With academies in Los Angeles and Orlando, Joe Blasco Makeup Schools offer secondary vocational trade programs for professional theatrical makeup artists. Before the founding of his schools, Joe Blasco's work spanned decades--he was the personal makeup artist for such performers as Orson Welles, Lauren Bacall, Bette Midler and Carol Burnett, and he pioneered new makeup application techniques in the realms of both beauty and fantasy makeup. The school divides its programs into the Professional Makeup Artistry Course and the Beauty Makeup Artistry Course. Day classes, evening classes and workshops at the school cover beauty and high fashion makeup, prosthetics and monster design, advanced prosthetics and special effect constructions. "Brush up" courses include old age, bald cap, hair work, character and monster-focused courses, and the school offers an advanced prosthetics course to experienced artists. Instructors personally oversee each student from entrance to graduation and guide them through personalized career placement supervision.
Joe Blasco Makeup Schools, Professional Makeup Artist Training West
1670 Hillhurst Ave.
Hollywood, CA 90027
323-467-4949
joeblasco.com/blascoschools
British Columbia's Vancouver Film School offers a one-year intensive program in makeup design under the tutelage of makeup artist Stan Edmonds (makeup artist on such films as "Unforgiven," "The Butterfly Effect" and "I, Robot"). VFS's website touts this program as the "only makeup design program in the world that combines every aspect of the discipline in one amazingly intense year." Endowed with specially designed makeup kits and lab supplies, students at VFS learn stage makeup, film and television makeup, makeup effects, script breakdowns, on-set protocol and digital character design. Specific theatrical makeup techniques covered include aging, character design, airbrushing, bald caps, beauty and glamour makeup, construction techniques, hair and wigs, 3D appliances, full head masks and out-of-kit effects. Hands-on work, guest speakers, a student showcase and seminars combine to educate budding makeup artists. Students graduate with a diploma in Makeup Design for Film and Television, as well as a broad makeup portfolio and guidance from the VFS Alumni Directory and Job Board.
Vancouver Film School
198 W. Hastings St.
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 1H2
800-661-4101
vfs.com
Founded by Academy Award-winning makeup artist Christine Blundell (of such films as "Sherlock Holmes," "Casino Royale" and "The Constant Gardener"), the Christine Blundell Makeup Academy for Film and Television is based in London, England. The Academy offers an intensive, full-time, three-month course, guided by makeup industry professionals and geared toward film industry-specific skills. The course covers basic application, basic hair, wig work, casualty makeup, prosthetics, character theatre, facial hair, hair extensions and a final "boot camp" that assesses each student's strengths and weaknesses in a team setting. Throughout this period, students also learn the ins-and-outs of script breakdowns as applied to makeup planning. After graduation, the CBMA provides "After-Care" assistance to help grads find employment in the entertainment industry.
Christine Blundell Makeup Academy for Film & Television
10 Greenland St.
Camden, London, England NW1 0ND
+44-207-485-4000
cbmacademy.com