College students’ brush with the stars

Two talented makeup artists in training had a brush with stars from the world of TV and film.

Aimie Carr, 19, and Emma Dodds, 17, are both studying makeup artistry at Middlesbrough College and had the chance to hone their skills on the likes of comedian Johnny Vegas, The Office star Mackenzie Crook and Academy Award-winning actor Emma Thompson.

The pair recently spent several days working on the set of Hook Pictures’ latest production – an as yet unrevealed comedy TV series – on location in Langley, near Hexham.

Working on the busy set, Aimie, from Hartlepool, and Emma, from Stanley, both had to contend with the challenges of makeup continuity and a demanding filming schedule.

They used techniques learned on the Level 3 Advanced Technical Diploma in Makeup Artistry at Middlesbrough College.

It wowed the Benidorm star Johnny Vegas, who has requested their skills on a subsequent shoot due to take place in the North East.

Heather Ferguson, Level 2 & 3 Hair and Media Makeup course leader, said: “Aimie and Emma were very fortunate to get this opportunity – and thanks to their professionalism and talents they made the most of it.

“The feedback which came from the Hook Pictures team showed both got stuck in, applying their skills directly to the actors and impressing them in the process.

“It’s very easy for students to get starstruck in situations like this, particularly as the crew work, eat lunch and relax with the cast. This didn’t phase Aimie and Emma and they showed total professionalism at all times.”

During a shoot there is little time for crew members to walk students through processes and tasks so Aimie and Emma had to use initiative to make sure actors were prepared for their scenes.

Emma said: “It was a fantastic experience to be able to work on a real production, and it’s confirmed to me that a career in media makeup is exciting and rewarding.”

Qasim Baig, production coordinator at Hook Pictures, commended the girls on their work.

He said: “Aimie and Emma made a great impression on set. It’s not easy to come into a busy environment like this, but they showed loads of enthusiasm and didn’t wait to be told what to do.”