Attention GENTLEMEN: This post applies to you too. Yeah, I know you manly men will try to skip this entry, but even manly men need make-up handy for their headshots and performances. Guys have pimples, black heads, dark circles under their eyes, visible pores, laugh lines and sweat. Just like girls. So, do yourself a favor boys: read on.
It may seem strange that I’m starting this blog off with an entry about make-up for actors, but I promise that there is a VERY good reason for it. Scenario: I’m acting in a film and I forgot to bring my make-up with me, or (worse) I don’t own any make-up. Doesn’t seem like a big deal, right? WRONG. It’s become a huge deal, because actors have a (new) enemy, and it’s called FULL HD. That’s right, a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels plastered vertically and horizontally across a screen, just waiting to show the world EVERYTHING creeping on the surface of your face. We love it. We hate it. We needed make-up before. We need make-up now more than ever before. So, with all this said, let’s get into a breakdown of reasons why an actor should have cinema quality make-up attached at the hip.
#1. The Invisible Make-Up Artist
As most actors know, there may not be a make-up artist on some sets. No one wants to be on a set without a make-up artist, but let’s be realistic here… at one point or another you WILL be. Who do you suppose is going to make you camera ready? This low/no budget film business is a growing epidemic, and along with it come productions that simply cannot afford to hire a make-up artist… because the tiny bit of money they did have, all went into crafty, somehow. So luckily you’re fed, but who wants to be in front of a camera with no make-up on?
Imagine other actors (who are not your co-stars), directors and producers sitting in an audience at some Film Festival watching a movie you’re in, wondering a) when your zit is going to spontaneously combust onto the camera lens and b) if you got any sleep the night before a particular shoot day. Sounds funny, sure. But bad make-up, or no make-up CAN be (and more likely than not WILL be) a distraction for those who are watching the film. ESPECIALLY if they are filmmakers and/or film distributors.
#2. Lights, Camera, Sweat Your Butt Off
This goes for Theatre, TV and Film. Lights. They get hot. When they get hot, you get hot. Air conditioning? Bet your sweaty buttocks it will be OFF most of the time, due to sound interference. I don’t need to tell anyone that heat = sweat. At least I hope I don’t. If you don’t have make-up meant for this issue, I’m rather certain your face will melt away. Or at least that is what it will look like on stage and/or on camera. Now, unless the intention of the director was to include Special FX make-up on your face, you don’t want to look like a wax figure beneath the desert sun. Learning how to buy and apply your own make-up properly is a BFD. Trust me.
#3. Evil Full HD
Ah, yes, High Definition. The brilliant technology of Full HD. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking it. It has done great wonders for the world of Indie Filmmaking. It allows us to make a feature-length film for a fraction of the cost of 35mm… even Super 16. One of its major flaws: it’s all seeing! The problem with this omnipotence is that it’s a potent pain in the ass. Remember how we used to watch films and not ever notice when actors were wearing make-up? Excluding the movies which call for obvious make-up, of course. Believe it or not, to make an actor look “natural” on camera, the actor needs make-up. 
And in the process of the always moving forward world of entertainment, Full HD cameras and TVs disclose the layers of make-up one has on when it cuts to a close-up. I’ve even noticed caked faces on a medium shot. News anchors have never been more frightening. I don’t even want to imagine what concoction of pixels will be thrown at us in the very near future.
Next entry: I will focus on different make-up lines that are known for carrying great products meant for models and performers. I will also go into the essentials of what kind of make-up actors need, so they don’t go over board and sell their souls on unnecessary items. Fact: good make-up is expensive! I’m going to try and save you some money! Well, that’s all for Make-Up for Actors; Part 1. Later!
