Character makeup for film, TV, theatre and events
Period, fantasy, ageing or creature characters. From brief to makeup test, from test to set, with prosthetics I make myself.
- Film, series, commercials. Theatre and live shows
- Custom prosthetics, bald caps and ageing
- Continuity and touch-ups through the whole shooting day
- Barcelona, Girona and all of Spain, travelling to studio or location
A character starts long before the first take. It starts in the brief, in the references the art department sends over and in a test under the studio lights. My job as a character makeup artist is to get that character to set finished, and keep it there all day without anyone having to think about it.
What I do
Film, series, commercials
Character makeup for actors and extras on features, series, shorts or commercials. Period looks. Ageing. Wounds that have to match in episode 2 and episode 6. I work from the script and the breakdown so I know which scene needs what, and I keep continuity take by take.
Theatre and live shows
Full casts for opening night, with a design the company can repeat performance after performance. Bald caps, noses, ageing, creatures. I leave the backstage team clear notes for upkeep between shows.
Characters
Period: from a 1920s face to the pallor of a seventeenth-century court. Fantasy: elves, demons, hybrid beings with built-in prosthetics. Ageing: wrinkles, liver spots, thin skin, with or without prosthetics. Creatures: silicone or latex pieces designed for that one character.
If you need wounds, burns or complex prosthetics, go to SFX and prosthetic makeup. If you’re after a makeup artist on set by the day, see on-set makeup artist.
How I build a character
- Brief. Script or synopsis, visual references, dates. Number of characters and where you’re shooting.
- Design and quote. I propose how to solve each character and send a fixed price.
- Fabrication. If there are prosthetics, I take the mould and make the pieces myself.
- Test. Full application under real light, reference photo, adjustments.
- Set. Application, continuity through the day, removal and skin care at wrap.
Materials
Silicone, latex, gelatine or artificial skin, depending on the scene and what the piece has to hold up to. Professional products, adhesives and removers. I always ask about allergies before applying anything.
Who I work for
Film and TV production companies. Advertising agencies. Theatre, opera or dance companies. Photographers, schools, event organisers. If your project doesn’t fit any of those boxes, tell me about it anyway.
Shooting in Barcelona?
Tell me about the character and the dates and you’ll have a quote.
FAQ
How far ahead do I need to book a character makeup artist?
For productions with custom prosthetics, at least two weeks. I need time to take the mould, make the piece and do a test. For a character without prosthetics, a week is usually enough. If you're tight on time, write to me anyway.
How is character makeup priced?
Per day or per project. The price depends on how many characters there are, whether they wear prosthetics, how many shooting days or performances you have and where we're working. Send me the brief and I'll send back a fixed quote.
Can you handle a large cast?
Yes. For big casts I schedule call times in blocks and, when needed, bring in makeup artists I trust so everyone is ready for the first shot. Tell me how many people and what each one needs.
Do you do makeup tests before the shoot?
Whenever there are prosthetics or a complex character. The test happens on your set or wherever you rehearse. It's where we adjust colour and timings, and where the director sees the result under real light.
Do you work in theatre and live shows?
Yes. I build the makeup for a full cast at opening and train the company so upkeep between performances is quick. Bald caps, ageing or fantasy characters for opera, dance or stage shows too.
Do you travel outside Barcelona?
Based in Barcelona and the Maresme, often in Girona. I travel across Catalonia and anywhere in Spain. Travel is included in the quote.