Christine Blundell Make-up Academy For Film & Television

It is worth saying straight away that a career in film is not for the fainthearted. When I take on a film, I get my chosen team together (I usually have one main assistant and a couple more assistants to work for us both, and a trainee to fetch and carry). We then research and 'prep' the job: which period is the film set in, what happens to the actors, the overall look of the film etc. Prepping will be done whenever possible in the Academy and where it is feasible, the students will be involved. Good preparation means good results.You will eventually add your own style to your work.

I will then do a film script breakdown and budget the job. My budget can vary between £500 to £350,000 or more, so this is a crucial part of your job, which is why I will stress the point to you throughout the course that you are technicians, and that you work on film sets as technicians, and professional ones at that!

Once filming begins you should expect to start very early. We have been on films where our crowd calls have started as early as 4am.You have your onset times, which vary, but let's say on the set for 7.30 am. You sometimes get your lunch hour but you could well be working through it and you will wrap at about 8 pm. Then you will de-rig your actor, as in take off wigs, facial hair and any prosthetics, or just clean them up from their daily make-up. You might be tired from a long day but you can't let your actor get spots! So back home by 10pm, quick sleep, back up bright and early to get back to work for that 4 am make-up call. This could go on 6 days a week for three months! Believe me, it's not glamorous but it's fun! You can't moan, as noone wants a moaning make-up person and you certainly couldn't moan on my make-up bus!