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!

I was delighted to attend The Make-up Show Europe which took place in Berlin. I had such a blast! It was really inspirational to meet my make-up heroes! I thought I would do a few posts about the event as there was so much to see and do!

I managed to attend two workshops, 7 talks, show my book to 5 people and buy ALOT of make-up!

This video is of one of the talks that was given by one of my favourite brands, Make-up Forever. It was hosted by Jacques Waneph one of the founders of make-up forever. He told us all about the company while the demo was going on. He talked about brand’s humble beginnings when they had to live on sandwiches and sell their car to get enough money to make eyeshadows and how they initially got Kryolan to manufacture their foundations.

He also discussed how the brand has grown over the years, the new product innovations and a very exciting brush range that will soon launch…watch this space! What I found fascinating were all the anecdotes of how they developed products, learning from Make-up Artists along the way.

There was also some beautiful bodypainting taking place all through the weekend at the Make-up Forever counter.

This was a television show I did this summer. It is a Mind the Gap Production called The Only Viking in the Village. I had the opportunity to work with Neil Delamere again. We worked together on the Panel, but unfortunately that has been cancelled, so it was great to team up again on another show. This was a load of fun because I got the opportunity to do some interesting make-up, including rotting teeth and blood!

Of course I used alot of special effects products from Kryolan and Ben Nye to achieve this. As well as my airbrush for the Medieval Maid. Watch out for the show coming up on RTE soon.

Producers: Mind the Gap Films
Talent Pictured: Bernadette McGloughlin @ Assets, Ciarán, Philip
Make-up: Emma Farrell @ Television Makeup Artist
Make-up Assistant: Caoimhe Arrigan from Graceful Faces 

I got to work with Cheryl from the band Bucks Fizz, a band that won the Eurovision in 1981 with the catchy song “Making Your Mind Up”. You can see the song below:

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)

Craig decided he would like to do my make-up for a change

I love doing the make-up for RTE’s “The Panel”, it is always good craic and there are such varied guests, I never know who I am going to meet! I have worked with Jason Donovan, Charlie Boorman, Chris Eubank, John Aldridge, Caprice, Fionnuala Flanagan just to name a few. It certainly has led to some very interesting conversations.

This is a Music Video that I did recently to raise money for testicular cancer. Lots of us donated our time to a really good cause in the hope that people will donate their money

http://ie.movember.com/about/

Here are some behind the scene images too

I just want to say a huge thank you to my two assistants Gillian O’Neill and Ciara Byrne, your hard work was much appreciated xx

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.