HAMMERED' - SHORT FILM (Directed by Steve Lewis, Produced by Yoko Lytle and Written by Noel Clarke) Starring Craig Kelly, Nabil El Ouahabi, Lex Shrapnel, Paul Jibson, Rosanna Hoult, Alex Piasecki and John Last. Shot 2008.
I graduated from the Delamar Academy in 2008 with an HEC in Professional Make-Up design. The course was excellent, and with the campus situated in Ealing Studios, right next to the Metropolitan Film School, it gave us lots of opportunities for work experience.
The first film I worked on was called ‘Mad Dom’, and was written and directed by a student from The Met – Vinay Patel. It was the perfect first film to work on, and the entire cast and crew were great fun.
I first realized the opportunities that can arise through networking in the summer after I graduated. I met a guy called Steve Lewis whilst out one friday, who at the time was a Creative Director for Virgin Media. He gave me his card and after pestering him for long enough, he told me they were short of an assistant on a short film he was directing called ‘Hammered’, which had a mind-blowing script, and was written by BAFTA award winning actor, director and screen writer Noel Clarke. This was a truly amazing experience, and I was honored (if a little terrified) to be working with such high-profile people.
I worked on a mostly fashion stuff that summer, and later that year I was contacted by Marc Doris, who was in the cast of Vinay’s film ‘Mad Dom’. We had got on well during filming, and out of the blue he emailed me and requested that I did the make-up for his grad film ‘A Friend for Christmas’. It was my first highly paid job and was shot in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex. Again, the script was incredible, and seeing the final cut for the first time was a rush, even though it reduced me to tears.
I am currently working for Daniel Sandler at the Urban Retreat in Knightsbridge, teaching make-up and creating looks for high-profile clients including Anne McElvoy (Executive Editor of London Evening Standard), HRH Princess Sumaya and US news channel CNBC, as well as still doing freelance work including weddings and shoots, when I get some spare time! I’m always looking to collaborate on new things – to learn new skills and more about the industry, as well as build up my portfolio.
