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Make-up Artistry and Special Effects
Special Effects Make-up Artistry
Foundation Degree (FdA)
Overview
Train as a qualified make-up artist and equip yourself with the skills for success within the media make-up industry, with the unique programme design, excellent industry reputation and alumni success of our Foundation Degree in Special Effects Make-Up Artistry.
With many creative employment opportunities in Manchester, you’ll thrive in a range of roles in theatres, film companies, photography studios, agencies, cosmetic companies and freelance work. And in the North West, you’ll have excellent opportunities to experience employment with companies like Lime Productions, The North Light Film Studios, and many independent film companies.
- Location
- Fielden Park Campus
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Duration
- 2 years
- Start
- September 2020
Awarding Partner:
Staff profile
Supported by industry experience, our staff are all exceptionally dedicated to their subject related field, highly qualified and industry trained.
The Special Effects Make-up Artistry team are all industry-based practitioners, using their industry contacts to present high profile work experience opportunities and placements to students like you.
The Special Effects Make-up Artistry team are all industry-based practitioners, using their industry contacts to present high profile work experience opportunities and placements to students like you.
Academic Entry requirements
• 64 UCAS Tariff Points
• If you’ve completed the University Preparatory Year – Make-up Artistry you’ll be offered direct entry on to the FdA.
Non-academic entry Requirements
You’ll be invited to attend an interview where you’ll be asked to provide examples of written work, a portfolio of images demonstrating your skills within make-up / hair, or provide examples of designs work/illustrations. You will also hear more about the course structure, see the facilities and meet the staff, with the whole process taking between 2-3 hours.
There is availability for Skype interviews for overseas/applicants who have to travel; links to e-portfolios and written work will be submitted electronically prior to the Skype Interview.
Mature applicants (aged 21 or over) who are able to demonstrate relevant skills or knowledge gained in employment or vocational activity will be considered and may be invited to interview.
There is availability for Skype interviews for overseas/applicants who have to travel; links to e-portfolios and written work will be submitted electronically prior to the Skype Interview.
Mature applicants (aged 21 or over) who are able to demonstrate relevant skills or knowledge gained in employment or vocational activity will be considered and may be invited to interview.
What will I be studying?
Year 1: Creative Skills (20 credits)
Year 1: Design Development (20 credits)
Year 1: Introduction to Design Concepts (20 credits)
Year 1: Professional and Academic Development (20 credits)
Complete your own contextual study, learning independently, building your own personal skills and enhancing your communication abilities.
Year 1: Prosthetic Art (20 credits)
Examine the theoretical and basic practices needed to compose a prosthetic characterisation, and experiment constructing a variety of detailed moulds with a range of materials to create and attach prosthetics.
Year 1: Special Effects Character Design (20 credits)
Develop the basic principles for producing special effects make-up, generating special effects characterisations, and building your knowledge of the special effects media industr
Year 1: Studio Practice (20 credits)
Year 2: Applied Postiche/Hairstyling (20 credits)
Year 2: Collaborative Practice (20 credits)
Year 2: Freelancing (20 credits)
Year 2: Portfolio Development (20 credits)
Year 2: Professional Practice (20 credits)
Reading List
Bedford, D. and Wilson, E. (2006) Study Skills for Foundation Degrees
Burns, T. and Sinfield, S. (2002) Essential Study Skills: The Complete Guide to Success at University
Cottrell, S (2008) The Study Skills Handbook
Cottrell, S. (2003) Skills for Success: The Personal Development Planning Handbook
Debreceni.T. (2008) Special Makeup Effects for Stage and Screen: Making and Applying Prosthetics
Debreceni.T. (2009) Special Makeup Effects for Stage and Screen, Making and Applying Prosthetics
Conceptual Creations by Japanese Makeup Artists- (2006) A Complete Guide to Special Effects Makeup
Duncan.J. (2006) The Winston Effect The Art And History Of Stan Winston Studio
Thompson.P. (2005) Make-up Designory’s Character Make-Up Text Book
Morawetz.T. (2001) Making Faces Playing God
Richard.R.(2006) Designing Movie Creatures and Characters
Hamilton.J. (1998) Special Effects: In Film and Television
Mark Salisbury (1994) Behind the Mask, Secrets of Hollywood’s Monster Makers
Bacon.M. (1997) No Strings Attached: The Inside Story of Jim Hensons Creature Shop / Matt Bacon
Kirkland.D. (1983) Michael Jackson: The Making of "Thriller"
Mallory.M. (2009) Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy of Horror
Burns, T. and Sinfield, S. (2002) Essential Study Skills: The Complete Guide to Success at University
Cottrell, S (2008) The Study Skills Handbook
Cottrell, S. (2003) Skills for Success: The Personal Development Planning Handbook
Debreceni.T. (2008) Special Makeup Effects for Stage and Screen: Making and Applying Prosthetics
Debreceni.T. (2009) Special Makeup Effects for Stage and Screen, Making and Applying Prosthetics
Conceptual Creations by Japanese Makeup Artists- (2006) A Complete Guide to Special Effects Makeup
Duncan.J. (2006) The Winston Effect The Art And History Of Stan Winston Studio
Thompson.P. (2005) Make-up Designory’s Character Make-Up Text Book
Morawetz.T. (2001) Making Faces Playing God
Richard.R.(2006) Designing Movie Creatures and Characters
Hamilton.J. (1998) Special Effects: In Film and Television
Mark Salisbury (1994) Behind the Mask, Secrets of Hollywood’s Monster Makers
Bacon.M. (1997) No Strings Attached: The Inside Story of Jim Hensons Creature Shop / Matt Bacon
Kirkland.D. (1983) Michael Jackson: The Making of "Thriller"
Mallory.M. (2009) Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy of Horror
How will I be assessed?
You’ll be assessed via a range of methods that could include:
• Presentations
• Practical Assessments
• Learning Journal
• Portfolios
• Written Projects
• Work-related employment
You will be required to complete 420 study hours within college and 780 self directed study hours.
You are expected to undertake a minimum 25 hours of work-related learning with the encouragement of engagement in further experience where possible within a relevant area of special effects related industry practice. The workplace provides opportunities for you to achieve direct experience of working as a special Effects Make-Up Artist, engage with future employers, and provides support in establishing a database of industry contacts.
• Presentations
• Practical Assessments
• Learning Journal
• Portfolios
• Written Projects
• Work-related employment
You will be required to complete 420 study hours within college and 780 self directed study hours.
You are expected to undertake a minimum 25 hours of work-related learning with the encouragement of engagement in further experience where possible within a relevant area of special effects related industry practice. The workplace provides opportunities for you to achieve direct experience of working as a special Effects Make-Up Artist, engage with future employers, and provides support in establishing a database of industry contacts.
What are the careers that this will lead to?
After high profile placement and work experience opportunities, follow in the footsteps of our former students, and pursue a successful, rewarding career with a wealth of meaningful contacts.
You could work:
• As a freelance Make-up Artist with your own business, providing bridal hair & make-up, or TV & Film hair & make-up.
• With an agency like boss or photography studio like Mike Turner
• For high profile companies like Airbase, Wigs up North, Kryolan.
• On big productions like ‘The Kings Speech’, ‘Captain America’, ‘Downton Abbey’ and ‘The Lion King’
• Or continue your studies to gain a PGDip and become a practitioner for private make-up schools or colleges
You could work:
• As a freelance Make-up Artist with your own business, providing bridal hair & make-up, or TV & Film hair & make-up.
• With an agency like boss or photography studio like Mike Turner
• For high profile companies like Airbase, Wigs up North, Kryolan.
• On big productions like ‘The Kings Speech’, ‘Captain America’, ‘Downton Abbey’ and ‘The Lion King’
• Or continue your studies to gain a PGDip and become a practitioner for private make-up schools or colleges
Fees, Finance and Funding
There are two main costs you will have whilst studying and if you are a home student studying on a full-time course, you can apply for student finance to cover both of these:
Your tuition fees for each year of your course.
Help with your living costs e.g. rent, food, clothing, course materials, entertainment.
You can find more details, including the actual tuition fee charged on our Fees, Funding and Finance Page.
Learn more
Your tuition fees for each year of your course.
Help with your living costs e.g. rent, food, clothing, course materials, entertainment.
You can find more details, including the actual tuition fee charged on our Fees, Funding and Finance Page.
Course Associated Costs
You are required to buy or have the equivalent kits; airbrush (£50), Special Effects Make-up (£350), Hair (£200), brushes (£100), sculpting tools (£30)
(Order forms for kits are given to students within welcome packs prior to September).
(Order forms for kits are given to students within welcome packs prior to September).
All students are subject to UCEN Manchester’s Terms and Conditions from the date they accept an offer to study here, full details of which can be found here. The UCEN Manchester Admissions Policy and Procedure can be found here.
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