Hollywood’s Professional Makeup School
FacultyCinema Makeup School is Hollywood’s professional makeup school. Since the school makes a policy of hiring current working makeup artists who are still in demand with the film industry, specific instructors rotate from section to section. The talented individuals listed below are just a sample of the incredible pool of makeup artists that CMS draws from. Their incredible talents are one of the main reason we are among the top makeup schools in the world. |
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Click an instructor’s name to jump to his/her bio Ve Neill – Director of Education |
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| Gayla Baseheart Sven Granlund Neill Gorton Andrew Velazquez Tom Hester Heather Pepe Steve Costanza Kato DeStefan |
Kevin Haney Cheri Montesanto John Goodwin Joel Harlow Jim Kagel Steve LaPort Kris Kobzina Brad Look Rod Maxwell |
Greg McDougall Ve Neill Howard Berger Nelly Recchia Wendy Ann Rosen Jake Corrick Tim Turner |
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Leonard EngelmanDirector Emeritus; Honors Instructor BioLeonard Engelman has been a professional makeup artist for over 50 years. He has worked with such luminaries as Alfred Hitchcock, Cher, Sylvester Stallone, Ivan Reitman, and Val Kilmer. Leonard’s tireless work on behalf of craftspeople has earned him considerable respect in the greater film industry and in 2013 he became the first ever makeup artist elected as a Vice President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Selected CreditsTopaz, Rambo: First Blood part II, Rocky IV, Ghostbusters, Moonstruck, Sleepless in Seattle, Burlesque |
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Ve NeillInstructor / Guest Lecturer BioVe Neill is among the most acclaimed and well known makeup artists currently working in Hollywood. With three Oscars, two Emmys, one BAFTA, and a client list that has included everyone from Jennifer Lawrence and Andrew Garfield to Johnny Depp and Jack Nicholson, there are few artists who can match Ve’s body of work. Selected CreditsThe Hunger Games series, Pirates of the Caribbean, Ed Wood, Pee Wee’s Playhouse |
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Lee JoynerDirector of Admissions; Sculpting / Prosthetics / Special Effects Instructor BioLee Joyner is a master sculptor and creature designer with a background in art and industrial design who has worked extensively in film and television as well as with major musical acts such as Usher and Slipknot. Selected CreditsGodzilla (2000), Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, Stargate SG-1, Mimic, Usher, Slipknot |
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Michael SpatolaChief Academic Officer; Character / Prosthetics Instructor BioMichael is a two-time Emmy® nominee and a veteran of several Hollywood special effects shops, where he contributed makeup work to a number of blockbuster films and television shows. Selected CreditsIron Man 3, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Edward Scissorhands, The Return of the Living Dead, Tales from the Crypt, Tremors |
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Joel HarlowSpecial Effects / Character Instructor; Special Guest Lecturer BioJoel is an Oscar®- and Emmy®-winning makeup artist whose collaborations with actor Johnny Depp have given life to multiple iconic characters. In addition to makeup, Joel also paints, sculpts and designs jewelry. Selected CreditsTranscendence, The Lone Ranger, Alice In Wonderland, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Star Trek |
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Howard BergerWorkshop Instructor / Guest Lecturer BioAs one of the founders of award-winning SFX shop KNB Efx Group, Howard Berger has made a name for himself taking on daring projects for film and television and crafting memorable effects both on set and in the lab. He has an Oscar win and multiple nominations. Selected CreditsHitchcock, The Chronicles of Narnia,Inglorious Basterds ,Dances With Wolves |
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Nelly RecchiaAirbrush / Beauty Instructor BioNelly is a world famous airbrush and bodypaint artist whose work has graced everything from magazine spreads to feature films. Her trademark dark, fantasy-inspired style is as instantly recognizable as it is inimitable. Selected CreditsFilms: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang; Brands: BMW, Budweiser, Paul Mitchell; Musical Acts/Celebrities: Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, Gwen Stefani, Jason Derulo, Usher, Beck |
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Cheri MontesantoWorkshop Instructor BioCheri is a first call makeup department head for challenging television projects from The X-Files to Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. She has won three primetime Emmy awards and her work continues to dazzle audiences on screens of all sizes. Selected CreditsMarvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The X-Files, CSI: Miami> |
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Neill GortonWorkshop Instructor / Guest Lecturer BioBAFTA-winning British FX maestro Neill Gorton has created the looks behind some of the most beloved BBC sci-fi series and films of all time. He is the owner of Millennium FX and Gorton Studios, a full-service effects studio in the UK. Selected CreditsDoctor Who, Being Human,Children of Men ,Saving Private Ryan |
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Sven GranlundLab Instructor BioSven Granlund is a talented makeup and special effects artist for both film and television. He has been a prosthetics makeup technician on countless films throughout his career, and has been a significant asset to major blockbusters. Selected CreditsDeadpool, Deadpool 2, Black Lightning, The Cloverfield Paradox, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle |
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Tom HesterSculpting Instructor BioTom Hester has designed and sculpted for Hollywood for over 25 years. In addition to his work as a top character designer, Tom also creates fine art sculpture and digital work. Selected CreditsShrek, Gorillas In the Mist, Harry and the Hendersons, An American Werewolf In London |
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Kato DeStefanCharacter / Prosthetics / Special Effects Instructor BioKato is a makeup and special effects artist for film and television. He is a veteran of XFX and currently works regularly on set with a number of television productions. Selected CreditsSons of Anarchy, Teen Wolf, Star Trek, Watchmen, Zoolander |
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Brad LookCharacter / Prosthetics Instructor BioBrad Look is an Emmy® winner and multiple nominee who works regularly on the sets of hit television shows and blockbuster films. Selected CreditsCaptain America: The Winter Soldier, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, The Hunger Games, Thor, Up in the Air, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End |
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Gayla BasehartBeauty Instructor BioGayla is an in-demand beauty makeup artist working for major networks and celebrity clients that range from A-list actors and musicians to famous athletes and TV presenters. Selected CreditsHBO, SyFy, E!, Comedy Central, ESPN, Steve Buscemi, Martin Sheen, Magic Johnson, Ray Liotta, John Cusack, Betty White |
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Kris KobzinaProsthetics / Special Effects Instructor BioKris Kobzina is a talented effects artist who is well known to television and film audiences working on blockbuster films. Kris is also an Emmy award winner for his prosthetics featured in Six Feet Under. Selected CreditsSatanic Panic, Spider Man, Daredevil, Men in Black 2, Dragged Across Concrete, Anchorman: Legend of Ron Burgundy |
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Greg McDougallProsthetics / Special Effects Instructor BioGreg is an experienced makeup artist and special effects technician who splits time between working on blockbusters with outside FX labs and doing acclaimed work on genre films with his own company, CosMc FX, which he co-founded with fellow CMS instructor Steve Costanza. Selected CreditsThe Purge, Smiley, War of the Worlds, Doom |
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Steve CostanzaProsthetics / Special Effects Instructor BioSteve is a pro special effects and makeup artist whose work spans a number of genres. He works both in the lab and on set and is co-founder (along with Greg McDougall) of CosMc FX. Selected CreditsThe Purge, Quarantine, Smiley, Napoleon Dynamite |
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Heather PepeProsthetics / Special Effects Instructor BioHeather’s work has graced the pages of numerous fashion magazines and various TV shows and commercials including W Magazine and DEXTER. She also is an Educator and Senior Artist with Youngblood Cosmetics and an Artist with the Charlotte Tilbury Makeup Team.. Selected CreditsJay Leno, President of USA Barack Obama, Chelsea Handler, Burberry, Wendy Wilson, CNBC, LA & NY Fashion Week |
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Jake CorrickSculpting Instructor BioJake is a master sculptor and creature designer. His designs have been integral to major blockbusters and cult classics. Selected CreditsNazi Overlord, Descendants 2, The Grand Slams, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop |
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Wendy Ann RosenBeauty Instructor BioWendy Ann Rosen is an experienced beauty and high fashion artist who has worked with major celebrities and brands. Her work has graced the pages of some of the world’s foremost fashion magazines. Selected CreditsJennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie, Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp, Tobey Maguire, Iggy Pop |
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Rod MaxwellDigital / Character Instructor BioRod Maxwell is a prosthetic and digital artist and entrepreneur. He is well-known to television audiences as a fan favorite from season three of SyFy’s Face Off. Selected CreditsGodzilla, Face Off, “The Wishing Well” |
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Steve La PorteCharacter BioOver 2 decades of feature films led to his position as Makeup Designer & Dept. Head for ABC’s “Lost”. After completing 6 Seasons & 118 shows, Steve moved back to feature films & then on to other series such as Netflix’s “Longmire” & Amazon’s, “Bosch”. Steve can often be seen giving lectures & demonstrations at the International Makeup Trade Show & Monsterpalooza in Pasadena & Burbank, CA. Selected CreditsSpare Room, Incarnate, Oz the Great and Powerful, X-Men: First Class, |
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Tim TurnerDigital Instructor BioTim is a digital artist who got his start doing practical special effects. Tim currently produces and sells horror-themed artwork through his company, The Ghoulish Gallery. Selected CreditsHoney, I Shrunk the Kids, Aliens, Cocoon, Harry and the Hendersons, Evil Dead II, CSI |
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John GoodwinCharacter Instructor BioJohn is an Emmy®-winning makeup artist whose work has been a major part of classic TV shows and movies. He is also very active in the Makeup Artists Local 706 and is a knowledgeable resource for students looking to work toward union membership. Selected CreditsCSI: NY, CSI, Men In Black, Legend, The Thing |
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Jim KagelSculpting Instructor BioJim is a master creature sculptor and many of his designs are true classics. Selected CreditsSnakes on a Plane, Spider-man, Bicentennial Man, Jumanji, Stargate, The Abyss, Big Trouble in Little China |
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Andrew VelazquezBeauty Instructor BioAfter receiving his degree in fashion merchandising and license in cosmetology, Velázquez worked for Aveda Spa, Anastasia Beverly Hills and MAC Cosmetics. Today, he has a roster of celebrity clientele, from Demi Lovato to Kieth Urban and Florence and the Machine. Selected CreditsAOK, Brett Young: Like I love You, American Beauty Star, Glamcore |
NOTE: Due to the school’s policy of hiring working professional makeup artists, CMS cannot guarantee the availability of any specific instructor for any specific section. Instructors are subject to change without notice.
