Keeping connections made at school has been crucial to the building success of Complections alumni Kathleen MacDonald. A graduate of our 32-Week program, she has worked on several short films since she left school just two months ago; she received those leads through her classmates, and other Complections graduates she met while studying here.

After finishing high school, Kathleen took time off to consider her career options, and ultimately decided to pursue her interest in film by taking the Complete Make-up Artist Program at Complections. First coming across the school’s website during a search for special make-up effects courses, she booked a tour of the campus. “I just searched for (special effects) schools and Complections was the first one that came up! My first reaction, which I’m sure is everyone’s reaction when they first come in, was “Wow! Look at all the cool stuff in here!” She speaks, of course, of the many creatures that dot the school’s hallways, which were made by the talented instructors and students.

Kathleen’s experience while studying at the school was similarly eye opening; she was drawn to the program because of the experience of the staff. “It’s not like university,” she says, “where a professor is just lecturing to you from their notes about their research. They teach from their experiences, so they know exactly what they’re talking about.” Kathleen spent months studying make-up techniques for fashion, theatre and film, and says that once it came time for her favourite class, Creature Design, it was almost like “having graduated already, and being in the industry. I felt comfortable to express myself creatively.”

While at Complections, Kathleen also took advantage of the school’s job posting system. Her favourite experience was working on the Art of Fashion show during Nuit Blanche (an all night arts and culture event that takes place across Toronto’s downtown area); this opportunity led to another job, applying the make-up for the show’s winning designers on CityTV’s Breakfast Television. “Of course, I had the designer who didn’t want just straight beauty, but something more challenging. But it was so fun!”

Now entering the industry as a qualified artist, Kathleen has kept an open mind about opportunities, and continues to do client-based beauty and theatrical jobs while following her dream of working on films. Her most recent job on the set of the film Piece of Mind, allowed her to show off the special effects training she learned at Complections by doing ghostly make-ups on the actors. She is looking forward to working with the production company again this summer.

Kathleen advises future students of Complections to “not take your time at the school for granted”, noting that “the time will pass quicker than you think!”

For top Complections graduate Christina Scott, 2009 was a year of new experiences – both in a classroom setting and on the set of a feature film and television series. Christina came to Complections to study in the 32-week Complete Make-up Artist Program, and foster her passion for and desire to learn special effects make-up. She decided on the Complete program because it offered courses in film and television make-up, as well as prosthetics and creature design. “It was an amazing experience!” she told us on a visit back to the campus. “The instructors just want to help. You get out as much of it as you put into it, so if you want to work hard they’ll support you.”

Christina’s hard work quickly paid off; as the top student in her graduating class, she had the opportunity to be placed on the set of Dark Rising: Summer Strikes Back in North Bay. “It was great because I got to do straight make-up and creative stuff like prosthetics and tattoos.” Her contribution to the film led the production company to hire Christina for the Dark Rising television series, which she recently finished. This experience has given Christina her first taste of film work, but she knows it takes more than the practical skills to succeed in the industry. “You are your own boss, and you just have to go for it.” To Christina, this means being open to every project that comes her way.

With other film projects on the horizon, Christina continues to do photo shoots and works on her mould making skills, with the hopes of one day working as a sculptor for films. She also keeps the advice of her instructors – most notably her three SPFX instructors Tony Chappell, David Scott and Neil Morrill – close to her heart. “There was so much information to take in – we were learning a new technique or style every single day. That was the great thing about having each of these instructors. They all brought something different.” As for advice she would pass on to future fellow make-up artists? “Keep up your contacts and always be professional. Don’t get caught up in the drama!”