May 8, 2017

Meet Julie LeShane of Julies Makeup Artistry in Waltham

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie LeShane.

Julie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I got started by reading books about mold making and experimenting with makeup at a very young age. When most kids were watching Disney movies I was watching horror films as young as five years old. When kids were drawing rainbows and hearts, I was drawing pictures of monsters and death scenes. As would be expected, this didn’t go over well with my teachers whom often called meetings with my parents. It’s funny to think about it now, that my teachers probably thought I was going to grow up to be serial killer. At a very young age I wrote horror stories and read makeup effect books and continually grew up with the love and interest of special effects. In my teenage years I developed a passion for the beauty side of the makeup field as well. I continued studying makeup through Stan Winston and Dick Smith classes and eventually went to cinema makeup school in LA. Along the years I kept notes and created a filing system of these notes. I still do this to this day because the learning never ends. Instead of a bookcase filled with books, I have notebooks and binders with tabs/labels of makeup areas. Each short cut, tips, tricks or learning experience and research during each job challenge is noted and filed. For example, if I needed to create a goiter I would go through my filing system and pull up notes from previous goiters I have made. Learning about my passion was always therapeutic for me. It allowed me to channel restless energy into a productive outlet that led to bringing characters to life.

Has it been a smooth road?
I knew I wanted to do makeup for film, television, commercials and editorial shoots but I didn’t pursue it right after graduating high school. The industry was foreign to me and I had no clue where to even begin. I graduated from college not thinking I could have a future working in film in the east coast. One day, I came to the realization and commitment that this is what I wanted to do for a living and that I was never going to stop trying & evolving my skills. Which in my eyes was truly longing and being true to myself and what made me happy. Once I made that realization I began investing myself completely into doing what I love. I paid my dues. Success didn’t happen instantly. I worked long hours for little to no pay on many indie projects. There was a personal and financial expense of learning by experience. Lots of my own money would be lost while making molds that wouldn’t open because of undercuts. And would have to start all over again. However, I enjoyed working, creating, learning, and being hands on and challenged.

I love the opportunity to be constantly challenged. I work hard to avoid disappointments and try to learn from them. Being reliable is key and being prepared for disappointment along the way, while still being positive and using what you learn to progress. Everything is a learning experience. The good and the bad. Hard work and ambition have contributed to my success. I believe people skills, loyalty, positivity and my upbeat attitude have helped along the way. You want to connect and create a network of talented people that you continually like to work with. I am so thankful for the good fortune of meeting the people I have met along the way. I still don’t have everything figured out. Learning and expanding my knowledge as well as growing my makeup kit is never ending. I continually have to adapt and evolve. However, to do what inspires and drives you is an amazing gift. I am so grateful for those who inspired and had faith in me over the past years. Meeting creative people who are genuine, hardworking and down to earth is priceless. Each person I have worked with have broaden my horizon of makeup expertise.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Julies Makeup Artistry story. Tell us more about the business.
IATSE LOCAL 798

MAKEUP ARTIST FOR THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY.
Booked for freelance makeup assignments, commercials, television, film corporate videos, print advertising, publicity and fashion.

CONCENTRATION AREAS:

BEAUTY MAKEUP
Natural, Fashion, Fantasy, and Corrective Makeup. Airbrush Makeup

CHARACTER MAKEUP
Prosthetic Application, Aging techniques, Bald Cap Application, Injury Simulations, Cuts/bruises/Burns, Character Concepts. Airbrush Body Art. Hair Piece Application.

SPECIAL EFFECTS MAKEUP: Mold & Cast Appliances, Full & Half-body Life Casts, Foam-Latex Injection, Silicone/Gelatin/Transfer Prosthetics, Sculpt Creature Designs. Paint & Accent.

FILM CREDITS
Patriots Day
Cadaver
Super Troopers 2
Mr. Church
The Wrong Car
The Untitled Detroit Project
Chappaquiddick

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The film tax incentive in Mass has allowed me to work near home. I am an active supporting this tax incentive and as long it exists in Mass, so will I. More film are being made locally which allows me to continue to work & live near my family and friends.

Contact Info: