Two summers ago, we interviewed Brent Krekoski, a Makeup Design for Film & Television grad whose skills were tested on the set of Jennifer Lynch’s Surveillance, starring Julia Ormond and Bill Pullman. Well, it finally premiered on video-on-demand a few weeks ago and today starts a limited theatrical run.
TIME’s Richard Corliss calls Surveillance “Rashomon meets The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in Twin Peaks.” Fertile ground for a resourceful makeup assistant. “The best part of Surveillance for me, in terms of makeup, was all the deaths that take place throughout the movie,” Brent enthused at the time.
If you’re in New York or L.A., check local listings!
We’re about a month away from the VFS 2009 Summer Intensives! Due to the high demand, extra dates have been added for the Writing for Film & Television, Film Production, Acting for Film & Television, Sound Design for Visual Media, and Animation & Visual Effects Intensives.
The Game Design Intensive and the 2nd date for the Writing for Film & Television Intensive are almost sold out! Don’t miss your chance!
As announced in March, these 5-day creative boot camps put those who are considering attending Vancouver Film School in the trenches of their chosen program, where they’ll gain hands-on experience under the guidance of VFS’s staff of industry professionals.
When the industry came calling for John Barlow, his graduation had to play second fiddle. The Makeup Design for Film & Televisionalum missed his VFS grad ceremony because he’d already landed a gig in California with Quantum Creations FX. He’s in on the ground floor, but he’s already gotten his hands into all kinds of crazy stuff.
He can’t talk about what projects he’s been working on – hush-hush – but a glance at Quantum’s credits and you’ll see that the shop’s pedigree is… impressive. We caught up with the Seattle native to get some background on his quick transition from VFS to the biz.
What were you up to before coming to VFS? Any training or on-the-job experience?
I got my undergraduate degree in ceramics from the University of Washington and had been working as an artist assistant at a glass studio. We did a lot of mold making, sculpting, and life casting. It was a good experience for working in the sort of environment where you are rushing to meet deadlines and learning tricks about mold making.
What drew you to makeup design as a field?
I have always loved movies and art. After I finished getting my degree, I wanted to look for a way to combine my interest in sculpting and 3D art with film, and discovered makeup and special effects makeup.
It seemed like a great overlap between the film industry and the fine arts in that you’re working with a lot of really creative people making films, but at the same time getting to sculpt nasty wounds, monster beasties, and come up with on-the-fly solutions to things the director needs right away. It’s like the best form of problem-solving.
What aspect of the discipline do you enjoy most?
So far I’ve liked the prosthetic work in makeup the most. From sculpting the prosthetic, to molding it, to painting, and finally applying it. It is gratifying to see something you’ve put so much work into turn out and become something real and usable.
How did you come to sign on with Quantum Creations? What’s the story there? Sounds like it happened fast.
I got pretty lucky as far as getting this job went. I had a friend in L.A. working for the company that I’d stayed in touch with during my year in Vancouver. A few months before the program ended, I sent him an email seeing if he could recommend some places to interview if I were to go down there, and he asked to see my portfolio. I showed him some of what I’d done so far, and he offered to get me a job at Quantum.
I am just doing running right now, but Quantum is great in that they let me work on other things once my runs are done, so I’ve already worked in the lighting department and the seaming shop.
Thanks, John, and good luck in L.A.! Hopefully we can chat again when the veil of secrecy lifts a bit!
One student in every graduating class in Makeup Design for Film & Television is presented with the Makeup Design Achievement Award, to recognize their outstanding work in the acclaimed one-year program.
Introducing Ashley Hogan, the winner of the Makeup Design Achievement Award for the April 2009 graduating class!
The award was presented by actor David Palffy (Stargate SG-1, The X-Files) at a graduation ceremony last Thursday. Along with the award, Ashley received a personal reference letter from Makeup Design Head Stan Edmonds, a makeup prize pack including products from MAC and Taut by Leonard Engelman, and a one-year subscription to Make-Up Artist Magazine. Ashley’s portfolio will be showcased right here at vfs.com.
“Every class in Makeup Design turns out many talented makeup artists,” Stan says. “But it is the one student who excels in every area of our program while also managing to maintain a consistently high grade average with exams that is awarded this honour. Ashley Hogan is that student.”
“It feels good,” Ashley says. “The hard work has shown through.”
Ashley, a Calgary native who was one of the students who participated in the TRANSGUARD I emergency exercise last year, originally thought she’d pursue a career in animation. But she also loved how tactile and social makeup design can be. “I’ve always loved makeup. I can’t go into a makeup store and not put my hands and fingers in everything. And I like being with people.”
“I know I’ll never be bored.”
Congratulations, Ashley! You can see her amazing portfolio, showcasing the full scope of her work from her year at VFS, right here:
Head of Makeup Design Stan Edmonds with award winner Ashley Hogan on graduation day.
Our friends at Opus Art & Design Media have a newish store in Downtown Vancouver, right across the street from our Hastings Street campuses. Yesterday afternoon, customers at that location were treated to a couple of amazing makeup demos by students in our one-year Makeup Design for Film & Television program.
The side-by-side demos had Matt Carpenter transforming a friend into a ghoulish vampire using Wrinkle Stipple, wax, and airbrushing, while Elisa Solomon demonstrated fantasy airbrush techniques on fellow student Giselle Smart.
Seats are still available in our 5-day Makeup Design Intensive, running July 13 to 17, 2009. For five days, you’ll get your hands dirty – and bloody and bruised and maybe even a little hairy – as you explore corrective and beauty makeup, the elements of highlight and shadow, gory out-of-kit effect, and facial hair. The week culminates in designing and creating your very own character makeup!
VFS’s Makeup Design for Film & Television program was at the forefront of this past weekend’s Canadian Makeup Show. Aside from the flurry of activity at our booth – where VFS instructors, staff, and alumni demonstrated various makeup design techniques – VFS grads also took to the stage, beating out competitors for two big awards.
Robyn Jenkins, who just graduated this past December, won the Grand Prize in the SFX Makeup/CSI Theme category. It includes a $300 cash prize, along with a silicone painting kit, and a top-of-the-line Iwata airbrush compressor. The real prize, Robyn says, was that she got a chance to meet and chat with industry professionals. It also didn’t hurt that Robyn’s mom flew in from Peterborough to be her model!
Teresa Taylor, also a recent Makeup Design graduate, was in the winner’s circle as well, taking home 3rd Place in the Glamour category.
Congrats to both of you!
Current Makeup Design students were also treated this past Friday to a special visit from Emmy-award winning Makeup Artist, Michael Key. The founder and publisher of Make-Up Artist magazine, Key spoke to the students about the benefits of attending events like the Canadian Makeup Show and participating in competitions.
“VFS students have a huge advantage because of the quality of education you’re receiving,” Key said to a packed room.
The proof is in the pudding, given the results of this weekend’s competition.
Check out these photos of Robyn’s and Teresa’s award-winning works as they were created.
VFS Makeup Design
at the Canadian Makeup Show
April 4 – 5, 2009
10am – 6pm
PNE Agrodome
Vancouver, BC
Also, don’t forget about VFS’s Summer Intensive Programs, featuring five days of Makeup Design lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on time (July 13th – 17th). The class size is small and seats are bound to fill up quickly. To find out more and to register, visit vfs.com/summer2009.
Armed with an inspiration package that included a foam heart and two character descriptions, the team scrambled to put the film together in less than three days. Their efforts garnered awards for Best Actress (Lauren Martin, Acting), Best Director (Darren Borrowman, Film), and even Best Use of Rain. They were also nominationed for Best Writing (Bob Woolsey and Andrew Menzies, Writing), Best Actor (Tom Belding, Acting), Best Sound, and Best Film. Click here to see the trailer for their film, “Pier Pressure.”
“I like to think of our film as a Noir-edy,” says Darren Borrowman. A graduate of the Film Production program, Darren took part in a few VFS 48 Hour Film Festivals and had a great time. After leaving school, he set a goal of making one film a month for a year… He ended up making 15.
“I have made it my goal to learn something new from every film that I make. Past lessons have included: ‘keep it simple,’ ‘have all the cast and crew available for the entire weekend,’ and ‘don’t make a split screen perspective film with only one camera, acting as director and editor in a 24hr period.’ Some things just don’t work.”
Other VFS grad team members included: Josh Guitard (Film), Steve Tyrrell (Film), Jordan Ewan (Film), and Cynthia Gao (Makeup Design).
Wondering about what it’s like to take a full-time one-year VFS program, but want to try it out before making a big decision about your educational future?
Introducing the 2009 VFS Summer Intensive Programs – 9 five-day programs beginning July 2009 that will allow you to experience our acclaimed one-year programs in a week of learning, doing, and having fun.
The curriculum will be delivered by VFS’s faculty of respected entertainment industry pros, and participants in each program will come away from their week with hands-on experience and real insight into what a one-year program at VFS can offer.
VFS Summer Intensive Programs include:
Experience VFS (a week sampling all of VFS’s programs) – July 20-24 Acting for Film & Television – July 6-10 Animation & Visual Effects – July 13-17 Digital Design – July 6-10 Film Production – July 13-17 Game Design – July 13-17 Makeup Design for Film & Television – July 13-17 Sound Design for Visual Media – July 6-10 Writing for Film & Television – July 6-10
Also, after completing a VFS Summer Intensive Program, students enrolling in a full-time VFS program will have the cost of their Intensive Program applied toward their tuition.
Summer Intensive Programs are open to anyone 17 years of age or older. Spaces are extremely limited and are expected to fill quickly. For full details and to register, visit vfs.com/summer2009. Hope to see you in July!
For Makeup Design grads Harris Haralambakis and Sarah E. Jordan, the past four months have been like a real-life fairytale.
After their intense year at VFS, Harris got hired almost right away by Greek makeup and visual effects houseAlahouzos Studio, while Sarah nabbed a job there a month later – and now the pair have been doing makeup for everything from movies, commercials, and theatrical plays to video clips and fashion shows.
How they ended up working together is almost too good to be true. Sarah never expected that visiting Harris in Greece would land her her first professional job.
As Harris describes, “The ‘problem’ [with Sarah’s visit] was that I had to spend all day at the shop because it was very, very busy with the [zombie] movie [we were working on] and some other smaller projects. So I asked for permission to bring [Sarah] with me to the shop, and of course she started helping immediately. It was perfect timing for everybody. Out of nowhere, we found ourselves working for an Fx [Effects] Workshop, and they found some extra help in a very busy period. The even better part is that they wanted us there after the movie was done!!! Yeah!!!”
“I could not have planned it any better,” says Sarah. “Who would think that a small trip to see a friend would change your life?”
“Now, we have been working with the Alahouzos brothers for four months, and … [have been] involved with all the different stages of the procedures, including starting and finishing sculptures and moulds, fabricating prosthetic pieces, and using all different kinds of products and materials,” Harris says.
“From the shop… we had to fabricate and apply prosthetic pieces, ventilated hair pieces, and teeth, and of course do many beauty makeup jobs. It was also a great experience that we were co-makeup artists in one of the biggest fashion shows in Greece [for clothing company Lakis Gavalas, with Manos Vynichakis as the Key Makeup Artist], for which we did the makeup for over 20 models in a full day.”
The two recently took a week off to go to London for the I.M.A.T.S. [International Makeup Artist Trade Show], but their story and their work with the company looks as though it’s only just begun.
“I would say that everything is a bit more than perfect so far,” says Harris. “If the craft was an alphabet, I would be between A and B, but still I think it’s a good start.”
For Sarah, it’s the beginning of life in the working world: “At school you have so much help and support to get things done right, but at work you have to kick you own ass. I would not be here without VFS.”
Two summers ago, we interviewed Brent Krekoski, a Makeup Design for Film & Television grad whose skills were tested on the set of Jennifer Lynch’s Surveillance, starring Julia Ormond and Bill Pullman. Well, it finally premiered on video-on-demand a few weeks ago and today starts a limited theatrical run.
We’re about a month away from the 
When the industry came calling for John Barlow, his graduation had to play second fiddle. The 
What drew you to makeup design as a field?
How did you come to sign on with Quantum Creations? What’s the story there? Sounds like it happened fast.
One student in every graduating class in 
“Every class in Makeup Design turns out many talented makeup artists,” Stan says. “But it is the one student who excels in every area of our program while also managing to maintain a consistently high grade average with exams that is awarded this honour. Ashley Hogan is that student.”
Our friends at 
VFS’s 
Since Vancouver is famous (in Vancouver) for its winter rainfall, it’s only fitting that a group of VFS grads, ranging from 
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