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Within the module of study many guest speakers came into lectures to present to us their line of work. One of the guest speakers that came to speak to us was actor Liam Tobin. Although Liam’s line of work strays quite a way away from special effects makeup artistry some of the things he spoke about were still very relevant towards my interests. 

 

Liam talked heavily about agencies and the agencies he used/ uses to help him progress in his career and receive roles. Some of those mentioned were the ‘Actors Co-Op’ and ‘RBA Management’. Although these agencies are quite clearly for actors it sparked my interest into whether there are agencies to assist special effects makeup artists as this would be something that would greatly assist me in receiving jobs in the industry.

 

Through research on multiple different websites I discovered one agency ‘Sara Putt Associates’. Although they work more closely with the heads of department behind the scenes of film and television they are a company that is keen to assist those just beginning their careers. In 2011 Sara Putt launched the ‘Trainee & Assistants Scheme’. This scheme provides people with little experience of professional roles working with special and visual effects the opportunity to branch out and network to kick start their careers. This scheme allows those beginning in the industry to learn how to present their CV, network and negotiate and manage finances as a freelancer. 

 

Although my search for agencies for special effect makeup artists came up rather short through research it became evident that jobs within the special effects industry are extremely hard to come by if you are not already well established as an artist. Networking is extremely important for anyone wishing to receive a role on a film or television set. Unfortunately it is very unlikely that a high profile artist will have the time or interest of someone who is just beginning in their career but this does not mean that it is impossible. Many current artists such as Kelly Taylor who leads a course in Theatrical & Media Make-Up at Rugby College state that contacting juniors with experience in such productions is much more likely for success as they are far more likely to be willing to network and collaborate with people who are trying to gain experience. Similarly to networking social media is becoming a great place for special effects makeup artists to showcase their skills and to give many more people access to their material and content. Platforms such as ‘YouTube’ and ‘Instagram’ provide fantastic opportunities to create contacts and keep potential employers up to date with the skills and talent a makeup artist has. 

 

Along with all of the above it is essential to note that special effects makeup artists are very often working extremely long shifts and must ensure a rapport with actors and the community of behind the scenes staff to ensure a successful progression in their career. An artist who is difficult to work with or unreliable is likely to not receive further artistry jobs from the team they worked or other teams due to the fact that many of these staff members will warn other people about the artist. With so many artists looking for roles in the industry replacing an artist will not be difficult for the team. It is essential an artist knows this before they begin their role, as being untrustworthy and rude will likely ruin any chance of progression.