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 year in review...

Even though 2009 started off slowly, it is ending with a big bang! I was proud to be part of many incredible productions this year and also happy to be part of the magic that is television and filmmaking in San Diego!

As a professional makeup artist I am asked to make actors/actresses look their very best, but sometimes I am requested to make them look...scary, dead, injured and just plain ugly! 2009 seemed to be the year of special effects for me and I was happy to embrace that passion!

Here is a little background information about my special effects career; I studied for 3 years with one of the best Special Effects Artists of our time, Mr. Stan Winston. I had the privilege of apprenticing on many of his films, including Terminator (1984), Ailens and Invaders from Mars right after graduating from makeup school. Prior to that, I went to The Institute of Studio Makeup and Joe Blasco, where I took extensive classes in forensics and prosthetics.

I have been hired by several production companies this year for my special effects ability and I have created loads of free-handed tattoos, bullet wounds, burns, bruises, stab wounds, scars, zombies, etc., for many television and photography gigs! I am unable to share the details of the shoots via this blog because of protected information pertaining to my clients, but I can share with you a few pictures from my personal camera.

Many of the special effects below are created from basic, everyday material and other effects are prothetic pieces purchased from professional makeup stores and then applied to the skin and dressed with grease paint and theatrical blood.

Special effects is one part of my career and beauty is another. I am excited to be listed in the 2010 San Diego Film & Resource Guide in both categories and look forward to being part of more production crews in the upcoming year!

I want to thank DOP, San Diego Production Center, Staylor-Made Communications, Mantooth Productions, Microsoft, XBox, ComiCon, Road Runner Sports, CNN, Coastal Media Group, Bob Sloan Productions, InPoint Productions, Ken Hansen Photography, HVS Productions and Tamarisk Media Group for making 2009 a great year for makeup!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and hope to see you on the set soon!

ComiCon...a day in the life of an MUA...

Received a phone call from Microsoft asking if I would key their "making of" video and behind-the-scenes footage for the XBox Halo 3 Anime DVD. It would be shot at ComiCon in San Diego and would feature many guest speakers, including famed artists Shinji Aramaki and Mamoru Oshii.

I jumped at the chance to work for them and immediately phoned my assistant, Cathi Singh, because I had also excepted makeup work for a press junket for the movie Gamer, starring Gerard Butler, Amber Valletta and Michael C. Hall, also being shot at ComiCon during the same time. Cathi and I were able to tag team and provide total coverage for both clients!

We were also asked to provide makeup application during the live forum sessions, which Halo 3 followed Avatar and New Moon's presentations! This was challenging in the fact that there would be no professional makeup space available and no professional lightening. On the spot anti-shine would be needed and knowledge of how stage lighting would transfer onto the RED camera was crucial.

Microsoft sparred no expense in making this DVD and used only the RED One camera. This was my first experience in filming with the RED and I needed to provide my assistant with information and technique. DP and RED One camera owner, Sean Michael Johnston, schooled me on exactly how the RED works and how to use the monitor to tweak my makeup application. I was grateful to learn from this master DP and to watch him arrange lighting, camera angles, etc.

Below are a few highlight photos from ComiCon! I can't wait until next year!