Commercial shoot

This past week I scarcely blogged at all, as I was shooting commercials all week. And it was great fun!

I took some behind the scenes pictures for you so you can see more of what its like on production jobs.
Sometimes they're glamorous, sometimes they're not, but invariably they are a good time.


This one was shot on location in an office building.

So here is the makeup palace. It was a make-shift set up in one of the back rooms. Some times you get a full makeup room with lights etc, sometimes a makeup trailer, sometimes you just find a space to work out of. Its all good!


Hurry up and wait is the order of most production days. It takes a long time to re-light the set & do all that production dude stuff.
Here a couple of the actors are made up & chilling out.
I normally put kleenex collars on my dude actors to keep makeup off their shirts while they're hanging around. The girls never seem to need it.
Our actors are playing office workers today...




Some of the interior lighting is actually lit from outside the room.
I loved the painting on the wall here.
Check it out...




Its Kramer!!! Haaaha! I knew I was in a good place when I saw this!


Another wall has a signed Elway shirt. You know you're in a cool, vibey office when this is how they decorate! They also had tons of Rolling Stone magazines, so I was super happy!



Some lighting stuff in the hallway. When we arrive somewhere to shoot, we take up heaps of space.
This was a single camera shoot. If you've ever wondered what a "dolly" is or a "dolly move", its the camera moving down these dolly tracks as the shot is happening.


This is an HD camera. So love shooting HD!


The second scene was shot in the same room, but with different lighting, from a different angle, and with different props in place, so the two shots look completely different, as though we were in different offices.

I can't show you the actors in action, but once the commercial has been edited and has aired, I might be able to post it for you to see.

Commercials are pretty cool to work on. Generally they only take a day or two to shoot, and the make up isn't particularly complex, so there tends to be tons of time to hang out & enjoy life.
I actually really enjoy watching them light the shots - its interesting to see how they create the environment and ambience to make you believe the story they're telling.

xo

C

Shooting On Green Screen

Busy week shooting TV commercials, but I brought my camera along yesterday to try and get you some behind the scenes stuff...



And today, this shall be my domain...


These are some of my makeup cases. I travel with sooo much stuff!
There's all kinds of wardrobe & props behind there including plastic chain with scary looking manacle things, and under the clothing rack a plastic loaf of french bread.
I wonder what that shoot was about???



all set up, ready to rock n roll. The styrofoam head isn't mine. I think it belongs to the french bread people.


Hard at work (haha!!!) but looking oh so craptastic.
The actress was really good fun to work with.
I do absolutely love my T shirt though.
Its from Drag Strip Girl Designs www.DragStripGirlDesigns.com

Behind this door is the green screen studio. Its HUGE.


Kinda hard to see, but the walls curve into the floor, so there are no edges or corners.


This was a single camera shoot. The computer will separate the actress from the green background, and they will digitally place her somewhere else.
Although they can isolate that particular green, you still dont have any wardrobe or makeup with any green undertone to it.

We were shooting HD too, which is always cool. Completely unforgiving, but very cool.



To the right of the camera is the monitor. It too is HD. I watch the monitor while we're shooting so that I can really see what the camera is taking in.


The director stepped in for a minute

Blurry (courtesy of my brilliant photographic skills!) but we're about to do another take.


So now when you hear people talking about "green screen", you know what it looks like!

xo

C

Sweep This Sisters!!!

Sooo. I've been dying to tell you about this skin treatment I had a few weeks ago. Too fab!

You've all probably heard of microdermabrasion, the process where you get a maximo exfoliation via a cool machine that uses crushed up crystals or diamond point to take the top coat off your skin & suck it up a little hose. Something along the lines of taking a sandblaster to your face.
I have long been a major fan of it. In fact, I have had a microderm before every big event or special occasion, so that my skin looks smooth.

Well, there's a new sheriff in town, and his name is Derma Sweep. And I have to say this is one of the most innovative, exciting things I've seen in a very long time!



Its a similar principal - kind of - but that's where the similarities end.

Dermasweep uses specially bevelled bristles to lift away dead skin. Unlike the particulate systems this doesn't scratch the new skin beneath it. Traditional microderm uses a pushing motion, Dermasweep utilizes a lifting motion, which actually promotes circulation leaving your skin more robust and glowing.

This lifting motion not only takes away the skin debris, but cleans out all the pores at the same time.



There is a selection of bristle heads for the operator to choose from, so that even those with the finest, most delicate and sensitive skin can have this treatment and love it. Ladies with very fine skin have typically been exempt from traditional microderm treatments, but now they have an option too.
The entire process is fully customizeable and can be personalized to provide the most inclusive skin care system in the world.

Traditional microderm leaves you with grit all through your hairline, inside your nose and in your ears, and frequently there is a peeling occuring a couple of days later, as well as day of treatment redness. So if you have an event you have to schedule a microderm several days out.

With Dermasweep there is no grit on the skin, in the hairline etc, so you can have a treatment on the same day as your event. Which is exactly what actresses & musicians & celebs do on the day of award shows (think Oscars, Golden Globes, Emmys, Music awards) and major events. And if its good enough for them, its good enough for us!
There is also no peeling and no redness. I can't even tell you how fabulous the skin looks after a treatment! I had mine three weeks ago now, and it is still absolutely glowing. (and I am soooo loving that!!!)

Dermasweep is a 2 part process. The second part of the process is an infusion. Depending on what your skin's needs are, the technician/aesthetician will create a cocktail of fabulous solutions (which are paraben free) to infuse deep into the skin with the machine. By reversing the vacuum they can send product significantly deeper into the skin than you can with a manual application.

The infusions deal with everything from hydration (me!) to acne, to sundamage to hyperpigmentation, to photo damage, to surgical scars(!!!) to uneven skin texture and many more skin conditions.

This is not me on the table, however, I was all zenned out like this lady is...

After the infusion your skin looks beyond amazing. Make up glides on smoothly and perfectly. No wonder celebs are so on top of this thing!

Depending on your skin needs you can have a course of treatments (for conditions such as acne, hyperpigmentation, fine lines & wrinkles, overall skin tone and texture, chronic dehydration etc) or you can have single treatments for special events.
Check out this before and after shot for fine lines and wrinkles. (Again its not me) Her skin tone and texture have evened out, and the hyperpigmentation looks like its disappearing.
Can you see how the skin looks lifted and firmed as well as smoothed?




For me the bottom line with any skin care product or skin treatment is, do I see an immediate difference in my skin? I want to see it, feel it, know it, right away.
And I'm not interested in any 5 minute miracles - I want to see continued benefit over time.

I have to say with Dermasweep I saw a drastic difference in my skin as soon as she had completed the treatment. And it is still looking that way.
People are constantly commenting on my skin too, which is always a good sign.

Dermasweep treatments are performed in dayspas and medi spas, as well as in doctors offices.

To find a Dermasweep location near you check out the website at Dermasweep.com

I honestly can't recommend strongly enough that you try this out. I love, love, love it!!!

When You Do That Voodoo...

I so love this time of the year. Love it so very, very much.

There is magic in the air, the evenings get so soft and delicious, clothes get a little more interesting, boots come back (don't even think about going there today CB!) make up is kicked back up a few delectable notches, and we meander up to the doorway of the season of my most favorite flower in the world....

Black Magic Roses.



I honestly think these are without a doubt the sexiest, raunchiest, most decadent flowers ever.

They evoke passion, sensuality and a certain hypnotizing naughtiness. And with the softer light that's coming around now, and the long, slow evenings leading us to the holiday season, this is the time to relish in their perfection.

You do something to me, something that simply mystifies me....



Although not quite black, they have a depth to them that you can fall into. I find them mesmerizing.

Let me live 'neath your spell...





Last year the adorable Will McFabulous gave me a giant bouquet of Black Magic roses, approximately the size of Bono, for absolutely no reason other than that I love them.
(Sometimes I think he should write a guide book for straight men, because he just really, really knows this stuff!)
For a week my home was all candles and black magic (sans Santeria), deep full bodied red wines and sheer lip gloss the color of night. I wore strip lashes every day, the world was right. And I loved it.

And then they went away.



Tell me why should it be, you have the power to hypnotize me?

I bet Dita Von Teese's house is full of them.

Maybe this year I'll get them from someone else? Or maybe I'll get them from Will again.
Either way, I've got to have them. And its nearly that time. And the anticipation hangs thick in the air.
Sometimes a rose is not just a rose.

Do do that voodoo that you do so well...

P.S I also love Cole Porter songs!

xo

Smashbox Reign Collection, Wedding Shoot

So here is the 2nd video from the wedding makeup series. As always, the makeup is not wedding specific - you can use these looks anytime you want to look fab!

This was part of a big fashion shoot, and the look was huge. The dress had a grecian feel to it, so that was the inspiration for the hair and makeup.

All products used were from the Smashbox Reign Collection, which I love love love!
I will also be posting a photo tutorial as soon as the pics are back.

There was a ton of info to try to get across in a very short time, so sit back, take a load off, and enjoy!





Hope you love it!

xo

C

A Love As True As The Sea Is Blue....

So I got an email today that was signed: "spooky, funky, wild and as true as the sea is blue..."

Now that kind of love sounds pretty fierce and fab, so I closed my eyes and tried to imagine what it would look like.

And guess what???


Hellooooo Sugar!!!


A love as true as the sea is blue looks exactly like a Jimmy Choo peep toe slingback! Who knew? (well, I kinda, sorta did!)

No one makes a slingback like Jimmy.


And if we're getting holiday season festive, how purrfect are these? The color will go with everything you can possibly come up with.

I don't much enjoy standing for long periods of time in Jimmy's, but if you want a dress to hang unbelievably beautifully on your frame, no matter what your size or shape, I sincerely believe that the angle Jimmy arches your back and squares your shoulders at in his slingbacks is almost equal to a divine intervention.
But, I guess, not quite...

Jimmy I love you!
(I wonder if he heard me???)

It's love and shoes ladies!

xo

C

Twirling Too!

One of my favorite fashion emporiums, Twirl Boutique is opening its second store, this time in Chandler Arizona.
I've blogged about Twirl before, and no doubt will some more.






Twirl is a boutique bridal party store that offers apparel that’s chic, modern, trendy and a whole lot of fun. They believe that a bride, and all those who stand by her, should look and feel stunning on the special day. Elegant bridesmaids’ dresses should complement the bride’s gown and add to the overall unique wedding décor. At Twirl you will find exclusive lines of dresses, handbags, wraps and jewelry for every member of the bridal party and the Twirl store in Chandler will now be offering apparel for the groom and his men as well. Their goal is to highlight the best features of each member of the bridal party and add a personal touch to every outfit.

What most people don't know, is that Twirl has beautiful, high fashion, beyond fabulous dresses that are purrfect for those of us who are not in a wedding, but have somewhere special to go, be it red carpet or special event. Loooove it!


To celebrate their new boutique opening, they are having a party, “Twirl Times Two.”
Date: October 14, 2009
Time: 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Location: Chandler location in the Watermark Shopping center on Gilbert Road South of Germann

There's going to be a fashion show too. Guess who's doing the makeup? (me!)
The incredible Will Zecco is doing the hair, so you just know this soiree is going to be both fun and fabulous!

If you're going to be in the hood, don't miss this one!