Hi Jenny, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in Austin. Elementary, Middle and High School and graduated from University of Texas at Austin with a natural science degree in Nutritional Sciences and a minor in business administration from McCombs. My family was very strict in doing well in your studies that I faced tremendous pressure to make the highest scores in all my AP classes in high school, get into a first tier college thats local and then get a “real job” that pays a high consistent salary.
I never was very creative growing up because I literally had NO time be and when I got to an age where I was more in charge of my free time outside of school, I dabbled in makeup while at UT as a part-time job with MAC cosmetics because at that time they were the main company that seemed to focus on training artists to actually do makeup not just to sell their products… I was super inspired by a local Drag Queen who worked there and I was in awe of her style and class and how magical her spirit was as she taught her craft to you as she did your makeup. Then you end up buying everything.
Next, I picked up an iconic makeup book by Kevyn Aucoin because youtube makeup tutorials weren’t really a thing yet… worked on my first short film that a makeup artist dropped out of so they needed someone last minute, for five straight nights while still working the day job and I have never ever looked back because I was hooked. I knew I had to try this if I didn’t sleep for five days straight and I still wanted more of what this was that nothing in school has never ignited in me… I didn’t know I would be designing makeup and heading up my first show for the Austin director Robert Rodriguez only a few years later (before I turned 30) on major series television for Marvel and USA and be the boss of my own shows and working with directors, writers and actors I’ve watched my whole life growing up. If you told me this back then I would laugh. If you told me how much I could make a great living and my unions would offer me a 401 (like a real job), I would have laughed harder.
I literally have tripped and fell into my dream profession and I have never looked back last five years of nonstop working show to show, state to state. I feel sometimes I am like a circus carnie and I just am so passionate about the management side of running a makeup department as well as getting to create and tell a story with makeup (blood and beauty)!! You’re continuously learning from the artists you hire locally on the shows, the actors and directors as well. Rodriguez told me you never ever truly work a day in your life if you love what you do. This is exactly it. I worked as hard as I could as I did all my years in school and never thought about what I couldn’t do and I am so grateful for all those who helped me get here in my Texas film family and my union. Now I have a home in Austin while I do Rodriguez shows in town. Otherwise, I have a home where I am based in Atlanta, Georgia and also in LA. Austin is where my heart is because this is where it all started.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not smooth but definitely fun. When you start working in “non-union” projects you have to make a name for yourself and people will start hiring you and recommending you. Then you want to work on the big “union” shows that come into town and you have to work nonunion shows to get days to get INTO the union to work the union shows. You don’t just become the head of makeup. You can day check as a makeup artist which where I started. Not a full-time position but you go in leave and usually work on background artists. Then there are permanent team positions under the head of makeup such as a 4th, 3rd and key or second makeup artist. You work the horrible indie jobs in Texas for $50 a day to get into the union then you work commercials and reality tv then you pay your dues to get into your union! Then you work up from there! It’s about the constant journey and I am still climbing and still working.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about you’re your work?
I specialize in running a dept and designing character, beauty and special effects makeups for high definition television and film. I’m proud of my job and my teams that I have had on each show that has helped the director successfully tell a story. I am most proud of Robert Rodriguez bringing the James Cameron film ALITA BATTLE ANGEL to Austin, TX. It made Texas film history with being the largest budgeted film to ever come to Texas (at 200 mil). I would have been happy day playing on this film, let alone being head of makeup on it! I think I just love my job and I just want to have fun working. We do makeup for a living and tell visual stories… I want to have fun and have the best people with me. I don’t know what sets me apart!
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I have had many mentors and I mentor as well young artists. I encourage those who are interested in film to always reach out to me! This industry is all networking!
Contact Info:
- Address: 2063 Second Avenue
- Email: makeupbyjenny@gmail.com
- Website: www.makeupbyjennylin.com
- Instagram: makeupbyjlin
