Word Mart Elle: how a makeup artist can start working on the set of music videos, films and advertising

The other day there was a joint live broadcast of Mart Elle and our resource Pro Hair&Makeup , in which we discussed all the most interesting questions that you might have about the work of a master on the set of music videos for stars, commercials for the largest companies and films/series with the participation of international celebrities. How to get there? Where to knock and who to meet? We'll tell you in the article if you suddenly missed the broadcast.

Mart Elle is a makeup artist with 12 years of experience, founder of the agency of makeup artists, hairdressers and makeup artists #martellemakeupdepartment, chief makeup artist of Ukrainian Fashion Week (2018-2020) and coach of a team of makeup artists working on the backstage of Fashion Week. Also, don’t forget that Mart Elle is a member of the jury of the online competition Pro Beauty Battle: Makeup , which is now in full swing. We invite you to take part in the third round, starting today!

What is special about makeup for video shooting? How is it different from other types of makeup?

Modern makeup for video shooting is very different from the makeup that, for example, I was taught at the beginning of my career. Because trends in makeup change very quickly, and they definitely affect makeup for videos.

For example, we used to be taught that the camera eats up the brightness of colors, so all shades in makeup need to be enhanced. We remembered that some details in makeup should be exaggerated. Now these rules should be followed only in certain conditions - when we work with stage lighting or when shooting with certain artificial light. If we are talking about working with natural light and lifestyle photography, makeup should be lighter and more natural.

It seems to me that old-style cameras are no longer used even on regional television, and modern technology shoots in high definition, so there is no point in hiding skin imperfections with makeup. Modern directors have learned to see beauty in the naturalness of skin, and the current trends in body positivity and skin positivity are proof of this.

People like to look at the natural appearance of skin because it is beautiful, even if freckles, small circles under the eyes or enlarged pores are visible. And if you hide them under a thick layer of makeup, it looks repulsive. Therefore, before starting work, it is important to talk with the director about the task ahead of you.

How can a makeup artist start working on shoots with stars and top brands? Perhaps some connections and acquaintances are worth making?

Of course, you need to start with knowledge. Moreover, this knowledge must be acquired more than once, after studying at some educational institution - it is important to update it every year, every season, as far as you have the opportunity. Today, a makeup artist has many opportunities for training, both offline and online. If a master refreshes his knowledge, he knows how to apply all the latest techniques, which means he will be in demand on the market.

The next point is practice, where this knowledge can be applied. And if it is difficult for a novice master to find a job, then it is easier to get an internship. To learn the necessary skills, I recommend turning to the experts. Nowadays this is very easy to do thanks to social networks. Experienced masters often look for assistants on their pages, who are invited to practice. At the time when I started my career, it was very difficult to persuade a master to take you on as a practice. Now this is much easier to do, so be sure to use this tool!

When the artist already has the necessary skills and has formed a useful circle of friends, it’s time to present yourself and show what you can do as a makeup artist of a certain profile. It is important to develop a portfolio and present yourself to the world. Now the most popular and effective tool for this is, again, social networks.

To create a portfolio, you should look for colleagues who also want to develop and organize TFP shoots together. They will help you create a product that you can fill your account with. Choose what you are passionate about, those projects that you are ready to take on without fees.

It is important to create exactly the product that will introduce you to future clients and customers. If you are creative, create crazy creative works. If you like beauty makeup, work in this direction. It is important that your work shows how you think and what your taste is.

And lastly, you must be prepared for the chance to start working with clients and customers when it comes. At this stage, you should be firmly confident that you have the knowledge and experience behind you that will help you cope with the tasks.

Makeup for cinema, video clips and commercials. What is the difference between them in terms of work organization?

Cinema is a huge project that requires a large department. Part of the department is responsible for makeup, part for hairstyles, and part for some additional details of the image. And sometimes the preparatory period before filming can take longer than even the filming itself. For example, such a period before the filming of the Chernobyl series, in which my team took part, took about nine months, but the filming itself lasted only four months.

In advertising and music videos, this period is much shorter - it can take a couple of weeks or just a few days. In this case, we start from the complexity of the task and the number of actors in the frame.

You have worked with many world-class celebrities. How difficult is it to work with stars? Are there any nuances that are important to know about?

Yes, indeed, I have worked with many stars. But I can’t single out any specific rules. It is important to be professional, maintain hygiene standards and communication culture - these are the most important points that you must adhere to.

Otherwise, everything is individual. Some stars like to chat and relax, while others like to keep quiet and get ready for work. Some are very friendly and will never cause any inconvenience to the artist, while others will be in a hurry and ask you to do your makeup in 10 minutes. The conclusion that I can draw over the years of work is that all the stars are very different and you need to be prepared for any situation.

You can watch the continuation of the interview with Mart Elle here: