Certificate in make-up artistry and advanced freelance make-up certificate

Danielle Wallace particularly enjoys the special effects side of applying make-up

THE QUALIFICATION
Certificate in make-up artistry (one year) and advanced freelance make-up certificate (six months)

Cut Above Academy, Auckland
0800 288 22683
Starting salary: Varies. Film productions pay from $200-$350 a day, although more can be earnt on big budget productions.
2006 course costs: $6500 plus $1000 for materials
Advanced freelance makeup NZQA certificate level 4

How often are you amazed at the aging of a character in a production or movie? How often have you admired the sleekness and glamour of a model in a photo shoot? Make-up artists are an integral part of the team that create such images.

Cut Above's Advanced Freelance Make-up Certificate (extended to 12 months and renamed Fashion Make-up Artistry Certificate this year) provides training for people wanting to become make-up artists for the catwalk, studio, advertising, film and television. It also develops self management, communication skills and customer service - all essential if freelancing.

During the course students learn to apply glamour, corrective, character, ethnic and fashion make-up. They also develop skills in fashion styling, costume design, props, hairstyling, wig work, continuity, drawing and photographic direction.

Up to 70 per cent of the course is practical, consisting of tutor demonstrations and peer practice in the classroom, as well as work experience for events as diverse as face painting for Real Theatre and applying make-up for New Zealand Fashion Week and modelling agencies.

There are three intakes per year in February, June and September with applications closing two weeks prior. Class sizes are kept small - maximum of 12 per class - making learning intensive.

There are no formal entry requirements but applicants need to demonstrate creativity and an interest in fashion and/or art.

THE GRADUATE
Danielle Wallace
Freelance make-up artist
22
Graduated 2004

I work as a freelance make-up artist and am about to start the special effects course at Cut Above as well. Last month I finished my first movie make-up job on Wendy Wu, an American Disney channel TV movie.

I've done make up for many theatre shows over the past couple of years and was a finalist for the 2006 North Auckland Performing Arts Best Hair and Make-up award for my work on Seussical the musical. You can imagine the crazy make-up required for something based on Dr Seuss books.

It is hard to get makeup work in theatre, movies or photo shoots without training; people want you to be useful straight away.

Ongoing movie work is my goal, but I have other work I fall back on like retail makeup and hairdressing because I trained in hairdressing too.

I'm going to do the special effects course because I've found the more skills you have, the more attractive you are to employers. And I love the special-effects side of applying make-up.

At Cut Above we learned about bases, skin texture, face shapes and skin types - all important when applying make-up, whether for every day or theatre.

Cut Above gave me a lot of confidence and prepared me really well for work through all the practice and work experience. In the advanced freelance make-up course we did nine photo shoots. All tutors have heaps of experience and really know what they are talking about.

They also provide a good base make-up kit to build on.

I wasn't too sure what I expected when I started but I certainly didn't think I would get so much from it.

THE EMPLOYER
Rachel Mead
Senior freelance make-up artist

I first employed Danielle to work on a production of Jesus Christ Superstar in Howick.

She had nearly finished the first make-up course which I had been teaching on it part time so I knew she had the potential.

Danielle was absolutely fabulous, particularly with applying bald caps; something that can be quite difficult if you don't know what you're doing.

We also had a whipping scene that required lots of special effects and she managed that well too.

After that production I employed her on a number of theatre productions and eventually left her in charge on my nights off.

She is incredibly reliable with amazing foresight and understanding of make-up and theatre. It makes a big difference having someone working with you who can get on and do the job without having to have things explained all the time.

I believe the course gave her a good grounding in how to use make-up in theatrical and movie settings which meant she had the confidence and the skills to get in and do the job without wanting direction all the time. This is so important when you have a large cast with expectations of you.