Just a little show reel of some of my work

As a member for the Irish Film and Television Academy I was invited to Dublin’s Gibson hotel on Thursday the 29th September 2011 for ‘The Craft of Make-Up’, the Academy’s annual event hosted in association with MAC Cosmetics, featured the work of two IFTA winning Make-Up artists Jennifer Hegarty and Linda Mooney.

The event was hosted by Tv3′s Xposé presenter and Karen Koster. Jennifer and Linda share behind the scenes secrets from their award winning careers in film and television. It was a really informative event with a great insight  into the industry.

One of the things that I noted was that as make-up arists they never stop learning. Jennifer said that she started her career by going to London to do a few courses, but that she still learns all the time. She said that the industry changes so fast that you have to keep up with the times. Also it was great to note that there was no overnight success for Jennifer, it was a very slow process. It was through hard work and dedication that she has become the success that she is today. The first time that she actually felt that she had made it was when she did Peter O’Toole’s make-up. She said on meeting him that she found it quite comforting, because he was very nervous that day and it made her realise that everyone is nervous about what they are doing, so you have to keep going and keep doing it. She still enjoys the job and sometimes has to pinch herself when she is on a set in an exotic location. She has worked on films from Lassie, to Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, to Harry Potters, so I am sure she has seen a few! On creating a character, she says that it is usually a collaboration between the Make-up Artist, the Director and the Actor, although it is really about trying to convince them to do what you want . The products that she can’t live without are her grease palette and her skin illustrator and her brushes in particular the MAC foundation brush. For people starting out Jennifer would recommend taking up painting. If choosing a school, find out what the background is of the people you would be learning with.

Linda came to her career in a little bit of a different way. She was from a family that did hair and would have seen her mom make wigs for the Abbey. She is a fully trained hair dresser as well as a professional make-up artist. She found herself having to go abroad alot because the union in Ireland is quite restrictive and you can’t really do both. She is fluent in German and spent some time over there. Linda felt that she had really made it when she got to do a Deaf Leppard album cover, she had to turn the clean looking young men into 80s rock stars so lots of backcombing was required! Linda also mentioned is very aware that the women in the industry have missed out on family, that you have to try and strike the balance. She feels that she is a better mother when she is working. She was working with 21 women at the time of the talk and only 3 women out of that had a family.When asked what tools she couldn’t live with out, her immediate response was: Good brushes! When you are starting out Linda thinks you can’t beat being on set, try and get some work experienc. You will realise what it is really like and see what end you would like to go to.

They are both very warm people and it is easy to see that as well as their skill and talent that their personalities have brought them a long way too. They both touched on having the right personality for the job and being easy to work with and letting things go over your head. Also it is about knowing what battles to fight, when to take a bit more time doing a make-up and when to just let a bit of shine go…. Someone asked a question in the audience about whether they ever looked at another make-up artist’s work and said “what were they thinking” and they both agreed and said that they wouldn’t judge someone else’s work as you never know what kind of stress or what the circumstances were surrounding the job. Never a truer word was spoken! As a makeup artist if the day has run behind, you could sometimes be asked to do a make-up on set with the whole crew looking at you, when usually the make-up could take an hour to do normally!

It was a great talk and I hope that the Academy run more events like this in the future. It was great to meet fellow make-up artists and we got a free lippy to boot!

Every year I am slightly disappointed at the safe choices made by the majority of the attendees. Saying that this year I was absolutely in love with Sinead Kennedy’s Style. My favourite look from the night, she has broken the usual rule of playing up one feature. Sinead has gone all out with not only a sultry red lip, but also a dramatic dark rimmed eyeliner with flick. I also absolutely love her curls which cascade across her head like a flood of waves.

Laura Whitmore looked fantastic on the night, she seemed to be channelling the same classic beauty as seen on January Jones in Mad Men. This 50s style is so glamorous it has stood the test of time and looks as fresh today as it did back then.

Amy Huberman, was also worth a mention. Although Amy wore quite a safe make-up look, it is beautiful and would be a perfect bridal look. Soft pink lipstick and a black eyeliner with defined brows to help frame the face.

I love the matt red lippy which had a burnt copper undertone that Charlene McKenna was sporting. I worked with her recently and I have to say she is a fantastic vibrant personality which is truly infectious.

I also thought I should mention Kim Cattrall who was looking fantastic! It is hard to believe that she is 54! I wish I had her figure and she is double my age. I am also delighted that she hasn’t given into the pressures of the limelight and got major surgery to turn back the hands of time. She said in an interview: “…I don’t want to be 20 any more or even 30 or 40. Besides, I’m too terrified to get any proper work so I’ve had just little things done. I have a big crease between my eyebrows and I use Botox to get rid of that, but that’s kind of it. I’m scared of surgery because I don’t want to look in the mirror and not recognise who’s looking back. I don’t want to be in a room, and to have people turn when I leave and say, “what happened?”

Winners of the 8th Annual Film and Television Awards

Film

As If I Am Not There - James Flynn & Nathalie Lichtenthaeler (Octagon Films)
Perrier’s Bounty - Alan Moloney (Parallel Films)
Sensation - Katie Holly & Kieron J Walsh (Blinder Films)
Swansong – Story of Occi Byrne - Edwina               Forkin & Herman Florin (Zanzibar Films / Florin Films)
The Runway - Macdara Kelleher & Ian Power (Fastnet Films)

Director Film
Juanita Wilson – As If I Am Not There (Octagon Films)
PJ Dillon - Rewind (Carbon Films)
Tom Hall - Sensation (Blinder Films)
Ian Power - The Runway (Fastnet Films)

Script Film
Juanita Wilson – As If I Am Not There (Octagon Films)
Will Collins - My Brothers (Rubicon Films)
Conor McDermottroe – Swansong – Story of Occi Byrne (Zanzibar Films / Florin Films)
Mark O’Rowe - Perrier’s Bounty (Parallel Films)

Actor in a Lead Role – Film
Martin McCann – Swansong – Story of Occi Byrne (Zanzibar Films / Florin Films)
Colm Meaney - Parked (Ripple World Pictures)
Cillian Murphy - Perrier’s Bounty (Parallel Films)
Liam Neeson – Chloe (Optimum Releasing)

Actress in a Lead Role – Film / Television
Amy Huberman – Rewind (Carbon Films)
Ruth Bradley - Love/Hate (Octagon Films)
Orla Brady - Mistresses (BBC)
Sarah Flood - Fair City (RTÉ)
Charlene McKenna - RAW (Octagon Films / Ecosse Films)

Actor in a Supporting Role – Film
Pierce Brosnan – The Ghost (Optimum Releasing)
Colin Farrell -The Way Back (Entertainment One Films)
Brendan Gleeson - Perrier’s Bounty (Parallel Films)
Cillian Murphy - Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Actress in a Supporting Role – Film
Saoirse Ronan – The Way Back (Entertainment One Films)
Kerry Condon - The Runway (Fastnet Films)
Marcella Plunkett – Swansong – Story of Occi Byrne (Zanzibar Films / Florin Films)
Eileen Walsh - Snap (Samson Films)

The George Morrison Feature Documentary Award
The Pipe – Risteard Ó’Domhnaill & Rachel Lysaght (Scannáin Inbhear in association with Underground Films & Riverside Post)
Burma Soldier - Julie leBrocquy (leBrocquy Fraser)
Pyjama Girls - Maya Derrington (Still Films)
What We Leave in Our Wake - Pat Collins (Harvest Films)

International Film
The Social Network (Sony)
A Prophet (Optimum Releasing)
Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Toy Story 3 (Walt Disney Pictures)

International Actor
Jesse Eisenberg -The Social Network (Sony)
Russell Crowe – The Next Three Days (Lionsgate Films)
Leonardo DiCaprio - Inception (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Tahar Rahim – A Prophet (Optimum Releasing)

International Actress
Annette Bening - The Kids are All Right (Universal)
Helena Bonham-Carter - The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company)
Jennifer Lawrence - Winter’s Bone (Artificial Eye)
Natasha Petrovic - As If I Am Not There (Octagon Films)

Single Drama / Drama Serial (supported by BAI)
When Harvey Met Bob -Catherine Magee (Great Meadow Productions)
MO - (Channel 4 / ITV Studios)
Na Cloigne – Ciarán Ó Cofaigh (ROSG)
The Silence - Eleanor Greene (Company Pictures & BBC)
Wild Decembers - Edna O’Brien, Anthony Byrne (Touchpaper Television/ Octagon Films)

Drama Series / Soap (supported by BAI)
The Tudors – Morgan O’Sullivan (World 2000 Entertainment)
Love/Hate - Suzanne McAuley (Octagon Films)
RAW - Michael Parke & Suzanne McAuley (Octagon Films / Ecosse Films)
Ros na Rún - Hugh Farley (Eo Teilifis / Tyrone Productions)
Single-Handed – Clare Alan & Owen McDonnell (Touchpaper Television for RTÉ)

Director Television
Dearbhla Walsh - The Silence (Company Pictures & BBC)
David Caffrey - Love/Hate (Octagon Films)
Thaddeus O’Sullivan - Single-Handed (Touchpaper Television for RTÉ)
Robert Quinn - Na Cloigne (ROSG)

Writer Television
Stuart Carolan – Love/Hate (Octagon Films)
Darach Ó Scolaí & Lauren Mackenzie - Na Cloigne (ROSG)
Lisa McGee - RAW (Octagon Films / Ecosse Films)
Hilary Reynolds - Fair City (RTÉ)

Actor in a Lead Role – Television
Domhnall Gleeson - When Harvey Met Bob (Great Meadow Productions)
Owen McDonnell - Single-Handed (Touchpaper Television for RTÉ)
Jonathan Rhys Meyers - The Tudors (World 2000 Entertainment)
Robert Sheehan - Love/Hate (Octagon Films)

Actress in a Lead Role – Film/Television
Amy Huberman – Rewind (Carbon Films)
Ruth Bradley - Love/Hate (Octagon Films)
Orla Brady - Mistresses (BBC)
Sarah Flood - Fair City (RTÉ)
Charlene McKenna - RAW (Octagon Films / Ecosse Films)

Actor in a Supporting Role – Television
Stephen Rea - Single-Handed (Touchpaper Television for RTÉ)
Brian Gleeson - Love/Hate (Octagon Films)
Seán McGinley - Wild Decembers (RTÉ)
Eamon Morrissy - Fair City (RTÉ)

Actress in a Supporting Role – Television
Ruth McCabe – Single-Handed (Touchpaper Television for RTÉ)
Sarah Bolger - The Tudors (World 2000 Entertainment)
Dervla Kirwan - The Silence (Company Pictures)
Ruth Negga - Love/Hate (Octagon Films)

Costume Design
Joan Bergin - The Tudors (World 2000 Entertainment)
Consolata Boyle -Tamara Drewe (Ruby Films)
Joan O’Cleary - Swansong – Story of Occi Byrne (Zanzibar Films / Florin Films)
Susan Scott - Cup Cake (Wee Buns)

Director of Photography
PJ Dillon – The Runway (Fastnet Films)
Tim Fleming - As If I Am Not There (Octagon Films)
Donal Gilligan - Love/Hate (RTÉ)
Owen McPolin - The Silence (Company Pictures)

Editing
Emer Reynolds – My Brothers (Rubicon Films)
Dermot Diskin - Love/Hate (Octagon Films)
Guy Montgomery - Parked (Ripple World Pictures)
Nathan Nugent - As If I Am Not There (Octagon Films)

Make Up & Hair (Sponsored by MAC)
Tom McInerney, Dee Corcoran – The Tudors (World 2000 Entertainment)
Gill Brennan – Swansong – Story of Occi Byrne (Zanzibar Films / Florin Films)
Caroline McCurdy - Na Cloigne (ROSG)
Louise Myler - Parked (Ripple World Pictures)

Original Score
Ray Harman – Na Cloigne (ROSG)
Niall Byrne - Parked (Ripple World Pictures)
Lance Hogan - Lapland Odyssey (Ripple World Pictures)
Gary Lightbody & Jacknife Lee - My Brothers (Rubicon Films)

Production Design
Ray Ball – The Runway (Fastnet Films)
Tamara Conboy - Sensation (Blinder Films)
Tom Conroy - The Tudors (World 2000 Entertainment)
Susie Cullen - The Silence (Company Pictures)

Sound
The Silence – Karl Merren, Ken Galvin, Peter Blayney (Company Pictures)
Circus Fantasticus - Daniel Birch, Robert Flanagan (Fastnet Films)
Essential Killing - Robert Flanagan, Michelle Cunniffe, Fiadhnait McCann (Element Pictures)
Rewind - Patrick Hanlon, Ken Galvin, Niall Brady (Carbon Films)

Children’s / Youth Programme
Big City Park -Colin Williams (Sixteen South Television/CBeebies Scotland)
The Octonauts - Darragh O’Connell (Brown Bag Films)
Primary School Musical - Ruth Meehan (GMarsh TV)
Seacht -Colin O’Donnell (Stirling Film and Television)

Current Affairs
Spotlight: The Iris Robinson Investigation – Darragh MacIntyre (BBC NI)
Prime Time Investigates – Forgotten Lives - Barry O’Kelly (RTÉ)
The Frontline - David Nally (RTÉ)
Tonight with Vincent Browne - Tom Fabozzi (TV3)

Documentary Series
Freefall: The Night The Banks Failed – Janet Traynor (Animo)
1916 Seachtar na Cásca -Pierce Boyce (Abú Media)
Ireland’s Greatest - Gerry Hoban (Tyrone Productions)
The Truth about Travellers - Owen McArdle (TV3)

Documentary
Voices From The Grave – Patrick Farrelly & Ed Moloney (Deer Lake Films)
Children In Charge: Ireland’s Young Carers - Ailbhe Maher (Subotica)
TK Whitaker – Seirbhíseach an Stait - Martin Dwan (Zampano Prodictions)
Vanished in the Mountains: Ireland’s Missing Women - Owen McArdle (TV3)

Entertainment Programme
Your Bad Self – John Butler (Treasure Entertainment)
The Apprentice - Larry Bass (Screentime ShinAwiL)
Feirm Factor - Evan Chamberlain (Good Company Productions)
The Model Scouts - Billy McGrath (Sideline Productions)

Factual Programme
Operation Transformation – Philip Kampf (RTÉ)
Ireland AM - Victoria O’Brien (TV3)
Reeling In The Years - John O’Regan (RTÉ)
The Eagles Return - John Murray (Crossing the Line Films)

Sports Programme
In Sunshine Or In Shadow – Andrew Gallimore & Morgan Bushe (Fastnet Films)
Graeme McDowell’s Major Moment - Gary McCutcheon (BBC Northern Ireland)
Gualainn le Gualainn - Andrew Gallimore & Conor Barry (Fastnet Films)
World Cup Live - Kieran Craven (RTÉ)

Philips Short Film
Small Change – Cathy Brady (NFS@IADT/CherryRED Pictures LTD)
Deep End Dance – Conor Horgan (Wildfire Films)
Noreen – Domhnall Gleeson & Juliette Bonass (El Zorrero Films)
Pentecost - Peter McDonald (EMU Productions)

Rising Star Award (Sponsored by the Irish Film Board)
Domhnall Gleeson – Actor
Antonia Campbell Hughes – Actress
Ian Power  – Writer/Director
Juanita Wilson – Writer/Director

Special Irish Language Award
1916 Seachtar na Cásca - Pierce Boyce (Abú Media)
An Crisis - Martha O’Neill (Wildfire Films)
Na Cloigne - Ciarán Ó’Cofaigh (ROSG)
Ros na Rún - Hugh Farley (Eo Teilifis / Tyrone Productions)

Animation
The External World - David O’Reilly, (David O’Reilly Animation)
Anam an Amhráin - Sean O Cualain (Sónta/Cartoon Saloon)
Head Space – Barry O’Donoghue (Barley Films)
The Octonauts - Darragh O’Connell (Brown Bag Films)

Outstanding Contribution to Industry Morgan O’Sullivan

RTÉ Guide Best TV Moment of 2010 – People’s Choice
The Republic of Telly premieres The Rubber Bandits Horse Outside (RTÉ)
Coronation Street – Tram Crash (ITV)
Fair City – Peak of the Suzanne and Damien domestic violence storyline (RTÉ)
Imeall – a tribute to one of our greatest actors Mick Lally (TG4)
Prime Time – Pat Rabbitte on Prime Time (RTÉ)
The Rescue of the Chilean Miners (Sky News)
Graeme McDowell winning the US Open
Tonight with Vincent Browne – Browne questioning the Taoiseach in the press conference for the IMF Deal (TV3)
Ursula Halligan asking the Taoiseach if he was drunk during the Morning Ireland interview (TV3 News)
X Factor – Mary Byrne’s first audition in Dublin (ITV)

I was asked to do a short film for the Jameson Empire Done in 60 Seconds Film Competition. Director Kevin de la Isla was making his version of the old black and white classic Nosferatu. I was tasked with turning actor Neil Flemming into the original bone chilling Vampire.

Neill Before

As we had very little time to do preproduction (I was brought in 3 days before we would be filming). Kevin had bought some prosthetic makeup appliances online. So all I had to do was apply these to Neill as best I could. The difficulty with shop bought prosthetics is that they don’t fit as well as ones that have been made on a lifecast of the actor.

Bald Cap Application

I managed to get the bald cap to fit with some difficulty…it looked ok from the front, but at the back of his head it looked like he had a bit of a third nipple haha!

Prosthetic Ear Application

As you can see there were some very bad seems on the ears. I used a three part silicone to blend the edges.

Prosthetic Nose Application

The nose piece was a bit uncomfortable for Neill to wear, because it didn’t fit properly condensation kept collecting in the bottom from the heat when he was breathing. We just had to be on hand with a cotton bud to absorb the excess water.

Colouring the Bald Cap

Here I am stippling on a red colour to give the appearance of life under the baldcap and to hide the colour of his hair. I then airbrushed a skin colour foundation on top of this. I used an alcohol based airbrush make-up from Graftobian. It is great applies easily on top of the bald cap and lasts without touch ups.

Completed Nosferatu Make-Up

This is the finished look. I don’t think it is too bad considering the time constraints that we had.  I made the nails by gluing two artificial nails together and giving them a rough sand to blend them. We stuck them on with double sided carpet tape, they kept popping off! It was a bit of fun and I look forward to seeing the finished film. I was assisted on the day by Stefania Maniscalco, thanks a million

I went down to Limerick a couple of weeks ago to give a helping hand for Hallmark’s: An Old Fashioned Christmas Story. It was great fun, I got to work with beards and moustaches again. It was set in Bunratty Castle and was a lovely location to work in.

I have been a bit delayed in posting this, these are shots from a couple of weeks ago, but I guess better late than never. These are some behind the scenes images of the feature film that I am the Head Make-Up Artist on. It is directed by Phil Winston and is an independently funded film being shot in Coolock. The working title of the film is 166.87.66.6, but I am hoping that they go for something simpler like Uri-el. The story centres around a young boy called Daniel who discovers that human beings aren’t the only beings on this planet and is brought right into the middle of a fight between Angels and Demons.

I would just like to take this opportunity to say a BIG THANK YOU to my wonderful assistant Stefania, I couldn’t have done it without her

Film: http://www.uri-el.com/index.html
Director: Phil Winston
Make-Up: Emma Farrell Make-Up
Assistant Make-Up:  Stefania Maniscalco
Hair: Jane Akkerman

A while ago I told you guys that I was going to do the Make-Up of Avatar for halloween. Well I have had a really busy schedule which has meant that I haven’t been able to put aside as much time for this as I would have liked.

Anyway I have started the process and here are a couple of shots of me during my lifecast. We used fast set alginate and plaster bandages. First you vaseline all the back of the head and any hair in the front like eyelashes, eyebrows, nape of neck etc. Then you apply bald cap, in this case we just used a swimming cap as we had a bit of a disaster with our bald cap! You then build up the back half of the head using just plaster bandage as the detail of the cast doesn’t have to be that defined. Then you mix a small amount of alginate and do the nose first so that you can breath out of it. Then you go ahead and mix the rest of the batch of alginate and cover the entire face including eyes, ears and mouth. Be extremely careful that the noseway is kept clear at all times…you have to breath! After the alginate is set you then cover this with plaster bandages to strengthen and support the structure. You can then start to wriggle your face and pull apart the mould. All going well you should have a perfect cast of yourself.

Word of warning! Don’t wear make up while doing the life cast, for some reason whatever make-up I had on my eyelids really liked adhering to the alginate and made for a REALLY uncomfortable few minutes when I thought I wouldn’t be able to get it off!  Also this lifecast was done by professional Make-Up Artists (myself and my friend). We are highly trained, we are just sharing the information with you, so please do not attempt to do this at home!

This was a short film that I did last year. It is a surreal film around the theme of Easter.

I had a great night at the Filmbase Special FX Make-up Night which took place on the 28th April, there was blood, guts, burns, bruises and zombies galore

It was a very funny night and there were demonstrations by Tom McInerney, Terri Pinnell an Conor McMahon. I particularly liked Conor’s hilarious demonstration for home made blood and brain recipes which left the poor victim with a sticky syrupy mess all over her head! Just as well its not summer or she would have been attacked by wasps & flies on the way home!

I was a burns victim for the night…it was weird being in the Make-Up Chair for once, but I found it strangely relaxing!

Before

After

I also got a chance to catch up with some old Model Making people who were displaying their armour and props at the event. (Note: I used to be a modelmaker myself in a former life)

I particularly liked the fact that I could see Tom McInerney (Fairycatcher, The Formorian) create a green, ghoulish character from start to finish, he made it look so easy!

At the end of the night we all had to do a Zombie Dance which was filmed…so watch this space…I will update you when I have the video

Last week I was asked to do some Bodypainting for a Doritos Advert Competition Entry. This involved bodypainting three actors in the colours of Doritos Cheese, Cool Ranch and Chilli Heatwave. As luck would have it I was able to get the exact colour match from Make-Up Forever on Clarendon Street. I used their Color Creams in Orange, Pearly Blue and Cold Red.

I love it when I don’t have to custom blend a colour, because this makes for a much quicker process and bodypaint.

Bodypainting for film is alot more complicated than for still photography. I came up against a number of challenges. I wanted to paint them with a product that would be easy enough to remove, but would last under the lights and for the duration of the shoot. I opted for the color cream because it is really easy to apply, non toxic, easy to remove and gives good coverage.

I had to be on hand to repair any spots that had faded from sweat or friction against the clothes.

All in all I was really pleased with the finished make up and I gave the director exactly what was in the brief.