Donald Mowat knows Movie Makeup. His Oscar and BAFTA nominations for his work on Dune are two of the latest accolades in a classic Canadian career that’s won Daytime Emmys, Gemini, Saturn and BAFTA Awards and numerous nominations for films makeup including The Covenant, Blade Runner 2049, Sicario and 8 Mile, along with his role as Daniel Craig’s personal Makeup Artist on Skyfall, Spectre and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. He’s currently spending a few months in Vancouver working on the forthcoming blockbuster Tron: Ares, but he recently took a few precious moments out of his busy schedule to visit Blanche Macdonald and share some of his extensive wisdom with our Makeup Program students.
“Being from Canada, it’s great to be working on home turf,” he explains. “I’ve spent the last three years working in other countries. So coming to Vancouver feels like home. Now I’ve actually visited Blanche Macdonald it has surpassed my expectations. The location is amazing, and so are the students and the people who work here. Everything about it is great! Zabrina Matiru is a grad and my Key Makeup Artist on Tron: Ares, and we also have Naomi Bakstad on the team, who used to teach at the School for Makeup.”
Donald generously spent a day with Blanche Macdonald’s Makeup students, delivering an inspiring presentation covering topics including why humans will always be needed in an AI and digital makeup future, the changing face of prosthetics makeups and lifecasting, and why he always insists on diverse and inclusive teams on set.
Throughout his speech, Donald was straight shooting as you’d expect from someone who knows what it takes to reach the top levels of the makeup industry.
“I want people who are honest and passionate. People can be obliging but they’re not always passionate about film. This job should be about more than a paycheck. I want people who want to go that extra mile!”
“There’s something my friend, the late, great Shirley Douglas, would say. You’re not someone’s friend if you don’t tell them the truth. I’ve always tried to tell people the truth when they’re starting in the business. So I didn’t hold back telling students what they needed to know, whether they needed to pimp out their kit or something as simple as cleaning up their nails. You have to remember that you’re marketing yourself the entire time.
“It’s ok to be new and make mistakes. So long as you’re eager to learn, you’ll continue to get hired. But if you’re arrogant, no one will want to work with you. Always be prepared. Always say yes to opportunities. That’s how your career builds. It can take ten years before you find your footing and confidence in your career. It’s natural to be anxious and nervous. That’s how we learn and become better at what we do. We just have to be patient.”
“It's ok to be new and make mistakes. So long as you’re eager to learn, you’ll continue to get hired. But if you’re arrogant, no one will want to work with you.”
Donald is always on the lookout for talented Makeup Artists and was happy to share some insights about what he looks for when he’s recruiting for his top-tier teams, along with why now is a great time to be entering the industry.
“I want people who are honest and passionate. People can be obliging but they’re not always passionate about film. This job should be about more than a paycheck. I want people who want to go that extra mile!
“There are so many Film, TV and Fashion opportunities in Vancouver compared to when I was starting. This is an exciting time for artists beginning their careers. So get out there and create a community! Get together and work with other Makeup Artists, hair stylists, photographers, and costume and wardrobe designers. Create, stay connected and have fun. This is a crazy business but you have to love it!”
