SFX in COS: Welcome Tolin, Makeup Artist
by Skye Moore, Cosmetology senior (New Castle)
With the Halloween season quickly approaching, cosmetology instructor, Mrs. Jaime Jones, brainstormed a way to teach the students from her program of study task list while making it as festive as can be. The answer to her search: last week, the cosmetology class welcomed Steve Tolin, an SFX Makeup Artist. His purpose? To teach students about the steps needed to pursue a career in Special Effects.
Mrs. Jones, Cosmetology Instructor, mentions, “I met Steve through a friend while making a bigfoot movie almost 10 years ago. I was the Hairstylist on the set while filming both the movie and the sequel. He is extremely talented, and it is always a pleasure to work with him!”
“SFX makeup is a big deal in the movies and theater,” states Tolin. He gave Cosmetology juniors and seniors insider tips on how they could work their way into the industry. The students were excited to see various sets where Steve had worked.
“Managing a job in special effects can be fun,” states Tolin, “but it also requires hard work.” Tolin had the juniors and seniors on the edge of their seats as he warned them that they may have the skill, but if they aren’t prepared to put in the time and effort, they won’t make it in the business.
The students learned how props, prosthetics, and puppets were made with expensive, special materials that required time to create. Tolin admits, “I once messed up on a project. Even professionals made mistakes, but I had to take responsibility for my actions and had to replace the work that he had done -- with money from my own pockets.”
"I learned a lot from Steve,” states junior Angelica Courson. “My favorite thing I learned is that I can have a lot of fun while being serious in my future career. It's nice to see a different option in our jobs beyond traditional hair or nails! "
Overall, the cosmetology students had an incredible day and were pleased to learn about the world of special effects. Who knows? Maybe one of our students may be the next biggest SFX Artist?
