The Art of Illusion – Blood and SFX

Also available as a single module

MODULE OVERVIEW

Our “Art of Illusion – Blood and SFX” course covers many invaluable skills and techniques to create character looks such as ageing, breaking down, disguise and bald caps. It also includes making and applying wounds with believable blood effects – an increasingly popular skill for every budding makeup artist, with pro bondo scars and wounds now commonly used throughout the industry. Note that real-life casualty research is an important element of this special effects makeup course, in order to create realistic wounds and scars.While special effects makeup and character makeup is often considered the fun part of makeup, the ability to change a person’s face for the purpose of character or age, is a core skill of a media makeup artist. This module will enable you to work with industry standard materials and techniques to produce accurate special effects such as injuries, right through to adding texture and dirt as required for the film “Pirates of the Caribbean”, where breaking down with illustrator palettes was a daily routine.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

  • The art of character makeup
  • How to assess an artist’s features with the aim of altering their appearance
  • Ageing and disguise using light and shade makeup and old-age stipple
  • How to apply a bald cap and a variety of colouring techniques
  • How to incorporate a piece of facial hair (as covered in Module 2) into your own character look
  • The art of laying on to create new or to extend existing facial hair
  • Stubble techniques
  • Characterisation using dirt, sweat, tears, illness, skin disorders and other effects – it’s one of the first duties of a trainee makeup artist to achieve this look to a standard suitable for a crowd room
  • How to make cuts, grazes, wounds, bruises, believable blood effects, keloid and inverted scars
  • Innovative techniques to create first, second and third degree burns
  • Use of products such as on sculpt gel, silicone guns, collodion, tear blowers and — a great stand by — mortician’s wax
  • How to fill and apply pre-made silicone moulds with products such as pro bondo and gelatine
  • Time permitting, sculpt and make a small wound for use in the portfolio building week (Module 7)

WHAT YOU’LL GAIN

  • An understanding of how someone’s appearance can be changed to achieve a variety of looks
  • A series of images for your professional portfolio

16 Week Intensive Set Ready Course

16th March 2020– 24th July 2020 – £8,500 (dates include three weeks of school holidays).

21th September 2020– 29th January 2021 – £8,500 (dates include three weeks of school holidays).

This module is also available as a 2 Week Short Course – Dates TBC – £1,200

" SfX and character makeup is often considered the fun part of makeup, the ability to change a persons face for the purpose of character or age, is a core skill of a make up artist. This module will enable you to work with industry standard materials and techniques to produce accurate effects such as injuries through to adding texture and dirt as required for the film “Pirates of the Caribbean” where breaking down with illustrator palettes was a daily routine. "

Veronica McAleer - Course Director

...

 

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Need to know

How do I get started?

Enrolling at MAKUP is easy – just fill in the form online or call us if you have any queries. You must be 18 or over to study at MAKUP. However, there is no age limit!

What happens next?

If you are accepted, you will then be asked to pay a deposit of 10% of the relevant course fee. This will secure your place. This deposit is non–refundable. Six weeks prior to commencement you will be asked to pay the balance in full.

Please note as a special exemption,to accommodate January 2016 PCDL applicants,the balance less the deposit can be paid no later than one week before the course commences. Potential students applying on this basis will also receive their deposit back in full if they cannot secure a PCDL.

All other applicants must comply with our regular terms and conditions. We accept payment by credit or debit card. Please ring our office on 01212 965 230.

Late bookings must be paid for in full.

What qualifications do I need?

None — we start with the basics.

All you need is passion, a conscientious and positive attitude, and the ability to take constructive criticism.

Will I receive a certificate?

Upon completion of the course, you will be awarded with a Certificate of Completion for your relevant course.

How many students per class?

The classes will be limited to ten students, maximising your contact time with Veronica and the other tutors.

Will there be work opportunities for me after I graduate?

Veronica will use her bank of industry contacts to help you as much as possible with work experience once you have completed your course.

Unpaid work as a makeup trainee may well be the bulk of your opportunities at the start, which will help you to build on your existing skills; as well as providing you with invaluable contacts.

Can I come in for a chat and a look at the studio?

We host regular open days, where you can look around the studio, chat to current students and try out some mini workshops. Visit the Dates And Events page for details of our next open day.

What's included in the price?

All products are provided as part of the course price. All the products are currently used in the industry, and can be found in Veronica’s own makeup kit.

What are the teaching hours?

All modules run from 10.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Do you provide accommodation?

We do not provide accommodation. However, with three universities, Birmingham is very student–friendly city, and you won’t struggle to find affordable accommodation.

Do we have models?

For the majority of the course, students practice on each other. During the Portfolio sections of the course, you will need to bring in your own models.

Would an FdA or a BA course in make–up be more beneficial?

No. The makeup industry is a practical environment, and the training we provide gives hands on experience and learning in the practical assets of the job. With Veronica’s years of experience and industry contacts, you won’t be missing out.

During our SFX makeup course you will learn the art of character makeup and how to assess an artist’s features with the aim of altering their appearance. Find out about ageing and disguise using light and shade makeup and old-age stipple, and how to apply a bald cap and a variety of colouring techniques. You will discover how to incorporate a piece of facial hair into your own character look, together with the art of laying on to create new (or to extend) existing facial hair.

As part of special effects makeup course for beginners, you will be taught stubble technique. You will learn characterisation using dirt, sweat, tears, illness, skin disorders and other effects – it’s one of the first duties of a trainee makeup artist to achieve this look to a standard suitable for a crowd room. You will train in how to make cuts, grazes, wounds, bruises, believable blood effects, keloid and inverted scars and explore innovative techniques to create first, second and third-degree burns.

You will also learn the use of products such as sculpt gel, silicone guns, collodion, tear blowers and – a great standby – mortician’s wax. You will be taught how to fill and apply pre-made silicone moulds with products such as pro bondo and gelatine and, time permitting, you will sculpt and make a small wound for use in the makeup portfolio building week.

This special effects makeup artist course will provide you with an understanding of how someone’s appearance can be changed to achieve a variety of looks and you will receive a series of images for your professional portfolio.

Finally – don’t take our word for it! MAKUP graduate Jessica Southall won first place in both Makeup and Hair in the Fantasy – Star Wars – Category in the 2016 National Makeup Artists Competition. By adapting prosthetics that she made during training, Jessica created an amazing character (designing and making her own costume to create a complete look). The judges thought that the standard of her work and attention to detail was outstanding.

Be working on SFX makeup on-set in 16 weeks! Register today.

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