My role as a make up director

Make Up

Beside participating in the upcoming production as a director and actor, I’m also the make up director. As this is new for me, I’m sure I will acquire several new skills and techniques. I look forward to working as the make up director, as it gives me a chance to explore the visual arts as well as to develop/improve my drawing and creative skills. The make up along with the costume is especially important in a physical theatre performance as it helps to emphasize themes and develop characters. Since there’s no dialogue, the make up can help the actor to “speak” and express the character’s view points etc. Appropriate make up will also improve and increase the visual effects of a particular movement etc. By incorporating make up into a physical theatre performance, one can develop symbolism and add several layers of meaning. E.g, washing off make up on stage can symbolize cleaning the soul etc, where as adding make up on stage can symbolize deceiving appearances and false innocent etc. I wish to bring similar effects to the performance, resulting in a more interesting, vivid and fascinating overall final performance.

Below is a short summary of the role as a make up director: 

Meet with each director in order to determined their desired effects regarding make up. 

Analyze the blocking of each scene to know if any particular scene requires a specific type of make up, or lack of. 

Acquire needed materials such as foundation, body paint, pencils, make up remover etc.

Basic knowledge of fine arts- be familiar with the technique and theory required to compose, produce and apply the acquired make up.

Basic knowledge of design- be familiar with design techniques, tools etc. required to produce a plan (drawing, model, mock up etc.) 

Researches on the above in order to produce what each director wants. 

Produce sketches for each performer/actor.

Do a mock up on these sketches to make sure they will work.

Edit and carry through any changes that might be needed.

Brief the make up assistant of what will be done on the night of the performance and make sure she and any other people that can help are familiar with the desired final outcome and techniques required.