Regrettably, he says usually these field assignments are done for free by the school, but occasionally students will receive a nominal fee, or money to cover makeup materials.

But at the very least, these field placements also provide the building blocks of a student's resume.

Speaking of makeup materials, students can expect to pay anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars on make-up kits depending on the length and complexity of the school program.

Nadia Brandler, founder of Complections International also has an in-house store with products ranging from simple foundations to various shades of fake blood. "Our classes are 95 per cent hands on training. There is always a demonstration first and then it's time for the students to get their hands dirty."

Brandler also provides leads to field work through a bulletin board, which graduates and students can apply for. But her curriculum works more towards building a student's portfolio of in-house works. "We provide professional photographers to come in and take photos of student projects free of charge, so this way the student enters the makeup industry with something to show prospective employers."

For those interested in enrolling in a traditional college, Sheridan College offers a two-year diploma program in Cosmetic Techniques and Management. Although many other colleges offer programs in aesthetics, Sheridan is the only college in Ontario that focuses on makeup artistry.

The comprehensive program begins with lessons in cosmetic principles and trends, introducing students to the cosmetic industry.

In the first year of the program, students are given a wide breadth of studies including cosmetic principles, cosmetic techniques and product knowledge, which is the foundation for anyone venturing into this field.

The second year provides more sophisticated applications such as stage makeup, performance art makeup and special effects techniques.

To round out a student in preparation for the makeup industry, Sheridan's program also includes business management courses specific to the makeup industry such as, small business computers and management studies.

Whatever school students decide to enroll in, students should pick a program that limits class size to ensure they are receiving the proper amount of personal attention. Another factor, and most importantly, according to Closs, is making sure the instructors are qualified professionals.

Prospective students are advised to visit the school and meet with the coordinator, the instructors and even speak with the students.

"Some schools simply hire recent graduates to teach the courses, but I hire working professional in the business that have a proven track record," says Closs. "Our instructors have worked on such projects as Phantom of the Opera, War of the Worlds and Exit Wounds.

Brandler's teaching staff also displays an impressive dossier as well, having worked on projects such as Robocop, Dracula 2000 and Les Miserable. "We even have an instructor that worked on the film, Titanic," says Brandler, beaming with pride.

(Michael Cho is a freelance writer for CANOE.ca, and can be reached at michael_cho@rogers.com.)



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