Interview Feature
MAKEUP ARTIST Bryanna-Angel Allen Owner of Kiss and Makeup Studio
With over 17 years of makeup experience, Bryanna-Angel Allen is one of the most highly accredited media makeup artists in the UK. Afi magazine had the opportunity to follow her and her team in action, and hear her story at the Kaoska Fashion show during London Fashion Week 2016.
Photos by Conrad Lee
You are a media trained makeup artist, what does that mean and how is it different from the “usual� make up? Media makeup is a different quality and skill to a normal MUA; Media makeup artists have to understand lighting, cameras, high definition, colour and grey scales... light, motion variation, and extreme heat. In media makeup, we use more pigmented heavier products and apply them in a more seamless fashion setting it at all times. Perfection is a must as our work is magnified on greater levels from movie screens to billboards... We research for period work to be fully accurate, design makeups for script work, and for fashion we have to be aware of the type of lighting and lenses being used. Our kits are of high value and mostly high definition (HD). We are using up to 300 brushes depending on the amount of faces and applications. An extensive knowledge of products and colours is always a requirement. How do you train as a media makeup artist?
Bryanna and model Bhasha Mukherjee at Kaoska Fashion show backstage
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Usually a course in basic MUA course is required for further college or university in media makeup. Media makeup goes from level 1-6 including full media makeup, Sfx (special effects), airbrushing, hairdressing, barbery, wig making, dressing and blocking, facial hair making/grooming, making and designing also applying prosthetics, camera work, lighting, hygiene, management and clerical. There are some colleges that teach basics of these but normally for insurance purposes and more detailed learning the media makeup stage schools are better and more equipped for higher qualifications.