What is the best place to study in Europe or the UK?

Theatrical make up course Europe/UK?

• Theatrical Make Up Course Europe/UK? Currently under the process of picking a place to study theatrical make up artistry. This includes basic application of make up to special effects (prosthetics), characterture etc. Does anyone know of any schools/colleges that provide a top class course? Wanting to learn the best from the best....any ideas? Would really like to study somewhere in Europe but would consider the UK.

• Answer:

  (something weird happened when I submitted my answer, so here it is in full this time-hopefully) Hi Bee-Dee Do you specifically want theatrical as opposed to TV/Film? The difference being theatrical makeup is more stylised for the increased distances for live audiences compared to the close proximity afforded by a high definition camera closeup. Theatre does not use that many makeup artists compared to film and TV owing to the costs (theatres usually makes less money) and actors often doing their own makeup. There are a few different routes. As I am based in the UK, my perspective is that of options available here but I suspect most places will be similar. The longest would be some kind of higher or further education programme such as an HND (Higher National Diploma-2 years) or degree (BA)at a college which can take up to 3 years. At the end of this you will have a recognised academic qualification and a thorough knowledge base. However, very often this is not as important as your ability, experience and enthusiasm. Many creative field are the same-your ability is not easily quantified with a certificate. It is down to your folio and personality. In the UK, look for 'Media Makeup' courses, as this seems to be the latest incarnation of it's classification. These often involve a good deal of hair and wig work as this is a hard area to master. There are shorter, private courses which range in length depending on the areas of interest. Very often, they are between 3 to 6 months in duration and are usually full time without the need for essays, dissertations and examinations such as with academic qualifications. There are a few shorter courses in specialised areas if you are clear what you want to learn-wigs, theatrical, straight, HiDef, prosthetics, airbrushing etc. Lots of 'top up' specialised courses which address specific skills and can add to a broader knowledge once you have learned the basic (which I would not suggest you skip unless you have a clear idea about what you want to learn and the industry sector you want to get work in). I run short courses for prosthetics, and often guest tutor at colleges and universities so I have a pretty good idea of the level of teaching available at the different kinds of establishments. I have some free tutorials in makeup fx and prosthetics on my site: http://www.learnprostheticmakeup.com/pag%E2%80%A6 There is also a free mini course on there which is sent by email which may be of use to you. I suggest that you research and understand the area of the makeup industry you are interested in working in and find out what education will serve you best. I don't suggest committing to a lengthy and expensive course of education until you are sure it will provide the best start for you. It is not just the cost of the course itself (check whether materials and tools are extra or included, and what quality of kit is supplied if it is) but the cost to you of not working and accommodation while you learn. A three year course that is cheap will require three years of living expenses, whereas a three month intense course will be done in a short space of time. Many successful makeup effects artists did not go through conventional makeup schooling-rather they misspent their youth making monsters for fun and gradually honed their skills over time. They were doing it for fun, making mistakes and enjoying it long before it paid their bills. Most people are freelance, as the nature of the work arrives in peaks and troughs so you'll need to sustain yourself with your earnings while the going is good, and accept there will be quiet times of the year. A lot of prosthetic work (again-my speciality) takes place in a workshop environment rather than the set, which is a completely different world. It is messy, smelly and often long hours-not at all glamorous. But if you like sculpting, painting and making monsters then it should be your natural habitat! Many 'straight/normal/corrective' makeup artists will be expected to do some 'special effects' such as straightforward casualty makeup, illnesses and subtle aging. Specialist makeup effects departments step in when the skills needed are more extensive. If you can't find what you want near you, I suggest getting a good book, and spending the money on some kit and practice. Good books include: * Character Makeup by Make-up Designery (ISBN-13: 978-0974950006) * Special Make-Up Effects by Vincent Kehoe * Special Makeup Effects for Stage & Screen: Making and Applying Prosthetics by Todd Debreceni * Stage Makeup by Richard Corson Some courses can be expensive ways to learn unless you are totally set on doing it as part of a career move. The best teaching will come from those who make their living from it, and naturally there will be emphasis on film quality work. I teach and work in the UK, and a lot of people from all over the world travel to learn. If you were successful in the trade, you would most likely need to travel all over the world when you work, so if you don't like travel or working away from home, you may limit what work you can do. Family commitments often hold people back in this way, and a lot of good artists who start early in their lives work all over don't settle down. You may not be able to travel to learn, but know that your competition will-it is a very competitive industry if you want to make a career out of it. Check http://makeupmag.com/faqmain/. They also host trade shows (check http://www.makeupartistshow.com/) It is worth going, so you can meet and speak to people face to face about your intentions. It is great meeting like minded souls, and most of the big schools are there giving demos and often have show offers and discounts. Whoever you go with, check them out online, see if anyone has anything bad to say about them. If you want a career in film and TV I also suggest you run the tutors name through http://www.imdb.com/, and see what credits they have to their name. Many teach it although they haven't actually done it themselves in industry. Kind regards Stuart http://www.LearnProstheticMakeup.com/