Episode Two- Reality TV

Of the three episodes, this presented the largest cast. Not only did we have Chane't and Ann (Spesh and Nancy), Kris and Elaine (Baby and Monroe), but we had 2 Reality TV producers, 2 extra nurses, a casting director, an assistant, a camera man and sound guy. On a slim budget and pinched for time, this was a lot of talent in one place!

Filmed almost entirely over the July 4th weekend at the Road Theatre in North Hollywood, this episode gave us the opportunity to turn Monroe into a blue-haired Russian dominatrix, and play with the innocent, boyish looks of Baby.

With Nancy and Spesh already established, makeup time was getting better and better. This episode put the real emphasis on Kris, America and Cathy (the nurses), and Josh (Reality TV Producer). The look of this episode was based on realness... skin was kept very clean and natural looking, and makeup was presented as being mainly day looks.

The departure of this was Monroe, wearing a blue bobbed wig, huge lashes and overly exaggerated angular lips. With a Russian accent, she reminded me of Milla in Zoolander... which I suppose was actually based on Milla's mom, Galina.

The end result is a chaotic, behind the scenes look of the unmaking of a reality tv show!

Episode One- Paulette's Party

When we started shooting, we started on the third episode first, and then worked our way backwards to the first episode, which is common in filmmaking. Due to location and actor availability, we had to move backwards.

There was a luxury of not having to revamp the Nurses each episode. Once they were established, that was it. The look never changed. Monroe, the henchwoman, has a different look in every episode!

In episode one, we see her as the blond debutante, and then later, for the first and maybe only time in the series, we see her as she truly is... vulnerable and relaxed at home with Debbie and Baby. Baby is also a chameleon of sorts, he gets to dress up for work as well, and in this first episode he was a stereotypical waiter.

Elaine Hendrix (Monroe) is gorgeous and has awesome skin, and her facial shape is ideal. We kept the foundation soft and bright, and explored her brows and liner more than shadows for the emphasis on the eyes. Her lips were bold, but not outlandish. She worn her own wig, which was styled by our hair stylist, Reiynne Dekora.

Kristopher (Baby) is a great looking guy with a killer smile, and we played alot with his hair. For the waiter, we kicked it up with some gel for that classic 40's movie star look. In his penguin suit, he looked the part!

Also in episode one, we have Mariette Hartley (Paulette) and Chad Brokaw (Paul). We had a great time with these actors as well...

Mariette had to look distinguished and poised, which she does naturally, so makeup was more of an after thought! We went with a simple, monochromatic color scheme and very "republican" hair.

Chad is used to wearing his hair up, all spikes and edginess... and for Paul, we took his hair down and parted it one the side. It wasn't conservative, but more so than he is in real life. It made a huge difference to his appearance!

In the Beginning...

Have you ever been worked over by your friends, having them push the buttons that only they know how to push?

That is how I came to work on "Nurses Who Kill...", the incredible new webseries from Chane't Johnson and Ann Noble.

I remember it all vividly. It was an overcast morning. I was driving to teach a class at a salon in Philadelphia, and my cell phone rang. Against my better judgement and against the law, I answered. My dear friend, Chane't, was on the line.

After some idle chatter, Chane't dropped a bomb. She said that she was working on a new webseries with her pal Ann and they were going to be shooting three episodes over three weekends in Los Angeles, and did I know a makeup artist that might be available.

What? Excuse me? Did she just skip over me and ask for a referral?

Yes. Yes, she did!

Of course, I let her have it. Then, after being told that she didn't want to ask me, because she didn't have a travel budget to get me to the West Coast for the shoot. I told her that I would take care of the travel and the products that we'd need, and all that she needed to provide was a place to crash and transportation.

With a laugh, she agreed.

By the time that I was on my way home from Philadelphia later that day, I had a plane ticket, and a bunch of makeup and hair products. Within a few days I had goodie bags for the cast and nail polish. The "Nurses Who Kill..." Makeup Department was up and running!

Sorme Cosmetics, Jan Marini Skin Research, Color Club Polish, and Matrix Hair Care all stepped up to the plate to help.

Over the next few weeks, Chane't sent me the scripts for five episodes. After doing a breakdown of the scenes and the needs of each character, I sketched makeup ideas for the lead nurses, their henchwoman, their lackey and the secondary characters. These sketches were then sent to Chane't, Ann and director Katy. They became the basis of the makeup bible that was used on set.

Hair sketches were also done, and kept for reference. These would later be used by Reiynne Dekora, my lead hair stylist, who came on board a week before we went in front of camera.

Stay tuned for the episode-by-episode breakdown of how the look of "Nurses Who Kill..." evolved.

-The Late Shift