half of you have been alive and there is always a good reason as to why things are done a certain way – usually it’s because it has been tried and tested and it works.
The more time you allow for pre production, the better your film will be.
I know it’s hard for you to control your excitement when funding comes through and you really want to get your project out there but most of us need at least 3- 4 months to order materials from overseas and have them delivered.
In my case, because it is not just a simple fact of hiring equipment at the last minute, I actually have to design and make all of the prosthetics, hair, makeups and SFX props for the entire film – they don’t just magically appear from 'mystical makeup world' and because I am too busy during the shoot applying these items to humans I do not have enough time to continue making them on set nor do I have the facilities to do so.
So, before you venture onto your next project, please be courteous and respectful enough to realise that there is a lot of hard work that goes into making your project look good and allow enough reasonable time for us to do our jobs effectively.
Oh and while your at it, maybe try to understand that we don’t just start work on day 1 of the shoot, usually we have started work on the film months in advance and we should be paid accordingly for this.
Just a thought. ;)

IF THE SHOE FITS...

As I had predetermined, there has been a bit of a back lash from my last post.
This is to be expected as it is a very fragile topic which creates a lot of “passionate” reaction.
While most people who have commented on the post have been in agreement with it and have sent their kudos to me for saying what is on everyone's minds, there have been some people who still cannot see the error of their own ways.
If you are one of the people who were completely outraged by the post then I suggest you attempt to discover why this has affected you so negatively and others so positively.
This is something that only you can do and it will probably take you some time and research in order to resolve it.
You can make a start by visiting the government website for the arts and viewing the latest submissions regarding the recent review of the Australian Independent Screen Sector, you can find them here.
Some of these submissions are from individuals and companies who are well known and viable resources in the Industry and if you have any consideration you will be heart broken at what they have to say about the current state of the Industry and what they have had to endure.
These are your Seniors and you should be listening to what they have to say – it's called respect.
Of course there will be those of you who simply do not care and only care about yourselves, to you I say, “The Industry that you are working towards getting into will no longer be there when it comes to your time to shine. If you don't start being more considerate of what is happening and your involvement in it's future then you are not going to have the chance to work in it.”
Please try to understand that the majority of talented and professional people who work in this Industry are no longer going to tolerate professional lacklustre and the demise of their Industry due to the select few who simply cannot, or refuse to, understand.
To anyone who has taken the last post to heart I sincerely apologise, I was very careful not to mention any names so if you feel as though you have been “outed” then please realise that it is you that have “outed” yourself by reacting the way you have.
There is a massive change happening at the moment, you have the choice to be a part of that change or be left behind continuing on a broken path.