Make Up Artist Rosemary Redlin

Rosemary Redlin, http://www.google.com/search?q=rosemary+redlin&pov=118372401654362109360&usg=__-fTbRtN6lYcqOigk4rZxxLLWfNk=&hl=enis is a freelance make up artist who has worked with numerous celebrities that include: Al Gore, Ally Sheedy, Beck, Cindy Crawford, Ellen Degeneres, Megan Fox, Ozzy Ozzborne, Rob Lowe, Ginnifer Goodwin,Miss Universe and Miss U.S.A (to name a few). She spoke with me about her occupation, where she gets her inspiration and confirmed my opinion that Maybeline Mascara is still the best out there.

As a make up artist, you’ve worked in LA, NY, Chicago and Miami. Where of all these places do you consider the best place to work?

New York.

Why?

I feel more creative here because of the energy…the diversity of the people.

What other famous faces have you worked on aside from what I've mentioned?

Smashing Pumpkins, Beck, Kathy Ireland....there are so many!

Wow! What is a common misconception people make about celebrities?

They’re just people, like everyone else.

Do celebrities get close to their make up artists?

That happens sometimes.

Do you have any good stories?

Number one rule, I do not gossip.

Where has this job taken you?

All over the world…Italy, Germany, Guatemala, Barbados, Canada, London, Paris….

So, you just go wherever you’re needed?

Yes.

That’s very interesting.

I am very pleased because I always shoot in very beautiful places and work with many interesting people.

What is your favorite product on a splurge?

(laughing) When I’m on a splurge? I’m always splurging…um….I don’t know….I love learning about new products and trying things on. I mean I buy so many different make up products. I guess sable make up brushes…I was just in LA and bought a whole bunch of lip gloss.

What product would you recommend to those hurt by this recession?

Always buy the best foundation…but with mascara and lip gloss you can get that in any drug store. And I always recommend maybeline mascara…

Have you ever made mistakes?

The great thing about makeup, it’s temporary. Mistakes can be great because they can lead to a new way of doing something…

Who/ what influenced you to do what you do?

I started off doing hair…I was a hairdresser. And then I really liked doing color. I was in Chicago at the time…I then decided I wanted to do make up.…there really wasn’t one person. I mean a lot of people have mentors, I never really did.

Where do you get your ideas?

I like to go to museums, I get influenced by art books, film, history, also clothes by designers from that season inspire. It’s always a collaborative effort….with the director, the photographer, the hairdresser, the wardrobe stylist, the model but with something like a TV actor…it’s more of what the character is supposed to be.

Have any magazines ever quoted you?

Well, lately I was in Martha Stewart. I was also quoted in Allure and Vogue.

How does this happen?

People get to know you and they call you and then they email you and you confirm it with them.

What are your other interests?

Anything to do with the arts: museums, dancing, art, yoga, pilates...

Yoga? That’s something I really need to start doing, how much do you do that?

A few times a week.

Makeup…is it a skill or talent?

It’s definitely a talent, but you can learn it as a skill more so if you love it, you can learn it…it’s like anything else.

How long have you done this?

20 years…you have to have a lot of faith to do this…you have to love what you do, I just follow my heart and I am blessed and I get a lot of energy from the people I work with, it’s like the perfect job for me because things change constantly.

Ever work with the everyday people or is it all just high end?

Yes, sometimes. Do you mean weddings? I usually do high end weddings, like last year I worked with one client whose wedding was on Platinum Wedding.

Do you have any representation?

Yes….I’m represented by two agencies and I have a website.

Are both your agents here in New York?

One is in New York and one is in LA.

Do you get most of your clients through these agencies?

Mostly it’s word of mouth…

What celebrities have you worked on most frequently?

I worked with Kathy Ireland for several years, Niki Blonsky, Eliza Dushku .

Ever worked on the set of a play?

I usually work with celebrities‘, editorial, magazine, red carpet premieres, short films, campaigns.

What big campaigns have you done?

Rolex.

Really? Who models for them?

Phil Nickelson (golfer), Zara Phillips, Doctor Sylvia Earl, Anna Ivanovic (tennis).

What’s a typical day?

Everyday is like your first day at work…everyone has their own interpretations…everyone has their own vision of what they want…it’s dealing with different personalities…you have to access the situation…there are people that hire me over and over again because we speak the same language and they know what to expect.

Any advice for make up artists who are working with celebrities for the first time?

When you’re working with a celebrity, you have to learn not to be intrusive, if they are on the phone, reading a script or question and preparing to go on, you have to be able to give them their space. Also dress up a little bit, look professional.

Ever had any divas?

Everyone wants to be nice to their make up artists because they want them to make them look good, so, no I’ve never had any issues with that.

Does it take longer to work on a man or a woman?

(laughing) A woman.

Why?

There is more steps…

What do you never use on a man?

Eye shadow, lipstick or lip-gloss (laughing)

How long does it typically take to apply make up?

Depends…it could take fifteen minutes to an hour and a half….or ten minutes.

What does that come down to? Their skin?

Time…there could be time restraints…they arrived late and have to get ready quickly….

What is something you may have them do?

Curl their own lasses but most of the time I do everything.

What does a crazy schedule look like to you?

I’ve had to be in multiple locations throughout the day….could be different jobs or you have to
travel with them. Usually it’s one job a day but it could be different locations.

Ever worked with a newscast?

Yes, Good Morning America.

What was that like?

Early calls, quick make up…

Is there a make up union?

Yes…798 is NY and 706 is in LA. I’m just in the New York Union now…at one point I was in both.

What do they do?

They do negotiations with productions and come up with rates and that’s for TV and film.

If you could change careers?

I don’t know….investment banker but then I’d have to crunch numbers! Sometimes I think of doing something else and I just can’t imagine it.

Can you tell me a little more about one or two celebrities you‘ve made up?

I worked on Ellen in Chicago when she did an personal appearance, it was before her show. I did Al Gore’s face for Good Morning America once.

What’s Al like?

He was a very nice man.

What do you like most about your job?

I really like to make woman look and feel their best whether that be a model, TV personality, or a woman going to an event. And I love the travel. The ability to be creative and create.

What is your advice to someone who wants your job?

Be professional…be enthusiastic… be open to learning new stuff, learn from the best, show up and enjoy, it’s a great career, it’s a lot of fun.

Dillion McCartney: Opera Singer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC53g8oMtXY

Dillion McCartney is a classical Irish Tenor who explores timeless songs with a classical crossover interpretation. His soothing voice will help any stress slip away. His album is out now and is brilliant. It was wonderful to speak with such a talented singer who seems to have had music in his blood for a long time.

What is your occupation?

Operatic Tenor.

Was this your first career?

Yes, I started out in musical theater. I started out as a jingle singer.

Why did you chose to be a jingle-singer?

It wasn't a choice for me. When I was in elementary school, my mom worked at a recording studio. The producers were really cool and they allowed me to hang out there and then one day a producer had me sing this nursery rhyme to him and brought me up to the recording studio. Whenever they needed a kids' voice, they would call me and that's how I started doing jingle work.

So, you were this little kid with all this money from working?

It was my first production work,,,I don't know exactly how much it was.

Where have you performed?

Um...I performed...I've been a soloist at Carnegie Hall four times and at Avery Fisher Hall on numerous occasions..I've song regionally throughout the United States and ah..Italy, France, um..England, Brazil, Norway, Tel Aviv...those were a...that kind of covers it thus far.

How many CDs do you have out at the moment?

I'm on my second one. The latest is called, "Dillion McCartney from My Heart."

Are you recognizable enough?

I doubt it, no...not yet anyhow.

How are you selling it?

Via the Internet, it's on Amazon, CD Baby...it literally just came out a few weeks ago.

Did it take a while to produce?

It took about...it took a couple of months to produce..that includes what I wanted to record, who I wanted to record with, mixing it down and mastering it, producing the CD cover...

Was it expensive?

About 15 Grand.

You think you'll make that back?

Well, in terms of direct CD sells, I don't think so, but it terms of it leading to other work...I mean I would love it if it started selling like crazy. I think it's more likely someone will hear it and want to hire me and that'll pay off the cost of the CD making.

Who are your favorite musicians?

Favorite musicians...

Do you hate that question?

Finding favorite is hard for a Libra...it depends on the day...I like everyone from Randy Newman to Tito Schipa to Johnny Cash to...it's so hard for me to say, I love listening to many of the operatic singing...Franco Corelli, Luciano Pavarotti, um...I'm a HUGE fan of Janis Joplin...I love MeatLoaf...(laughing), there's just so many...I'm not an Opera singer who only listens to Opera music for sure...oh, and I love Tony Bennet.

What else do you love to do? Can you build a house?

No, (laughing) I absolutely can not...I can not build a house. I'm an actor, I've done theater...other things in terms of what I like to do, you mean just hobbies?

Yeah.

I'm a real movie fan, I love going to the movies...I enjoy very much walking all over New York City...I love just taking in the city...nothing else is coming to mind.

What is your favorite song to sing?

I hate these kind of questions. It's just impossible...I can't give you a favorite.

What is the pay like?

Do you mean do Opera singers get paid well? Well, sure there are Opera singers that make millions...it's like any other field...people at the top are doing extremely well...there are so many expenses involved that a lot of people are not aware of.

Really?

I have a very famous Opera singing friend that in order for her to make a million, she has to spend half of that...it's because of how much it all cost: taxes, agents, managers, publicists ...everybody wants a piece.

What were your beginnings like?

I was in musical theater and someone saw me and asked me who I was working with and gave me a number to call...that school was Carnegie Mellon University and that was a school that I always wanted to go to and this gave me the perfect opportunity. When that show closed, I went to that school and graduated four years later...that's where I did my classical training also.

Ever sang on national television?

Yeah, a Honey Comb commercial, that famous jingle that many of us have grown up with,,,do you remember that one?

No, how does it go?

"Honey Combs big yeah yeah yeah, it's not small no, no, no..." People who know it will know it.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Um...I have no idea,,,just taking it day by day. If one thing this business has taught me is life is unpredictable. One day I could be in China...it's impossible to predict.

Any horrible experiences?

There's only been one time where I've had a terrifying experience. I was asked in college to be the mascot for the Pittsburg Symphony Fundraising Ball. The mascot that year was going to be a clown and part of my responsibility was to prepare this speech that was going to tell what was going to happen during this event and it was this long monologue..and I thought I had it memorized cold,,,it was so long and I didn't have a copy with me. I ran out there and just froze..I just kind of walked off the stage...but they didn't fire me, I ended up going to the ball anyway.

Is there anything else you'd rather be doing?

Although I sometimes wonder if classical music is where I want to spend all my time is something I question but as far as being a performer, there's nothing else I'd rather do...I've really given it a lot of thought and I can't come up with anything.

Are people surprised when you tell them what you do?

I don't completely identify myself as an Opera singer, it doesn't fully describe all the things I can do...I guess I could just say I am an entertainer.

Have you ever sang a love song to a lover?

Not that I can remember...I've sung places where my lover might be...

I really love how you sing the version of Danny Boy on your album.

Thank you.

I'm going to buy a copy for my mom,,,it'll bring tears to her eyes to hear someone with such a powerful voice singing her all-time favorite melody.

Let me know what she thinks.

Interview with a Stage Mom

Lily has been in the biz for a long time. She has preformed at circuses, on stage, on TV, she has been a guest on Ellen and may be a contestant on America's Got Talent in a few short weeks. It was very fun to speak to her mom, a so-called stage mom and get the latest scoop on this rising starlet.

Do you classify yourself as a stage mom?

I don't know. I guess I am. I mean the difference between me and a regular stage mom is I'm also an artist, a airbrush make-up artist and costume designer...I went to school for that. I'm really involved because I'm usually invited to help out so I'm much more involved in the process. So I guess I'm a stage mom but I also work in the field.

Tell me a little bit about the body painting?

I work with an airbrush. I hand paint with theatrical makeup and I can do a full mask or portion...different parts of the body...ballet, including underwater ballet. I can extend the makeup into the costume...similar to what one might see while watching circus de selis. I get my ideas this way to come up with the theme. I use gold, metallic, prosthetic to create an image, etc. I can paint just about anything.

Where did Lily begin?

I put Lily into ballet when she was still in diapers and she had a really great teacher. When she was only four years old she was in The Nutcracker Ballet and that was it for her. When she turned five she was in the Spring production of Sleeping Beauty. Then they asked me to watch the makeup artist and for the next production. The next year I was their makeup artist. And then the two of us got involved...she'll be fourteen this year so I've been doing it since.

I see Lily met Ellen DeGeneres? Do you go with her?

Yeah, I got to go with her. They asked her if she could contort into a suitcase. So, they called her out on stage and she met Ellen DeGeneres and she contorted into the suitcase and Ellen picked up the case and rolled her down and unzipped her...I have to give you the link to that...it was really cute and it was on UTUBE for a while too.

What did Lily think of Ellen?

Oh, she loved her.

What other TV shows?

She was on the "ICarly." She was a contortionist on that show...I guess I should also tell you when she was five and was performing for the nutcracker she wanted to be the cat. The cat had to do a walk over where she was to walk backwards on her hands. When she was at the gym one day, a gym class instructor approached us and began to train her and soon after that she got into contortionist stuff...she's only thirteen and she's been a paid contortionist for a while here in LA and works for many commercial agents.

What's she doing at the moment?

This Saturday she's performing at a grand opening for a dance studio and last week she was at a big event and got paid by a party event planner. Next spring we have a big original Ballet by Kim Maselli, she is the artistic director in LA.

What about school?

She is home schooled during the day. We plan her school work around this crazy crazy business. Last year, she won Richard Carpenter Scholarship award and was accepted into The School of American Ballet for the summer and got to live out in New York for the summer. When she came back she did a commercial for Orange, a telecommunication company like an AT & T here for Europe where she had to do contortion on a wire and other crazy weird things on a wire. When you think about all these things she was going and going. When she was in New York for ballet, I would take her out for 3 hours a day for her to practice her contortionist. Sometimes she trains 5-10 hours a days!

What do you dislike the most?

The driving, that's the only thing I don't like. It's what makes me a 'crazy stage mom'...there's is so much driving. Once we went to Czech and my world had to stop. My goal is to get her into New York and get housing while we're there so she can do all her work and I can be with her.

She must have a lot trophy's?

Mostly ribbons, tons of medals,,,I don't even know how many ribbons...all these metals and ribbons all over her room for the junior Olympics, etc.