Working The Makeup Dept Budget With Desired FX

In the world of film and TV, budgets can be the biggest constraint alongside time, to the creative process. For the makeup department often this means we have to search out cost-efficient options to create a particular look or downgrade the process to fit the money available, thankfully, there are services like Desired FX that can help with this and give you a budget-friendly, professional add-on to your kit that will push the department ahead.

From silicone wounds to scars, tattoos including bruising and standard designs, Desired FX offers up a range of products that will work for most scenarios and even offers a studio custom service to allow further scope for creativity on a budget.

With increasing options in the digital market from Amazon to HOD TV (Horror on Demand), the indie film sector has never been so popular with the on-demand film/TV sector becoming bigger year on year, but budgets being tight in the circuit, having the option of a team like Desired FX who can provide cost-efficient options for the FX department, there is scope to bring a different dimension as a department head working smart with the available funds.

To learn more about Desired FX or to purchase see:

Desired FX shop ( 10% off on all products with the promo code "JamesClark10")

Desired FX Instagram.

Desired FX Facebook.

Sideshow IPA Palettes by The AFX Company

The Allied FX company is widely known for their professional-grade IPA (Isopropyl alcohol activated) palettes under the name Bluebird FX and their latest addition to the family: Sideshow, an affordable, quirky, high-grade palette that since its launch in February has in short order become a go-to for makeup artists across the spectrum of the creative fields.

“With a clever mix of old favorites and brand new colors, the sideshow palettes are stealing the show for their cost-effective quirkiness. “

Currently, a range consisting of 7 palettes (with other elements being added soon) each with its own unique color set and vintage style cover image, the palettes are designed carefully to suit a particular requirement and has the savvy of a team who are working artists themselves looking to make not just their jobs a little simpler but also a little more fun, beyond the quirks you can see what is a genius move for the Allied FX Company, opening the door to a whole host of new clients from students to professionals the Festival range is perfect for those working in the low to mid-range budgets of film and TV (with the increasing use of internet services such as HOD TV, Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Streamlette, this will be a welcome addition to a makeup kit) and carries over the larger, high scale budget productions, a professional palette that transcends its price range of $59.10 in Australia (in the UK £36) and puts a whole new slant on character work and development.

• Body art: designed for body art and tattoo creation.

• Bruiser: a unique and carefully structured palette suited to its name, bruising.

• Dark Ride: a series of day glow shades that come to life under blue light.

• Dead-Alive: Perfect for zombies and illness, the death pallor look of haunted houses and Halloween.

• Gore: for the creation of scratches, cuts, and wound filling a box of tricks that is worthy of note.

• Gothic: aethereal and suited to those deeper, more cool tones looks (think vampire).

• Rouge: designed for breaking down and creating crusty characters and drunks.

For us at the lost creatives, yes we can see a use for the whole set but standing tall in this are 2 in particular that we are adding to our working kit via creative director and head of makeup JamesC, to match the work and styles of shoots we have planned for TV and print: Bruiser and Gore, which will be perfect additions to our work and will see multiple uses with the possibilities of this range being endless and others coming into play with projects in development (early stages of scripting).

In what is a market-led move, the Allied FX Lab are tackling and offering up quality products at a lower price point without compromise, the AFX company are amongst an elite of the profession and are pushing the boundaries of the makeup world giving us what we need to create the most realistic (and surreal when required) and putting the prosumer at the heart of their thinking.

The Festival range fits perfectly with a wide array of requirements and situations including:

• Students.

• Film and TV production professionals.

• Haunted House.

• Halloween artists.

• Cosplay.

To learn more about the range or to purchase see:

The Allied FX company website.

The Allied FX company Instagram.

The Allied FX company Facebook.

Depixym paints in the new media sphere

As we move into a whole new world for makeup artists, influencers, and creatives in general, many people are having to rethink how they work within the beauty industry.  Starting out of the blocks and ahead of the game in terms of packaging and are starting to think long term with their clients to ensure that they are working safely.  Developed as a brand for experimentation and fun that translated across genres from theatrical makeup to film and television. 

Depixym is going to be a game-changer as the rules and potential guidance long term for how makeup staff can work on set, the products we use creatively will need to change to meet a whole host of new needs and dynamics.  The advantages of having a product that is: 

• Longwear 

• Non-transfer 

• Vegan

• Cruelty-free

• Matte, 

• Blendable

• Mixable 

• Waterproof

Those working in fashion and editorial or even the film/TV industry will be able to minimize their kit and get creative without losing the edgy, beauty styles that are often needed or even put together a simple clean makeup look for a more commercial shoot, and with the Depixym emulsions being long wear, it is possible to minimize touch-ups on set as the product itself is designed to be long wear which in the future will be a major consideration when choosing products.  *0194 black emulsion is a multi-tasker (like all the colors) which for liner and mascara should be seen as a potential staple for all artists who need to be able to maximize their output with minimal items for speed.  

Creativity is at the heart of the brand and it is easy to see that but from a pro stance, Depixym has the hallmarks of a kit staple that in the coming months is going to be a game-changer and powerhouse in the cosmetics field as we have to work smarter.   *They also stock brush and sponge soap to ensure you can keep your kit clean which is an important aspect of working today.

To learn more about the brand or to purchase see:

Depixym Emulsions Website.

Depixym Emusions Instagram.

Depixym Emulsions Facebook.

Professional Supplies With The Makeup Armoury

Founded in 2016 The Makeup Armoury has become a go-to for industry suppliers. From beauty to FX they are a community-style shop designed to support the professional working artists of the industry. Started by a veteran of the industry Jan Sewell, this has become a go-to supply station and all-round makeup hub.

With a wide range of products from across the beauty and FX spectrum, The Makeup Armoury is setting a new benchmark in professionalism with their dedicated team of working artists making the biggest difference to how the shop works, the team are able to answer questions and offer support which can easily be seen from the blog and the general tenor of the reviews and people being interviewed.

A savvy array of products such as the world-renowned Makeup forever and artist dream Viseart palettes, it is the set bags that have become their biggest sellers. As any artist will tell you, carting your kit onset is just not practical. A good set bag, which the working artists behind the brand have found, can make your job so much easier.

Standing out (for our creative director in particular) is the Marlene, with a detachable tissue pocket and dividers internally it is the perfect accompaniment to working on set for film, TV, editorial and more.

 “The makeup industry with all its effervescence and ingenuity can be relentless and ruthless – this is where we come in. We are your comrades. We are your tools. We are your Armoury.”

To learn more or to purchase from the Makeup Armoury store see:

The Makeup Armoury Website.

The Makeup Armoury Instagram.

The Makeup Armoury Twitter.

The Makeup Armoury Facebook.

Dollbaby London lashes for Professionals

Already seen as a pro must have and a celebrity favorite with artists such as Cardi B, the Dollbaby London Magnetic lashes are a professional addon that is well on its way to becoming the professional beauty artists choice for fashion shows, shoots and bridal.

Designed to be quick and easy to apply the lashes are an ideal solution for those who worry about latex-based glues and want something that will speed up the process without losing any of the glamor that goes with the right set of lashes.

An on the go solution, Dollbaby London is at the cutting edge of lash technology being faux mink (cruelty-free) and vegan. With several awards already under their belt, there is something to be said for the range that is making waves and drawing eyes.

From a purely pro stance, the Dollbaby London range fits perfectly into a working kit for fashion week through to the upcoming wedding season, the potential for these lashes is endless as we see more and more professionals picking them up and using them in their day to day work in live events, weddings, print, and red carpet events.

With our plans for film and TV as well as several editorials we will be integrating these lashes into our work and feel that they will change how we work with our female models and actors in prep time giving them something fresh, innovative and designed to work within a professional scenario.

To learn more about the range (including trade options) or to purchase see:

Dollbaby London Website.

Dollbaby London Instagram.

Dollbaby London Facebook.

Dollbaby London Twitter.

George Westmore Establishing an Industry the Legacy of Makeup Artistry

George Westmore an on Set Moment

In the early days of cinema, it was common for actors to do their own makeup and wigs, a craft that found its roots in theatre and vaudeville and carried over to the beginnings of the film industry and changed dramatically thanks to the savvy and artistic vision of George Westmore.

George Westmore, whose vision brought him from the Isle of Wight in the UK where he had established himself as a hairdresser and wigmaker, going onto become a leading light in the film industry working his way from Canada to the USA as a wigmaker with his family and taking risks along the way that led to a career and legacy that is still talked about today. 

With an inauspicious entry into cinema: offering his services for hair and makeup to the Selig Polyscope Company at a starting rate of $25 per week to later and by chance, it was Perc Westmore (son) offering support to Adolphe Menjou who had accidentally shaved off part of his mustache, which so impressed the legendary Douglas Fairbanks (senior) that the Westmore’s were hired to create all the wigs and take care of the hairdressing needs thanks to the professionalism of Perc Westmore and his father George Westmore (father of the clan and founder of the makeup artist industry we all know). 

With a client list that reads like the who's who of cinema throughout the years, from the Talmage family, Theda Barr, Douglas Fairbanks to name but a few, it is no surprise that the ethics and work started in early cinema with the Westmore clan have carried on throughout the cinema age into TV and beyond keeping alive a family legacy of excellence and defining a now multi-million-dollar industry.

To learn more about the Westmore family and its legacy see:

The Westmore’s of Hollywood Website

*With Special thanks to the Westmore family for supporting this blog series.

Brushwork Cosmetics Customisation a Professional Take

As the creative director and senior makeup artist of the Lost Project and Lost Creatives, I do work in different areas from film and TV through to fashion and editorial. My working kit is something I am constantly working on editing it by adding or changing up the kit but one thing I am really big on is an investment in key components such as makeup brushes. With this in mind when I saw the news that Brushwork Cosmetics was offering customization throughout January, I knew I had to talk about it from a professional stance.

While I appreciate this is a limited offer (for the month of January) it is really savvy for artists in makeup such as bridal and salon, fashion, film, and TV, to take advantage of this deal and here’s my reasoning why:

• Customized brushes with your name on the handle are easy to keep track of when you're on a job or with a client.

• It adds an extra dimension, think of it, clients will see this and know that you have taken time and care over what you have in your working kit and shows you have invested in your business.

• This also allows you to add your brand to the brush and it becomes a subliminal part of your marketing when you post images on social media. People will be aware of your name and associate it with professional brushes.

As someone who is a brush aficionado, I do support and endorse the range and this added dimension of “tagging” is for me a fantastic option that as stated above allows you to keep track of your kit. Brushwork Cosmetics as a whole offers Japanese Heritage brushes and cosmetics that are beyond compare and offer a premium range of well-curated brushes and cosmetics that sit beautifully in a working kit with or without the customization.

To learn more about the range or to purchase see:

Brushwork Cosmetics Website.

Brushwork Cosmetics Instagram.

Brushwork Cosmetics Facebook.

The Westmores of Hollywood

For anyone in the makeup industry, there is a nod of reverence due to the Westmore family that needs to be done as we move into a new decade: acknowledging those whose innovations and skills have helped to drive our industry forward, defining and shaping how we view the beauty side of makeup as well as creating iconic characters and showing the potential of makeup in a cinematic realm, the Westmore family is amongst those founding clans that have changed the way we look at makeup and created an art form second to none with a flourish that has spanned over a century in film and TV.

Icons of cinema and TV makeup, they are often overlooked in the public domain but remain firmly (and rightly), a part of cinema history with a continuing stance of professional standards that echoes across the world.  Hollywood royalty is a term that is often thrown around without knowledge and rarely looks at the talent behind the cameras who helped create the iconic images and star looks that are still held up today as a classics of both stills and moving images.

Credited as the founders of the makeup artist role in cinema, the Westmore family are seen across the board as being innovators at the start of an industry giving it an edge and sense of style to a world that is unrivaled to this day.  With reams of coverage over the years, the family historian, Christiana Benson a makeup artist and beauty marketing guru of repute in her own right, is taking the lengthy and storied history of her family and making them available to everyone as a part of cinema history. 

From its early days with George Westmore and his sons to its current family artists, the Westmore clan is amongst the elite of the elite in cinematic history and worthy of note to anyone in or entering the field of makeup artistry.  

To learn more about the Westmore family and their brands see:

The Westmore’s of Hollywood Site.

The Westmore Beauty Makeup line.

The Westmore FX line.

My Beauty Brand as a Professional Tool

From a professional makeup artist stance (or that of a beauty blogger) the newly launched range of My Beauty Brand has all the hallmarks of a game-changer for the savvy artist. Looking at key areas of the makeup range and potential avenues we wanted to break this down and show different artist positions and how this can be a beneficial range as a sales tool or for the sheer simplicity of access.

1: Salon freelancers/wedding artists: sales can often top up the wages of an artist and having a brand in-store can be expensive to arrange. My Beauty Brand offers up a simplified solution. Having the range in your kit (an investment with a potential return is always good), you can add the link to your own store to your cards allowing clients to choose from your curated favorites or buy from the collections giving you a commission on sales.

2: Fashion/event makeup: our creative director has worked on numerous shows as an artist and a supervisor, so understands that models do ask for information on the makeup used so they can buy it for themselves. What better option is there on two levels than My Beauty Brand, you can control the look and offer a one-stop-shop for a look, earn commissions on sales and ensure that everyone is on the same page for cosmetics with the back up of ease of marketing as stated above, your shop link on a card or linked to your site allows you to promote your own favorites and streamline the process as supervisor.

3: Film and TV makeup: in much the same manner outlined in the previous two, you can work theMy Beauty Brand range into your kit and know that you will be able to recoup some of your outlay (if you shop from your own store) and that the makeup is suited to your needs from the creative to the commercial. With the added bonus of knowing that actors who want to have a piece of the range can buy direct through your store via a business card or link on your site/social media page or account.

4: Beauty blogger/social media influencer: in much the same vein as other commission-based lines, My Beauty Brand is designed for social marketers and gives you not only a professional grade range that can be integrated into your work but a retail store that does not require you to carry stock or handle shipping etc.

It should be noted that this is currently available in the UK only for shipping and each link in this blog is tied to our creative director and head of makeup JamesC who offers his own professional endorsement of the range and is not affiliated directly with the company at this time he is a supporter and has a storefront of his own.

To learn more about the range or shop from the JamesC favorites click here.

Smartere Secrets London a New Professional Kit Staple

From a media and fashion perspective the Smartere Secrets London concealer has all the hallmarks of an artist staple; waterproof with a good shade range that can be mixed and customized, a built-in brush for convenience, it is the total package for longevity and artistically can and does suit multi-use from concealing blemishes to contouring and sculpting the face (a must in the fashion arena). 

Ideally suited to the rigors of fashion shoots with strong lighting and longevity on a film TV shoot minimizing the interruption to scenes allowing additional time to other areas.  Smartere Secrets London is a brand that must be seen for anyone working media and fashion. 

When it comes to male grooming there is often a demand for quick, easy solutions as most male presenters and on-air talent (including models) want to look clean and tidy rather than made up (news readers often make this request).  

In fashion terms, the ability to use two of the six shades to sculpt and contour the face with minimal hassle is a savior for time when on a shoot or backstage at a show.  Defining the face and giving coverage with a few simple strokes of the built-in brush, again minimizing the need for brushes, etc. 

A range that is designed to work with both consumers and prosumers, it is vegan and cruelty-free with the added and frankly noteworthy certification from the World Land Trust an accolade alone that makes this a brand worth noting and integrating into a fashion and media artist kit. 

To learn more about the brand or to purchase see:

Smartere Secrets London Website

Smartere Secrets London Instagram

Smartere Secrets London Facebook

Out of Kit Prosthetics

Out of Kit Prosthetics was an interesting Instagram find by our creative director who was researching options for upcoming projects including a TV series and several shoots which will require Prosthetics. What caught our attention as well as his, was the potential of the range and selection. Built around film grade materials (silicone and top quality skin-safe adhesives), the Out of Kit range is a film artist dream for cost-effective and high-grade materials that will revolutionize the indie film sector in particular.

Image courtesy of Out of Kit

What drew us into the potential of the out of kit range was this quote from the website:

“When you’re being crushed by production deadlines, there’s no room to do anything but react. You can only run around putting out whatever fire is burning brightest.”

As we are working with the team from Nepal Film Production on PR and project development, this has the potential to be a real asset to us long term and the catalog of items on the website have already got us thinking about how and where these items can be used to add depth to our character for the TV Show we have planned for 2020. Standing out for us is the fighter kit (available in 4 different skin tones), which would fit perfectly with one of our planned stills shoots).

Out of Kit offers a bespoke service (details available via the site below) as well as their premade items and collections including trauma, old age, fantasy, and character.

To learn more about the company or to purchase from the range see:

Out of kit Website

Out of Kit Facebook

Out of Kit Instagram

Depixym Paints A Freestyle Artistry Dream

When it comes to creative makeup there is one artist that stands out above and beyond: Linda Mason, her freestyle work has inspired many shoots for me and I will be working on something new with The Lost creatives soon to showcase this. When I came across the Depixym Paints I knew the time was right to start working on something fresh and outside of the commercial norm that could be an editorial piece.

Opening the doors to a wide range of potential looks, the paints are designed to be used on the whole body (externally), a creative must, they are reminiscent of the traditional paints you would find in a fine art studio and have a vintage, tactile look that makes you want to play. The color spectrum they offer is perfectly suited to mixing or using straight from the tube. A truly multi-purpose range the scope is endless.

We will be looking into booking a studio soon and naturally we will be doing some clean beauty work and experimental with a freestyle paint shoot, simply because it will be fun and that is ultimately what makeup should be.

Taking this forward we can see the potential of the Depixym paints and will be testing these out during the shoot for the sheer and simple joy of working with something designed for creativity and thinking outside the box.

*A little side note to the Depixym Paints is they would fit perfectly with period makeup as they are close to the original makeup used on early cinema and consumers, making them ideal for the ’20s to 50’s looks or pin-up work amongst other options. Which we will consider for our future film/TV projects.

To learn more about the range see:

Depixym Paint Website.

Depixym Paint Instagram.

Putting A Value On Assisting And Earning Your Craft

Being an assistant can be a big game-changer for your career and allow you to learn new skills, meet new people in the business and if you're smart about it you will gain more work and credits.

“Being an Assistant is not a negative thing.”

many people think that once they have a certificate they can walk onto a photoshoot, a film set or into the backstage area of a fashion event and immediately become the supervisor. Sadly that isn’t the case. Like any job you need to learn the ropes and there are multiple ways to do this but the best and most sensible is observing and assisting, you get all the advantages of being involved without the responsibility of being in charge.

Something I hear all the time is people feeling disappointed that the job (makeup artist, creative director, camera tech etc) is not what they expected or as glamorous as they thought, the reality of early mornings, late nights and dull corporate gigs can be mundane but pay well. Its, not all glitz and glamour, its called business for a reason, bear that in mind when you start touting for work.

The right people to deal with have done their time as a trainee (myself included) and know that what you learn in college is important but there is more to the job than what you learn in a class so you have to come in with an open mind, and be a team player.

It is not a denigration of your work that you are an assistant it can be a really smart move, especially when dealing in the film and TV realm.

If you are working, being paid and doing the job you are passionate about that is the important part. use it as a chance to learn a new skill or add to your CV. It’s better to get a credit as an assistant on a shoot be it film, TV, editorial or event than not get any credit at all. It shows you are proactive in your work and can be a part of a team.

No matter your age or status being an assistant can open new doors, create opportunities and if you're smart, look at the situation and put a value on what you are being offered and use it as a chance to advance your own work.

All We have is Now

When I was asked about the motivation behind The Lost Creatives, my answer was simple. All we have is now. Over the last few years, we have seen a dramatic change in the industry both from an observational standpoint and as a hands-on member of crews for film projects.

Not all have been good experiences and made me realize that the only way that would change is if I did something to rectify it and move forward.

Professionally I see my work and that of the Lost Creatives taking a more film and TV-based route geared toward something solid that can be sold, creating projects from a commercial stance may seem against the grain for some but that does not stop the artistic process contrary to the myth you can be artistic and commercial.

It is not easy to build something solid and takes time, earning credentials and getting started is a scary process but for me, that is half the fun.

Taking the stance that “all we have is now,” I plan to keep moving forward and taking creative and personal risks in business whilst supporting the arts. Each step we make will be a triumph and give more fuel to the business.

*We will give consideration to taking a team to an off-schedule London show during fashion week if we can work the marketing to suit.

Progressing forward we are now looking at additional script ideas for festival projects and editorial concepts that we will use as promotional material over the coming months and then in the new year (watch out for this one) our big marketing push. Creating a new narrative is what we are about.

The expansion will be over time and give us a more solid base to work from with a range of placements coming up which will be designed to give professional experience in the media and fashion arena.

Laying The Groundwork of The Lost Creatives

The Lost creatives site is being built around the idea of the cast and crew of future projects, we are talking to potential festivals to tie up with on the cross-promotional front and looking at what will be a series of films built around this from a few minutes to an 8 part TV series and of course ultimately, a feature film.

With the Lost Project, we have been doing a lot of groundwork and have successfully created a respected beauty blog with PR agencies and brands across the globe come to us for support and product placement, etc. Which we will continue to do.

For the remainder of 2019, we will be focused on smaller photographic shoots, looking at creating a series of editorials and character-based projects from a single image to a series for print and online magazines to help with pushing the Lost Creative narrative. This may include some behind the shoot films and creation of fashion films with either a youtube or Vimeo channel added to the Lost Creatives stable to showcase behind the camera moments.

Naturally, our primary focus is the be thriller and horror, over the course of years we have seen how much easier it is to sell this type of project and we also have ties to two fantastic independent distributors we will work with on this and are more than happy to have in our arsenal for the future.

Stay tuned for more news and updates.

Starting a New Journey

We are firm believers in the idea of a journey beginning with a single step. At this time we are building up a database of different magazines and projects that will be worked through in a two-fold fashion:

Magazines (particularly online) will be used to promote not only The Lost concept but the team behind the shoot. With a focus on a more character and a dramatic feel touching on naturalism, *the insta/social media makeup style doesn’t appeal to us.

Film and TV, we do have one project earmarked (more details on this later) with a writer from Iran who has been fantastic about supporting the concept and has agreed to be a part of what we are doing. We are negotiating terms to pick up the first of what we hope to be a series of projects starting in 2020.

The Lost Project continues to grow and we are really excited about the prospects of this new avenue of The Lost Creatives which will allow us to work a different side of the business and keep to some degree our artistic roots at its core while opening up commercial avenues that we will explore over time.

We do try to think about our work as commercial with an artistic edge allowing us to create and gives a distinct and soon to be an identifiable edge to our work that will become synonymous with The Lost Concept.

Marketing The Lost Creatives with Web Magazines

Something we are really keen on is marketing as low cost as possible but with a maximum push. I know this might sound odd but it is possible and we are working on a few different strategies that will help that.

Featured Product: Brushwork Cosmetics (promo code Jamesc 10% off your order)

To begin with, we have given serious thought to festival entry films (short) and of course editorial work. Naturally as a makeup artist myself and the creative director of The Lost Project, principally an arts and lifestyle blog with a heavy hand toward beauty because it’s my passion, it’s actually quite enjoyable to think of the terms we need to address and how we can make this work in our favor.

Keeping the costs to a minimum to begin we are looking at magazines that allow minimal submissions (for example 1 plus images) that will allow us to push all the social accounts of those involved. There are some great options and of course, will produce something for the World Fashion Media News website who we have a long-standing relationship that will continue.

Editorial is a fantastic method and can with planning and a little effort, give a wider audience reach that will bring attention to the work we are doing and of course what we are planning.

Naturally, we will make full use of the contacts and resources we have built over time and as we always do share and talk about the different brands we are supported by through careful and strategic placement of products to help not only ourselves but the brands as a thank for sticking with us.

Our goal is to push The Lost Concept as hard as possible and of course, create a cohesive, commercial story that illustrates what we do.

Welcome To The Lost Creatives

Welcome To The Lost Creatives, this site was set up as an expansion and sister site to The Lost Project founded by creative director and makeup artist James Clark. our plan is to create new work on a monthly basis for marketing and of course bring a sense of business to the creative arts. Our plans include:

• Editorial and advertorial for both print and online.

• short and feature film projects.

• TV projects.

The blog will showcase behind the scenes on our projects and what goes into a shoot alongside cast and/or crew calls from makeup assistants to actors and models, we will be working with the best talent for the job and giving new artists a chance to work as part of a larger team.

Combining the different elements of a long career in makeup with the various different skills honed over that time, the lost concept will be the a way to showcase and create projects that will be entertaining, thought provoking and commercial.

Stay tuned for more updates and exclusive behind the scenes stills and video’s from our shoots.

*We will be launching our galleries soon with a range of both stills and video from behind the scenes on our shoots.