Creatures and Paint

       The topic of working for a credit came up the other day in conversation, and it got under my skin cause it lead me to think of other topics of working for free.  I do makeup and costumes for a living, its a struggle sometimes but I enjoy my career choice. Being an artist pays my bills, provide food on the table, and put away in savings. Just like anyone else’s job. What I don’t understand are movie makers in this town. They want to make a movie with makeup or costumes to drive large portions of the movie but aren’t willing to spend a dime on supplies or the labor. But they act like they’re doing you a favor by giving you a credit. lol  A couple of years back I had a movie “director” wanted to discuss whether I wanted to get a credit in his movie or work for compensation. Hmm let me think. How about both? I never heard from that guy again. Then a friend of mine told me that I was getting a bad reputation around town. The reputation is no one wanted to work with me because I charged the actual price of labor and supplies instead of doing it for free. Look thats fine I understand it costs money to make a movie and you have to save where you can but don’t insult me with a credit.

     Now lets move on to “club promoters”, It seems if you hang out long enough at a club you’re deemed a promoter. Just because you can get your friends to come hang out at a  club doesn’t make you a promoter. You can throw a stone anywhere in Midtown and hit a promoter of some sort organizing the next big event of the century! Now don’t get me wrong I there are a lot of great club organizers in town but Im talking about the guys that don’t know shit about working in the entertainment industry. This is my favorite line… ” We can’t pay you but it would get you a lot of exposure!” Aw yes exposure! I need some of that at the club, those drunk sluts spilling their drinks are at the club to appreciate my art.   

    This leads me to “Club Kids”…. Im not talking about the kids that go to the club and then lead productive lives in the real world. Im talking about the people that live for being in the club and thats all they eat, sleep, and think about. These people have no money but want you the artist to make them look cool for nothing! These club goers usually work for the so called promoters of the club. Just like the promoters they think that you need exposure in a dark club.  Over the years I’ve had club kids call me and ask me to paint them up head to toe for an event and ask me how much that would cost.  Then theres the long awkward pause after the price bomb lands. Then it comes, it never fails…” I didn’t know thats what it cost that much. Well can you paint me and what I can do is hand out your business cards at the club! It will get you a lot of exposure!”  Yes it will with the janitorial staff that sweeps the dozens of business cards off the floor. Yes here my young friend let me paint you up with my supplies then hand over a box of my business cards, cause I know you’ll be sober enough to hand them out. Hell why don’t I pay you! Cause this is a great deal for the exposure in a dark club, among the sea of people!!  

Working on the Zombie mold today. Ill see if I can hook up the camera to film the process

   Today is my first day back in the workshop since the end of January, wow does time fly!! LOL  I cleaned up a bit and organized all the tools back where they need to go. I have a busy week ahead of me, I have to finish off two costumes and start two new Cirque outfits for my own collection. I have a zombie/demon sculpt that needs to be finished and cast. I’ll film the process and post it up for everyone! 

    Had a pretty great birthday! My lady returned from her trip and a friend of mine gave me two new mannequin torsos!!!

  All this rain has had my workshop flooded for the past few days. Ugh