Sports Fan...a day in the life of an MUA!

2010 started with phone calls from some production friends from Sloan Productions and Legacy Health Services. They were both putting together large shoots starring famous sports figures. In the past 25 years I have applied makeup on many big named sports stars like Michael Jordan, Jack Snow, The Rock and Jesse Ventura, to name just a few.

This time around, I would be working with pro golfer, Phil Mickelson, UFC Fighter, Nate "Rock" Quarry and retired NBA player, Bill Walton. I would be shooting two commercials - one for Callaway's Diablo Driver to be aired during CBS Sports' pre-game show prior to the Super Bowl and for NuVasive Creative Spine Technology.

I love working with sports stars because they understand the process of having to have makeup applied for on-camera appearances, but they are not as "fussy" as professional actors! The biggest challenge working with the gentlemen listed above was the fact that Bill Walton was 6 feet 11 inches tall and that required him to sit down in order for me to touch him up between takes! I am tall, but I am not that tall!!!

I also learned that I am very sports-challenged! I know very little about the games of football, wrestling, basketball, golf, etc. Makes it difficult to have a conversation and relate to the other "men" on the crew. No matter, I plan on sticking with knowing everything about lip gloss, powder, mascara and eye shadow!

On both of the HD shoots I turned to several products that I find easy to use on men who are not used to wearing makeup. Prepping the skin with Jan Marini's Age Intervention Prime helps matte the skin and makes for blending foundation easier.

Eve Pearl's Salmon Concealer Trio is used to cover dark circles and age spots and Eve Pearl's Anti-Shine helps to keep shine under control preventing the need for frequent touch ups under hot lighting.

NARS Powder Foundations are highly pigmented and I find that men prefer me to use powder instead of liquid or cream foundation. NARS' products are buildable and even out all skin tones. Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 repaired cracked, dry lips.

I am attaching a few behind-the-scenes photos and a video and I am honored to add these gentlemen to my resume!

Nate "Rock" Quarry, Melissa and Bill Walton - on the NuVasive set - January 2010

Phil Mickelson on set for Callaway's Diablo Driver - CBS Sports & Sloan Productions - February 2010

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A New Year in the life of an MUA!

Happy 2009 everyone!

It has been a little slow in the world of production for the past month, but I wanted to write a quick post mostly to let you all know that I am still alive and well and waiting for the phone to ring (ha, ha, but really I am waiting...)! Typically, January tends to be a tad slow for my business and I always seem to pick up in February and by the month of March I am booked and juggling a full calendar.

I have had the honor of being part of a few noteworthy shoots in the past few months. Most importantly, I worked with Tonya Mantooth, President and Executive Producer of Mantooth Productions on a 2009 commercial campaign for Anderson Plumbing, Heating and Air, which will run locally in San Diego.

Shot at the San Diego Production Center with an outstanding crew, these spots were all shot with white background in HD and utilizes many of Anderson's staff of professional plumbers (not actors)! Needless to say there were a ton of laughs because most of the big, burly men that are out in the field all day repairing and replacing pipes, were not used to wearing makeup! Some didn't even want me to touch them - flat out refused! Some sat quietly in my chair and were pleasantly surprised when I told them they would not feel a thing...makeup is painless and washable!

I like to use Nars Powder Foundation in these types of circumstances and with these types of clients. Especially when professional actors are not being used and when my clients are men or women who have never been on camera before or in a professional studio for that matter. Nars' products are easy to apply and provide high pigmentation which means I get results and coverage immediately. Also, Nars is a great product to use for HD because of the blendability and the application goes on smooth. When non-professional actors are in front of the camera, they tend to sweat much more than professionals and Nars' powder foundation cuts shine and holds up under the studio lights.

Overall, the shoot was great and we had a ton of fun! If you are looking for a quality sound-stage in the San Diego area, check out SDPC (click here to be directed to their website). They are a fully integrated media production company capable of producing a wide range of projects.



If you are in need of a seriously talented Executive Producer, Tonya Mantooth is the person you need to contact (via Lindiken). She is one of the most professional people I have had the privilege to work with in San Diego. What I truly appreciate most about Tonya is that she is able to direct and coach each crew member in such a way that we are all on the same page and working cohesively to produce her vision for the client. It is an honor to work with her and to be part of her crew!

Here are a few fun photos from the set! Enjoy!