My advice to all aspiring artists is to ‘focus on what you want, work hard, practice, practice and keeping practicing as you never stop learning’.
Former student and make-up designer of Slumdog Millionaire, Virginia Holmes
We offer short placements to help recent students consolidate their training and make contacts in the industry. Food and travel expenses are paid, as well as any make-up costs. We are always careful not to undermine working make-up artists by supplying students to fill roles that would otherwise be paid.
TV, Film and Theatre
Because of our contacts in the industry and with other training colleges, we are able to offer a diverse range of opportunities, from short placements 'shadowing' a make-up artist on a feature film or television drama, to being the sole make-up artist on a short film being made for entry into a film festival. Occasionally foreign travel is involved. In theatre, some work experience is offered during the course but there are usually further opportunities to work on productions afterwards as well. In all cases, students are carefully matched to appropriate work experience, depending on their individual strengths.
Fashion
Each year Greasepaint gets involved in a number of fashion shows. These include high profile events like Graduate Fashion Week, Alternative Fashion Week and Top Model UK. Others are charity events, and often attract media coverage. We also offer placements on pop promos, photographic shoots, films and commercials.
Very recent hands-on work experience placements with experienced make-up designers include the feature films X Men: First Class and Hunky Dory, BBC's My Family, BBC's Holby City, the BBC children's series Relic and Hotel Trubble. Numerous fashion shows include 2010 UK Top Model and Alternative Fashion Week.
Paid work for recent graduates include airbrush work for Avatar PR events for companies including Sainsbury's (paid experience for junior team members), Pepsi promotion (paid experience for junior team members).