 Class
five is the character make-up segments, where the student learns how
to put everything he’s learned in the first four classes to good use.
Covered in this class are 50 phases of character-oriented techniques
including bullet holes, burns (of all degrees), cuts and scratches,
oriental features, drag make-up, and much, much more. The sixth class
is monster make-up. In this class, the student learns how to recreate
the classic monsters of the past—e.g. Quasimodo, the Mummy, Frankenstein’s
Monster, and Dracula; and creates his own disgusting creatures as
well. He is limited in this only by his aptitude and imagination.
The last portion of the course is prosthetics. There are two classes,
basic and advanced (the latter is optional). In the basic class, students
are taught the rudiments of sculpting, casting, and moldmaking, and
all about the materials used. In the advanced class, skills taught
include the manufacture of teeth with dental acrylics, the mechanical
capabilities of the prosthetic appliance (which include bladder effects),
and faster and better methods in all areas of prosthetic Make-up.
Throughout the 11 week course are lectures and seminars on subjects
that range from the history of make-upeffects, to script breakdown
for Make-up artists. There is also a required class in human anatomy,
exercise, and nutrition, which gives the student guidelines on how
to remain a healthy make-up artist. “This is a demanding job,”
explains Blasco, “and if you’re not healthy, you won’t be hired. If
you don’t stay healthy, you won’t stay hired.”
The
purpose of the workshop is to let the student experience the other
technical aspects of film and TV production, such as lighting techniques,
blocking, and camerawork, so that once in the world of the professional,
he will be properly prepared and able to handle himself on such a
level. Also, the workshop enables the student to see his own work
on video tape, in order that he will better understand what makes
his creations look best.
Aside
from being a school, the Joe Blasco Make-up Center is an independent
make-up service for film, TV, stage, and still photography. Available
to this community is a variety of services, from being an outlet for
Blasco’s own line of professional cosmetics, to providing all forms
of make-up design and execution (done at the Center, or on location).
Because producers often turn to the Make-up Centers for help, there
is quite a lot of exposure for the talented students of the school;
many times the students find |
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employment in their field through the Make-up
Center. Matthew Mungle, a former student of Blasco’s, who is now an
instructor at the Center, and who has a growing list of credits in
TV and feature films, is one such case. Says Mungle, “Probably 90
per cent of the work I’ve gotten has been from Joe’s recommendations.
Joe had me assist him in Las Vegas on Orson Welles’ make-up for the
movie Butterfly, and he recommended me to Jeff Obrow Productions to
do the effects make-up on their movie Pranks.” Mungle will also be
tackling Obrow’s next feature as well.
An
important point stressed by Blasco, is that new make-up artists can
not afford to experiment on the job. It not only costs time and money,
but reputation as well. “If you’re good at what you do,” says Blasco,
“word gets around; but if you are costing a company money and time
trying to figure out how to do things you should already know how
to do, word gets around twice as fast. That can cost you future employment
At the schools, students get .all their major experimentation out
of the way, so they don’t have to do it on the job. When they get
out into the world of the professional, they will have the basics
down, and they will be able to try new things with that knowledge
to draw from.” Prosthetics student Mary-Michael George agrees: “They
make you feel so comfortable with the materials, that you are able
to feel confident about going out and using what you know, and applying
it to new things.” Says Blasco, “Not everyone is going to be successful
at make-up and make-up effects, but those who have the talent, personality
and drive it takes, will survive. They are the ones who will get the
jobs.”
Blasco’s
school is certainly unique among schools of this type (of which there
are not many). It’s appeal is its professionalism, and people come
from all over the world to partake of that professionalism. Student
Sandra Aznar is from France. She wanted to go to the best make-up
school in the world, so she came to the Joe Blasco Make-up Center.
“What I like about this school, says Aznar, ‘ is that there are so
many people with their own problems’, and their own temperament, yet
each person is handled as an individual.” Everyone is free to move
the way they want, but always with the one direction in mind, to be
a professional.
Please
direct all correspondence about the Joe Blasco Make-up Center Schools
to Joe Blasco Make-up Center West, Hollywood, California, (323) 467-4949
or Joe Blasco Make-up Center East, Orlando, Florida, (407) 363-1234. |
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