The Makeup Artist Handbook: Techniques for Film, Television, Photography, and Theatre

by Gretchen Davis, Mindy Hall

This full-color and amply illustrated book is written for film, television, and theatre makeup artists who need to know the basics on how to accomplish flawless makeup applications. It begins with fundamental practices and continues through more complex techniques usually known only by Hollywood makeup artists. Written by two expert authors who have experience doing makeup for television, commmercials, and blockbuster films, readers will learn about beauty, time periods, black and white film, as well as cutting edge techniques such as air brusshing makeup for computer-generated movies, and makeup effects.

High definition (HD) technology has revolutionized the techniques needed by makeup artists--you need to know more, have more talent, and be more detailed than ever before. Because HD emphasizes every detail on screen, it's essential for makeup artists to know how to achieve a desired "look" that fits the director's requirements. This book will help professional and aspiring makeup artists to hone their craft in both conventional and HD techniques.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Adult, Photography, Film

296 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 1 out of 5]

I used to do makeup for a haunted house… years and years ago, and have been recently asked to do some stage makeup for a play that my church will be doing this spring.
I picked this book up to refresh my understanding of stage makeup and found it to be next to useless for what I’m doing.

[Syahira · Rating 1 out of 5]

Something that you CAN live without. There are better books than this.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not for me in every way possible.

First, I'll just pass on doing makeup for my films. I'll definitely hire a professional instead of presuming I can do anything approaching competent.

But even if I were more engaged with the topic, this is so haphazard and presented in such a bizarre way. It didn't seem incredibly useful, at least from the perspective of coming into this completely new to everything.

I'd also like to call bullshit on one thing: They warn that actors should be instructed to not drink the night before they have to have body makeup applied, because "alcohol will seep through their pores". Shenanigans! That's not how that works. You will emit odors, but you're not actually oozing ethanol through your skin that will dissolve makeup.

[Jessica]

Information on how to work in film/TV/etc makeup as well as on makeup techniques. Very in depth.