TASK 6

Make-up artists are essential members of any TV, film, theatre or fashion crew. It is up to them to make models or actors 'look' the part they are playing. This can be anything from creating a natural everyday look for a newsreader or a scary monster for a fantasy film.

There are generally 3 kinds of make-up artistry for the media. Firstly, fashion make-up is required for models on a magazine shoot or on the catwalk in a fashion show. The make-up will need to be suitable for the clothes that the model is wearing and the image that the designer is trying to portray. Theatrical make-up is required for performers on the stage. Musicals such as Cats and the Lion King require great skill and patience from make-up artists but non-musical productions also need make-up artists as the audience needs to see the expressions and emotions of the actors. Special effects make-up is used for TV dramas such as hospital dramas for those gory injuries or for films where an illusion is created. For example, a film like Planet of the Apes requires prosthetics such as masks to make actors look like apes. However, new technology also has a part to play. High Definition television is accessible to many of us and because of the super-sharp images that are now filmed the make-up needs to be even more flawless and realistic.

Make-up artists work very closely with the lighting technicians, production and costume designers, the camera and lighting crew, the performers and the directors as they have to make the person up in accordance with the light and the production or show they are working on.