Interview Of The Week with Viktoria Vlasenko: All the way from Ukraine
Our first guest beauty editor, Viktoria, does hair & makeup, special effects, styling, costume and fashion design. Why so many things? Because one completes the other, and to create a look you need it all.
How did you become a makeup, special effect artist, costume designer, stylist? It is quite a lot to cover!
I started to study visual arts about 10 years ago in Ukraine, where I’m originally from. Makeup and body paint was the first step, then I merged into fashion design for competitions. I couldn’t specialize in only one thing. I wanted to create complete looks, not just clothes or just makeup. For me, learning the two in unison was equally important and essential. When I left my country I moved to Milan to study at one of the top schools in the fashion world. I got my Bachelor’s degree in fashion design and I kept studying makeup for haute couture and fashion shows. I worked on fashion shows, photoshoots, music videos, commercials, and in theatres. Then I started to get more and more film job offers. At first in Europe, then in the USA. It is very different to work on a fashion show versus on a movie set, and it’s very different to work on European versus American film sets. As I got more into the movie world, especially here in the US, learning special effects came almost automatically. Now I work mainly in movies where I’m head of two departments - costumes, makeup and special FX.
What attracted you to makeup? Makeup is a ‘girl' thing but special effects and prosthetics...? What made you get into that?
I love to work on the whole look and make up is part of it. And I love to do transformations - to make people look completely different. SFX started in the same way as makeup and hair. I was doing a lot of super hero costumes and for some of them I needed to use materials from the SFX world like silicon and latex. Then I just found an interest in making masks and all the things that come with SFX. When I was a child I loved watching thrillers and horror movies. So I think I’ve always had a passion for this. I started to read books on it and I practiced on myself. Then I took special courses and I practiced more. Now I work with many people who have been doing only SFX their whole lives, so I have the perfect chance to learn all the practical tricks from them.
What is the best part of your job?
Everything. I learn something new every day and I love it. I love working on different projects, because it is always a challenge. It is fascinating to work with different actors and crews from around the world, you always experience something new. Not just professionally but you meet different cultures, you see different approaches and it just makes your vision wider; makes your life richer.
Do you have any advice for those who really like makeup? Any Dos and Don'ts?
If makeup is your passion, keep learning it. Start with your own face, then with friends. Then go to school and learn more from professionals. And practice everyday! Work on your skills, because it you really want to do this, this will be your life and destiny.
