Being a makeup artist in the industry gives you a chance to live your dreams. Hear how the pros built their careers working in film.

Makeup Artists on Movie Sets

I know some talented makeup artists in the industry, some in San Francisco and others in Hollywood. Being a makeup artist can be a fun and challenging job.

The hardest part is establishing yourself in the industry. You start at the bottom and work your way up to the top. If you appreciate working with people intimately and helping them look their best for the camera and fans, you will do fine.

But you must be willing to work hard and be on your feet all day. You will most likely be one of the last people to leave the set. The job is yours if you can handle its responsibilities.

Once you have your foot in the door with steady and well-paid work, you can keep it glamorous by setting up appointments with celebrities before red carpets, interviews, and the like. Or you can work on a film set. Whatever you desire.

Whatever you choose as a makeup artist, you must keep your integrity and never bank on your profession. Keep your cards to your chest and your nose clean. You will succeed far more than your dreams could imagine.

Reana Goodhew Makeup Artist: Independent Horror

Reana Goodhew’s credits include One, a Lance Henriksen horror movie; a horror movie with Eric Roberts called 7 Deadly Sins; William Baldwin and Bill Moseley in Minutes to Midnight; Tony Todd, Bill Moseley, and Kane Hodder in Harrison Smith’s Death House. She also worked on the “555” video by Jimmy Eat World.

“I’m a huge horror fan. The first horror film I saw was The Exorcist, with Dick Smith’s makeup. From there, I fell in love with all the Hellraiser movies, Halloween, and so forth.”

Goodhew talks about becoming a professional makeup artist in Hollywood. “I like the challenge of creating good horror makeup. Making something horrifying look truly believable is a challenge,” she exclaims.

She also enjoys working in horror because “you’re able to create things aside from application makeups.” She is talking about creating body parts, wounds, dead bodies, fake heads, and so forth.

“I definitely get to use my artistic background to create and color, which I enjoy,” adds Goodhew.

She has been working as a special effects makeup artist for seven years. Her background comes from art in painting and sculpting, but she attended the Cinema Makeup School.

Creating Body Parts, Wounds, Fake Heads, and Dead Bodies

The advice Goodhew gives to those who want to work in Hollywood:

“Work hard, be persistent, and always keep pushing yourself. As an artist, we never stop learning or growing in our career. Always try to build on your skills, even when you’re not working on a job. Not everyone will have the same path pursuing makeup as a career. There are so many options. Ultimately find your path and go with it.”

See the Echoes of Fear trailer below to see some of Goodhew’s creature work.

Laura’s Stage Jobs

Laura lived in Los Angeles and worked at a cosmetic counter when she got involved in doing makeup on performers for school plays.

While putting makeup on the performers, she studied and learned various stage makeup techniques, and eventually knew how to apply all types of makeup on a performer.

In the process, she discovered how much she liked doing makeup and flourished in her career.

Makeup Artist Movie Jobs

Deciding that she wanted to make this her career in films, Laura got in touch with some major studios.

However, they wouldn’t hire her because she wasn’t a union member and needed a job to be in the union.

The common problem for most novices in film careers is that you need the experience to get a job, but you can’t get experience unless you have a job.

Laura decided to contact several independent movie companies because independent films often have agreements with the union that they don’t have to hire union members.

With some persistence, she talked her way into a job on a biker movie as a makeup assistant, helping the makeup artist do whatever she wanted her to do.

Another essential point to breaking into the film business is to do whatever the production needs to help get the movie made. You have to be willing to work hard and be ready to serve your immediate boss.

Oscar Winner Joe Harlow Sets the Tone

The remake of Hellboy revamped the character and makeup design with Oscar-winning Joe Harlow set the tone for the crew to create a new Hellboy character.

In a press junket interview, Harlow talked about designing the look of Hellboy and imagine how much work went into creating the comic book anti-hero.

Lucas Godfrey’s Special Effects Makeup for Hell Fest

In an interview with Lucas Godfrey, who did special effects makeup for the horror movie Hell Fest and The Walking Dead series, talks about his experience with special effects makeup during the production of Hell Fest.

Watching these types of interviews helps you understand what these people do and who they are. The more you know about them and their credits, the more chances you have of recognizing them and their work.

Nothing impresses an artist more than someone truly recognizing them for their work in films.

One Way to Get Started as a Makeup Artist

Laura’s advice for those who want to do special effects makeup is to get a job selling cosmetics.

“Once you learn the basics,” she says, “you can offer to do makeup for school and community theaters or talk to your friends into letting you practice on them.

The important thing,” she asserts, “is to practice your craft.”

Depending on the production, makeup artists on a film set make roughly $40–$50 an hour. They make $73,250 to $88,200 or more a year.

Working With Sir Anthony Hopkins and Anne Hathaway

Makeup and hair designer Nana Fisher worked with Sir Anthony Hopkins on Armageddon Time. In an interview, Fisher discussed working with the actor and their steps to show his character’s health decline.

Fisher talks about the skin color choices, such as yellow, green and grey.

In another interview, Fisher talked about matching the hair colors of the family. She talks about working with Anne Hathaway.

Makeup Artists Salaries

All in all, you can live your dream and become a makeup artist in any field. Laura entered a fabulous field that is rewarding artistically as well as financially. The same thing can happen if you learn your craft and start finding jobs.