Getting Made Up

Actors wouldn't look so fabulous if it wasn't for the makeup artists. But to succeed involves a lot of early mornings and long hours. Hamish Barwick spoke to student Amy Radich to find out what school leavers with stars in their eyes can expect.

Eighteen-year-old Amy Radich finished her Year 13 studies last year at Saint Cuthbert's High School in Auckland and has just begun her training at The Makeup School.

She says she originally wanted to be hairdresser but changed her mind. "I started working at a hair salon and didn't think that was for me. But I've always been interested in makeup and than this course came along so I thought I'd give it a shot. Last year I was looking at my options so I came along to the premises and talked to Gabrielle. I didn't find it too hard [to get accepted] but I guess it's different for everyone."

At school she was in the makeup and costume department for the Smokefree Stage Challenge. "There's a drama department and they do extra things like Shakespeare. Saint Cuthbert's do take care with artistic students and it helps with my career as I took a lot of design, art and photography courses."

Amy also says she did the makeup for most of her friends for their senior ball last year. "We're doing stuff on the course I haven't done before which is really interesting."

The first week of the course covered subjects such as eyelash-tinting and colour blending. She is excited by the news that The Makeup School will be visiting the set of "Shortland Street".

After the course finishes in November, Amy says she would like to do fashion makeup. "I'd love to work for MAC Cosmetics and do editorial makeup and runway shows. I'm a creative person and I couldn't see myself working behind a desk all day."

The prospect of long hours and early starts does not phase her at all. "It's what I enjoy, so if I'm doing something I love the hours won't matter.

"It's so exciting and different to school. You don't have to go to subjects like maths."

Her advice to high school students interested in makeup is to "go for it".

"From what I've seen it's a fantastic course and you get to go to sets and learn so much. You learn everything you need to go far in the industry."

She also recommends visiting different makeup schools and doing research.

"Come and have a look at it and see what everyone's doing. My mum was fully supportive and helped me investigate courses."

Tips for students - and their parents

Questions to ask before choosing a makeup school

- Who's going to teach me? This is probably the single most important thing to ask when exploring different courses. Ask to look at your tutor's profile.

-How many years' industry experience does your teacher have and are they still working in it?

-What's covered in the curriculum? Is it up to date and relevant to the industry? It's a good idea to talk to various working makeup artists in different areas - e.g. fashion, film/television, retail - and get their advice on what should be covered in the course. Ask how much of the content is theory versus practical.

-What are past graduates from this course currently doing?

-How many graduates are actually out there working and what are they doing?

-Talk with past students and get feedback on the course you're considering.

-What products are students taught with in the classroom?

-Are those products industry standard quality?

-What quality are the products in the student kit?

-What work experience do students get while training?

-Do students get exposure to the industry and is the school connected and supported by the industry at large, that is, by both the fashion and the film/television industries?

Tips courtesy of Gabrielle Williams from The Makeup School