Mandy Benton- New (May 10, 2000)
Have you ever wondered what it's like to follow your dreams and come to Los Angeles and go to Make Up School. We decided to interview a recent graduate from one of the local schools to give you an idea of what it's like. Straight from Houston, Texas meet Mandy Benton! She is a recent graduate of Westmore Academy of Cosmetic Arts, and is on her way to being the next makeup goddess! She loves the fast pace and excitement Los Angeles has to offer for her new career as a makeup artist. Mandy is ready to paint the stars or perhaps give them an up-do? Mandy is multitalented as a licensed cosmetologist, and the industry loves those who can do it all. Look out Hollywood, this Texan is on her way to stardom as a makeup and hair artist!
Most of early 1999 was spent as the Key Makeup Artist on the film, Magnolia. I then went on to do a couple of Fiona Apple videos throughout the year. November took me to Dallas, Texas for the new Robert Altman film, Dr. T and the Women. I have the privilege to work with stars such as Richard Gere, Farrah Fawcett, Laura Dern, Shelly Long and Jeannie Turner. I am also engaged to be married!
At the Los Angeles Opera in 2000, three design projects stand out. Two are with film directors: Bruce Beresford's staging of Rigoletto in February. Rigoletto moves into action from the renaissance Italy to present day Los Angeles. In October, John Schlesinger's production of Peter Grimes, which has great mid-nineteenth century characters, will prove challenging. The last production is the company's (and my) first Aida, which opens the 2000-2001 season in September. Bald caps and body makeup for a cast of thousands is the theme. I'm looking forward to having done it?Cheers!
Things are going great here at the day spa. We have a new facial technique service, called microdermabrasion. It is the most incredible facial for those wanting to exfoliate all those dead skin layers, reduce aging spots, and the list goes on. I look forward to the new year and what it has to offer!
I spent the late fall through December working as one of the lead prosthetic makeup artists on The Grinch. I was in charge of applying all of the children's prosthetics. It was great fun.
My update leaving off from A Lesson Before Dying, which aired on HBO and won the Emmy for best drama in film is full of exciting things. I continued on by working with the makeup team from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The last episode shot prior to the 98-holiday break was packed with a wide variety of specialty makeup challenges. It turned out that this particular episode, The Zeppo, was nominated for an Emmy. It included several beauty makeups, 3 female demons, post-beating makeups, 2 zombies in various stages of decay, gunshot wounds, and a victim of an explosion. My contribution included 1 female demon and the bomb explosion zombie, which was a collaborative effort with makeup artist Robin Beauchesne. No pun intended, we had a blast! The next task proved to be much more enjoyable than the movie itself. The film was House on a Haunted Hill. K&B handled most of the large-scale makeup FX, but that still left plenty of fun to be had. The most challenging job was making Geoffrey Rush's mustache look real. We had an old and extremely talented friend made the mustaches for us. They were perfect. Unfortunately, this was one of those shows where the producers felt the need to continually flex their muscles so that we wouldn't forget who was in charge?yawn! So as a result, we were seldom given the proper time to finesse and tweak the details. Hopefully, it doesn't show. Among the usual tasks, special makeup was applied to Geoffrey Rush, Ali Carter and Peter Gallagher. These three actors were my responsibility. I also utilized several forms of specialty makeup on Jeffrey Combs, who played the evil Dr. Vannacht, what a name! In the end, the movie isn't bad but could've, should've, and would've been so much better, on if we were the big bosses. Next, a wonderful six-week stint on Galaxy Quest. Thanks to Bill Corso I was added to the amazing artists who brought Stan Winston's reptilian bad guys to life. Ve Neill, Richard Snell, Greg Nelson and myself applied, while Stan's crew puppeteered and prepped. We were all honored to be a part of new technology developed by Stan's artists. The final product and movie itself made me proud enough to take my entire family to see. From late summer to current, I've been working with Todd McIntosh and Robin Beauchesne on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. What can be said, everyday is new and different, and it's never dull. The head scratcher for me, turning down Tonig, a character on The Grinch, that was tough! Till next time.
Since my interview in 1998, I have mainly focused on evolving my work as a sculptor. I still work for the Los Angeles Opera, but was only in for a brief period during the fall repertory season. The rest of the year I am in my studio in Sonoita, sculpting away. I am working on a new series of opera-related sculptures that are all inspired by Wagner's Ring Cycle. These are full figures as well as more portrait masks. I am aiming to show them in 2001. I am also working on a series from about 20 to life sized. In addition to my fine art work, I continue to create masks. I am working on a new website: theatremasks.com, the home page is already up, the rest will happen soon. I will offer my theatrical masks for sale, as well as, describe workshops teaching mask making that I offer all over the country. I am also working on a public art project in Tucson, AZ, which consists of two life-sized bronzes of women stitching a patchwork quilt. The quilt itself will be made from mosaic tiles that will be created in workshops with the residents of the homeless shelter and historic barrio that share the garden where the sculpture will be placed. And on top of all that, my husband and I are expecting a baby in May, which will be one more delightful addition to this creative mix!
At the end of September, I was fortunate enough to travel to Milan to work on the Spring/Summer 2000 Fashion Collections. What an experience that was! They should have sent a poet, as I really do not have words to describe it. It was insane, chaotic, and incredible as you would think it would be. Some of the shows that I worked on were Berardi, Versace prot?g? Guerreiro, Exte, Trussardi, Dell'Acqua, and many others. The spring makeup looks are at once fresh and exciting; color is back, sheer and beautiful! Everything was amazing, the city, the food, and the MEN! Haha. A great experience. During my trip to Italy, I was followed around by a LA Times reporter who did a "Day in the Life of" article on me and my trip. When it came out, the work came pouring in. I was so excited and flattered. As a result, I have appeared on Entertainment Tonight, Fashion Emergency, Brazilian TV, and have worked on various editorial shoots including, In Style, Channels, Show, Vogue, W and Angelino magazines. I have participated in many local shows and events as well. I have been insane, but incredibly happy and grateful to be gainfully employed!
Work sure got busy near the end of the year with a lot of prosthetic shows. Artists were in great demand. I worked about a month on Grinch. I also worked on Angel, Voyager, and a couple of weeks with Tony Gardner in Vancouver. We had great fun with some old age makeups on young faces, always a challenge. The big news however is the addition of two new cosmetic chemists to my company ArtEfx. I have many new and innovative products coming out. I'm gearing up for the first 6 products this month and another dozen by the spring. The remainder of my new products will be out by the summer. These are all great products and should make quite a splash in our world of makeup. I'm looking forward to a great year and wish the same to all of you.
My wedding business is picking up for the New Year. I have a new website www.melindadouglas.com. One of the models on my website is my niece. She was married on December 26, 1999, so I got to do her hair and makeup for real this time. I am looking into further education so I can work in the film industry, and in the salon part-time. I have been offered a partnership with the owner of the salon where I work. We are in negotiation at this time. My goal would be to have my own salon and sell my own brand of makeup, gearing the business toward the bridal industry. I would also keep the atmosphere low key so that the clients I have now will feel comfortable in the surroundings. I have started working out at the gym to keep in shape. I am approaching my 20-year high school reunion this summer. Maybe Mr. Right will be there, who knows! My daughter just turned 11, so I have the pre-teenage years to look forward to. Have a great New Year!
Things are going great. I just shot my own makeup video and am currently editing it. It should be ready within the next two months. I am writing a lot and putting together stories for a new web site. I will keep you posted on more things to come.
I am currently working on the kids TV show on Nickelodeon, "All That". It's in its fourth season. My special effects company has a few projects still in negotiation for 2000. I will keep you posted on what comes through. We have done work with the rock group Corn for their concert tour. We have made full body replicas of each of the band members. They are done in a character-like, comic book style for the stage. That has been a challenge something different from monsters. I had another successful year with Universal's Halloween Horror Nights and look forward to this year's event.
Ben Nye has exciting news for the New Year. Artists will be able to use those popular metal paint boxes. New from Nye includes these palettes offering Aqua Paints, Lumiere, and concealors. The first two palettes will be available in 6 and 12 packs. The concealors will be available in a valuable 12 pack. All will be refillable with those popular little snap-in containers that we are all familiar with. We are also introducing some great new Lip Lining pencils in a formula equivalent to MAC. Shades equivalent to those brand include Spice, Nutmeg, Really Red. Other colors include some favorites similar to Stila, Chanel, and Christian Dior. Nye's new logo appears on these svelte looking long-length lip pencils. Nye has gone to Germany to have these top quality pencils made. Available from leading suppliers at $6-$7.00 retail.
Ben Nye Jr.
. I am currently gearing up for another year with Brendan Fraser. We are shooting an upcoming film with Jennifer Lopez, The Wedding Planner. After that, The Mummy 2 begins production. Things will be very busy in the year 2000.
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