2008 Update

It's been a long time since I have posted my current work on my blog and I am sorry for not keeping in touch - it's been very busy these past few months, so I thought I would combine some of my most interesting work in one blog post and get up-to-date!!!!

I have added several new clients to my resume including: Cisco Systems, Qualcomm, Ken Hansen Photography, Mantooth Productions, Waldorf-Crawford LLC, HSV Productions, Jenny Craig, CNN, CBS and Animal Planet. Most based in San Diego and Los Angeles, with the exception of CBS and Animal Planet based out of New York.

In early September I was invited to speak at the San Diego Filmmaker's Association. I had attended meetings in the past at the Groovy Like A Movie production house, but never spoke before so I was a little nervous. It was a very fun experience and it took me through a journey of the past and present. The board of directors asked me to also provide a visual portfolio of my work which played on a flat screen behind me during my talk. It was interesting for me to look at my past work and remind myself of what I had accomplished in the last 20 years! That term "time flies" is true. Looking at my portfolio felt like I had just worked on all of those projects yesterday! I spoke mainly about how to work with a professional makeup artist. What to expect from someone like me and how to get the most out of your makeup budget. I was asked a ton of questions about my past work on films like Terminator, Ailens, Invaders from Mars and what it was like to work with celebrities. I met and hope to see again several interesting and very talented individuals.



September also brought me CNN Headline News shot out of Coastal Media, which is a satellite company located in San Diego. Currently I have worked on several Headline News broadcasts hosted by Mike Galanos, the Nancy Grace Show and Larry King Live. This is an ongoing project and I am very proud and grateful to part of this team.



Ken Hansen Photography gave me the opportunity to work with Qualcomm for both Dr. Irving Jacobs and Dr. Paul Jacobs. Ken is an amazing photographer based in San Diego and shoots everything from corporate portraits to lifestyle magazine editorials to product advertisements. I am always learning and experiencing new opportunities in my line of work. I had no idea of the inner workings of Qualcomm and of their national and international status. It was humbling to be in the company of the Jacobs' family and listening to their world-changing accomplishments.



Tonya Mantooth of Mantooth Productions based in Solana Beach, California asked me to be part of a Maritime video she was shooting out of the San Diego Production Center. Tonya is an amazing producer/director and has a very talented crew who produce several commercials for MJE Marketing Services. I worked with Tonya for Aviatech on the New Car Dealer's Association commercial last year and blogged about it under the post - International Car Show October 2007 archive. At the end of October, Mantooth Productions also produced the 2008 commercial again for the New Car Dealer's Association which will air two-weeks before Christmas - keep your eye out! I created a 40's theme makeup for this commercial based on direction from Tonya and MJE Marketing.




October was filled with animals, computer technology turning "green" and special effects! First, CBS called and asked if I would be part of a new show called Behind the Clip airing on Animal Planet at the end of this year. Chris Leary is hosting and the first episode was being shot in San Diego.

Shot on HD by HVS Productions this show is based on fun YouTube videos of animals doing amazing "stunts" and how their owners or trainers get the animals to perform. This project gave me the chance to meet and work with Joan Embry. She has worked with and cared for many large and small animals in her lifetime and has devoted most of her time to animal causes. She owns 60-plus acres of land in San Diego, which she maintains for animals needing homes or that are rescued from their natural habitats. She is an ambassador for the Wild Animal Park and had the world's first "painting" Elephant named Carol. She brought her talented pet on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in the 70's and told us that Carol just "flung" the paint brush everywhere instead of painting on the canvas that was provided. At the end of the night, Carol had covered Johnny Carson head-to-toe in paint on live T.V.!




Ken Hansen Photography called again and asked if I would be part of a lifestyle shoot for a t-shirt company that was coming out with a new product line geared toward a very specific type of lifestyle. I was intrigued and when I met with the client they had initially asked me if I could do Zombie makeup, but I could tell that they needed more. After a few more questions, I discovered that they wanted me to create makeup based on Black Metal music. I immediately started researching this genre which I discovered started with Kiss and Alice Cooper, but has since blossomed into a type of lifestyle that band members, as well as everyday people live on a daily basis. It was cult-like and involves satan worshipping, but nevertheless, was intriguing to me as an artist. The t-shirt company called Visual Unrest has several incredible artists who create the most intense art for apparel. T-shirt lines include distinctive Military apparel to the Nightshades line (which is what I worked on with them).



Cisco Systems asked me to be part of their annual sales meeting held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Carlsbad. They sponsor the event and bring in several CIO's from major companies from all over the world. The meeting this year was going to be different in the fact that it was going to be totally "green." From the food to the set design - Cisco was going "green." I worked with the production team from The Horvath Group, which included the incredibly talented DP, Jimmy G to capture this historic event! Let's hope other major companies follow in Cisco's invisible footprint!

November had me up to my elbows in blood, positivity and how to eat right during the holiday season!!!!! First up was Jenny Craig and Waldorf-Crawford LLC. Producer/Director Marcia Crawford called and asked me to be part of a series of Jenny Craig webisodes airing in the next few weeks which will help individuals get started and maintain weight loss during the holiday seasons! This team was full of energy, talent and the amount of footage captured in a day was outstanding!

My friends over at DOP (Digital Outpost) called to ask me to use my Special Effects training to create a car bomb victim - complete with facial and body burns and tons of blood! I love all aspects of my career, but special effects is challenging and fun and I couldn't wait to get out my brushes and get started. This shoot was full of fire, explosives and the most talented DOP crew!





The past three months have been amazing and fun.......thanks everyone!!!!!

RedFire Branding...a hot day in the life of an MUA

Got a call from one of the most dynamic women I have ever met! Her name is Liz Goodgold and she is a writer, speaker, marketing genius and all around cool lady!

She asked if I could help out by providing makeup for a video/photography shoot she was doing to update her website. So glad I said yes because it was such a pleasure to meet Liz and we had a blast working together (for definition of "blast" check out the pictures below).

Shot on location at Ray Street Studios in the heart of San Diego, Liz brought together a fantastic team and because of her quick wit and infectious personality, this shoot was a great success.

Here is a little background on Liz: she has 25 years experience in every area of marketing, naming, branding, advertising and new media. Her clients include Quaker Oats, Macmillan Publishing, Times Mirror, Baskin-Robbins, Univision, and AMN HealthCare to name just a few. She has been seen on CNN, NBC, ABC and CBS. Liz has been published in The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal and many recognize her from her columns in Entrepreneur magazine. Click here to go directly to RedFire Branding's website.





Variety - a diverse day in the life of an MUA

The reason I love being a makeup artist is because of the variety of work that comes my way! One day I could be on a film set in Los Angeles and the next I could be on a photo shoot in a remote location of the world!

Recently, I got a phone call from a women who was looking for a makeup artist for her daughter's upcoming Sweet 16 party! She told me that she had come up with a really great idea to celebrate this milestone by incorporating one of her daughter's favorite reality t.v. shows -- the very famous and fun -- America's Next Top Model. There was going to be a catwalk, designer dresses, shoes, handbags, a professional photographer, a hairstylist and maybe even a Ms. J impersonator!! I have never been asked to participate in anything like this before and thought it sounded like so much fun! So I immediately accepted the job and off I went to the location, which was a very beautiful and private estate where the party would take place.

Now traditionally, I would have been in some sort of makeup room or trailer with my clients coming in and out and me throwing all sorts of products into my set bag and accompanying them for touch up purposes, but my makeup area in this case was an enormous bathroom - just like when I work one-on-one before a red carpet event. So, I knew exactly what to do and how to set up my supplies!

The party was a success and I will be stealing this idea when my girls turn 16 -- hope Ms. Tyra and America's Next Top Model are still around by then! Each girl at this party was treated to a professional make-over and as a party favor was given very glamorous photos of herself! I would have loved to have had a Sweet 16 like this!

It was funny how the very next day I was back in the studio working on a very professional shoot and in my makeup room with all the same supplies (plus a few others for HD purposes). It really reminded me how lucky I am to have chosen a profession where it is impossible for me to ever be bored! The diversity of my work is incredible and I am always working with some of the most amazing and talented individuals!

Check out the photos below to get a better idea of what this post is all about and feel free to steal the party idea for yourself -- just don't forget to hire me as the makeup artist!!!!





Maqpro, Paris France - a french day in the life of an MUA...

Earlier this month I traveled to Paris, France for business with my very good friend and fellow makeup artist, Tricia Sawyer. Before we left for our trip, another fellow makeup artist, Ve Neil, told us to pay a visit to an incredible makeup store called Maqpro. The Maqpro cosmetic line has only two locations -- France and England. We called, made an appointment and we were greeted by the two most wonderful people, Nine and Alain.

They gave us a tour of their store and lab and told us the history behind their product line. They are "old school," which is exactly what I love! The store was packed with a variety of cream foundations, eye shadows, cheek colors and lipsticks filled with amazing pigment. It was as if I had died and gone to makeup heaven!

Alain, who has been a makeup and special effects artist for many years, was kind enough to give both myself and Tricia a makeover. This was the first time I have ever had another makeup artist put makeup on my face! Now I know what all the fuss is about (just kidding)! But, it was great to listen and learn from an amazing artist trained in France.

Speaking with Alain about different special effects techniques was something I will never forget. He was so informative and showed me their entire line - including stage blood that washes out of wardrobe with cold water! I have never, until now, found an effects blood that didn't stain the skin or clothing! French makeup techniques are similar to the U.S., but their products are high above American standard, I mean after all, they are French!

Below are a few pictures for you to enjoy and know that I have stocked my kit with all kinds of French goodies to use on my next projects! It was just the most fabulous day in Paris!!!







Special Effects...a day in the life of an MUA

I love doing all types of special effects, be it injuries like cuts or gashes, bruises, tattoos, missing body parts, aging effects, gross teeth, etc., so I thought I would post a few photos from a couple of shoots I have done recently.

In the past year, almost every set I have worked on used HD, which means that when I have been asked to do some type of special effect on an actor/actress, I have to do tests prior to make sure the effect looks believable on HD. HD picks up every thing so my make-up technique has to be perfect and well blended or the final result will be horrible!

I also don't believe in the new make-up lines that are popping up with HD make-up. I have found that what I have always used is great on HD -- it is the make-up artist's technique that makes the difference! A sloppy make-up artist can get away with bad application on some shoots, but no longer if using HD!

I have posted the before and after shot for you to enjoy! The bruise shots are for an upcoming video that is for a private organization and I am not allowed to talk about it. Sorry. The aging pictures are from a student film (yes, I like to help out the up and coming Hollywood hopefuls). This girl was 17 and needed to look like an old "granny!" What a day!







Look Book Shoot - a day in the life of an MUA

I was up in Los Angeles last week to help my good friend and fellow make-up artist, Tricia Sawyer, with a shoot for a new clothing company called Keep Me.

Shot on a private beach in Malibu, California, these photographs will be used for the clothing line's "Look Book" -- which is what designers use to market their garments to boutiques or department stores.

Keep Me was created by Anne des Barres and Ali Kay who noticed a gap in the marketplace when it came to comfortable, indoor lounge wear. Anne started her fashion career with Marc Jacobs International and then became International and Domestic Production Manager for the fashion house of Diane von Frustenberg. Ali attended the prestigious Columbia University where she received her B.A. in Political Science while simultaneously launching the debut collection of Keep Me at Henri Bendel.

Keep your eyes peeled for this new line which is due to hit major department stores toward the end of the month!



American Dream Cinema/PSA -- just another day at the office for an MUA

Shot a great PSA for American Dream Cinema this week in La Jolla, California for the City of San Diego. The message was to keep the ocean clean and not pollute our environment because eventually all disgusting waste that should be put in a trash can or recycle bin ends up in our ocean. I live near the ocean and love the beach, so this was especially meaningful to me.

The spot breaks down like this....a tourist is walking around La Jolla enjoying the sunny day and the beach. He litters and that creates a karmic backlashing from the "city." This guy starts to have a very, very bad day. First he is doused by a sprinkler, then he is splashed in the face by a punk rocker chick throwing out dirty floor mopping water from a pizza place, he is then sprayed in the face with grass clippings from an absent-minded gardener and finally he is splashed with contaminated ocean water (all from his careless littering).

The grass clippings scene was fun to shoot because the grass had to stick all over his face and body. I covered the actor with Karo Syrup and grass -- it was soooo sticky! The grass had to be in his ears, eyebrows, back of his neck, on his chest, arms, legs -- almost all exposed skin was covered in grass, including his wardrobe. There was also a stunt team brought in on day two because the actor is supposed to "fall" off a wall and land in/near the contaminated ocean. So, the stunt double had to be covered in the Karo Syrup/grass concoction.

I was joined again with Emmy Award winning director and producers, Devin and Jeanne Scott, and the crew from American Dream Cinema was a very professional team. Shot on HD and using a Red Rock Lens, this PSA looked amazing and the client was impressed with the results. This spot will air sometime late spring or early summer locally.

Check out the photos below -- just another day at the office!








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