Make-Up and Hair Designer - TV

In television you alwasy need make-up and hair designer, who usually work on high budget television dramas and must be proficient in both hair and make-up. The make up and hair designs are key elements to the over all design in Television, due to the fact you are creating a certain look for a character which could relate to time and era, their social class and other elements that are required to set the illusion. Make up and hair designers are responsible for the overall design and care of make -up and hair thoughout the pre-production and production periods.
Being involved in this job ranges from creating contemporary looks to recreating designs and styles, by transforming the actors physical performance. Make up and hair effects includes alot of work due to the fact you could use wigs, hairpieces, hair extensions, facial hair, bald caps, tattoos, body paint. This also applies if a character has an injury and needs a cut or a scare recreating. Ageing and death effects are also down to make up and hair design.  Make up and hiar designers are employed throughout pre-production and production, and usually work on a freelance basis, however the hours are long and the job can involves periods where you work away form home.

Today alot of television and film companies are looing for multi skilling people who can do both make up and hair design in order to say time and money. Make up and hair designers responsibilities depnbd on the type of production they are working on. The hair and make up designs may be combined but they can also be split into Cheif make-up and a chief hairdresser who are in charge of their sector.

A team of hair and make up designers are also made up of assistants and sometimes traniees. Make up and hair work very closley together to create they character and they also take up the postition of personal make up and hairdressers working on one paticular performer. Make up and hair designers work very closley with Directors, Performers, Costume Designers, Directors of Photography, Production Managers, Accounts Department personnel, Assistant Directors, Floor Managers, Location Managers, Wig and Facial Hair Makers, Dentists, Opticians, Specialist Hairdressers, Prosthetic Artists, and Make-up and Hair Suppliers, as well as with members of their own Department. This is order to get everybodys ideas across so theres no confusion.

During pre production make up and hair designers

Prior to shooting or recording Make-up and Hair Designers select the staff for their department, and explain the design brief to ensure that the look is consistent.  They prepare the overall departmental production schedule, and oversee the day to day breakdown of responsibilities.  In collaboration with Assistant Directors/ Floor Managers they calculate accurate call times for staff and performers.  They draw up and distribute notes about principal and supporting actors, detailing each scene's make-up/hair "looks" and changes.  These notes are vital for maintaining continuity throughout the production. 
Make-up and Hair Designers work with the Camera department on test shots to see how make-up and hair looks under different lighting conditions.  On studio television productions they liaise with Lighting Directors and Technicians to ensure that skin tones, etc., are in keeping with the overall design concept.
They supervise the make-up and hair processes throughout each shooting day, and ensure that continuity is maintained within their department.  They keep accurate records of monies spent, and liaise with Accounts Department personnel to ensure that they stay within budget.  Make Up and Hair Designers also oversee all publicity shoots.  Once productions are completed they are responsible for the return of all hired items, and for preparing final records of all monies spent.