How To Become A Makeup Artist In The Film Industry - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 21 Academic Listening Test 1 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–16 One Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 17–20 Matching
What ability is required for each of the following duties?
Write the correct letter, A, B, or C, next to Questions 17-20.
A. being well-organised
B. being flexible
C. working quickly
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | A | Make sure your transport costs are covered - and remember, there's very unlikely to be any catering provided, so bring plenty of food | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript advises workers to ensure their travel money is paid back, while also warning them that food will probably not be provided for them. Answer Explanation: The answer means that people learning to be makeup artists should at least have their travel costs paid for when they work on small films. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker gives advice on working for free on short films with small budgets. She explicitly states that while you won't get paid a salary or get free food, you should make sure that the cost of your travel (transport) is covered by the production company. |
| Q12 | B | But you're likely to get the opportunity to work with a range of age groups, as well as different ethnicities | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that workers will probably have the chance to do makeup for many different types of people, including people of various ages and different racial backgrounds. Answer Explanation: The answer B means that on expensive or "big budget" films, people learning to be makeup artists (trainees) can practice their skills on actors from many different cultural backgrounds or races. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the speaker explicitly mentions that big budget productions provide the chance to work with different ethnicities. In the transcript, the speaker explains that while hair and special effects are separate or too specialized for trainees, working with different ethnic groups is something a trainee is likely to experience. Keywords here include "opportunity to work with" which matches "get experience of" in the question, and "different ethnicities," which matches option B directly. |
| Q13 | A | It can be stressful but you'll see that the top makeup artists are very professional - even when they're having to work with directors who are impatient, or unhappy with the makeup artist's work | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the work is stressful because makeup artists have to stay professional even when directors are not patient or are not happy with the makeup being done. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies that managing interactions with challenging directors is a known difficulty for people working in the makeup department. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by the speaker's mention that makeup artists must remain professional even when the directors they work with are impatient or dissatisfied with the results. This aligns with the idea of 'dealing with difficult directors.' The speaker explicitly rejects the idea of 'waiting around' by saying there are very few times when someone would be bored, and there is no mention of supervisors shouting at trainees. |
| Q14 | A | At first, I found it overwhelming and could hardly speak. I was so in awe | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that at the beginning of her career, the speaker felt so much pressure or emotion that she stayed quiet and couldn't find the words to speak because she respected the actors so much. Answer Explanation: The answer says the speaker felt nervous and found it difficult to talk to famous people when she started her job. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker mentions that her first experiences meeting famous actors were 'overwhelming' and that she could 'hardly speak.' Feeling so impressed that you cannot talk easily is a sign of being very shy. |
| Q15 | A | Every makeup trainee will need a makeup kit, which they'll be expected to have with them at all times. Just the essentials will do for the kinds of tasks you'll be given - it won't be anything complicated | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that new makeup workers must carry their set of tools every day. It also says they only need simple, necessary items for their work instead of anything complex. Answer Explanation: The answer means you should always have a simple bag of makeup tools with you while working. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker says that a trainee must have a makeup kit with them "at all times," which means "always." She also mentions that "just the essentials" (the most important or basic items) are enough for the simple jobs a trainee will do. |
| Q16 | C | But remember you'll need to get approval from the makeup designer in charge of the department | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that it is important to ask the head of the makeup team for permission before you can use any photos you have taken for your work collection. Answer Explanation: The answer means you must ask the person in charge if it is okay to use the pictures you took for your record of work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the speaker emphasizes the need to get 'approval' from the person in charge of the department before using photos in a portfolio. In this context, 'approval' is a synonym for 'permission'. The transcript also mentions that photos will be sent digitally and do not need to be printed, which makes option A incorrect. |
| Q17 | C | But sometimes you'll need to step in and get this done without wasting any time, otherwise the makeup artist will get behind schedule | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that preparing an actor's skin must be finished very fast. If the work is slow, the professional makeup artist will have problems with their schedule. Answer Explanation: The answer means that you must be able to do your work fast. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the speaker says that when you prepare an actor for makeup, you must do it 'without wasting any time'. This is important because if you are slow, the main makeup artist will be late for their work. The phrase 'without wasting any time' is a synonym for 'working quickly'. |
| Q18 | A | Trainees play a useful role in continuity. It will be your responsibility to take photos, log them digitally and print out a hard copy to put in each actor's file. This information needs to be kept in good order as a reshoot can mean replicating makeup months later | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that trainees must take pictures and save them in files. They must keep this information very tidy and easy to find because they might need to see exactly how the makeup looked many months in the future. Answer Explanation: The answer means that to do the job of continuity, a person needs to be neat, systematic, and keep things in order. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'being well-organised' because the speaker describes the tasks involved in continuity, such as taking photos, logging them on a computer, and putting papers in a file. The speaker specifically says this information must be 'kept in good order' so it can be used again much later. Keeping things 'in good order' is a synonym for being well-organized. |
| Q19 | B | General duties mean doing anything from getting the teas and coffees to putting on a wash. Having a positive attitude and being willing to do whatever is asked of you will help you get your next film job | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that general work includes many small, different tasks like getting drinks or doing laundry. It says that a helper should be happy to do any job that the team needs them to do. Answer Explanation: The answer B means that a trainee needs to be flexible, which means being ready and willing to do many different types of work as needed. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the transcript describes 'general duties' as doing many different things, such as making coffee or doing laundry. It explains that a trainee should be 'willing to do whatever is asked.' In this context, being flexible is the same as being open to doing any task that is required, rather than just one specific job. |
| Q20 | C | If there are dozens of extras involved you'll need to keep up a swift pace and not spend too long on each person | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that when there are many people who need makeup, you must move quickly ('keep up a swift pace') and avoid using too much time ('not spend too long') on any single individual. Answer Explanation: The answer is C because a makeup trainee must be able to complete their work fast when helping many different actors. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the text mentions that when working with a large number of background actors (extras), a trainee must maintain a 'swift pace' and 'not spend too long' on each person. These phrases are synonyms for working quickly. |
Transcript
MAN: Hello and welcome to the film making podcast. In this week's episode, Claire Lemarre talks to us about how to become a makeup artist. Claire's been working as a makeup artist in the film industry for over 20 years and has lots of useful advice about how to get started.
WOMAN: Thanks Ian. Well, before you can become a makeup artist on films you have to spend about 2 years working as a makeup trainee.
A good place to get your first job would be on a low budget short film. Of course, this means that you'll be working for free. But it's often worth it for the experience. Make sure your transport costs are covered - and remember, there's very unlikely to be any catering provided, so bring plenty of food.
If you're lucky, you might start out on a big budget film where you'll get the most useful experience. On productions like this, makeup and hair styling are separate departments - so you won't need to bring your curling tongs! But you're likely to get the opportunity to work with a range of age groups, as well as different ethnicities. Doing makeup for special effects is highly specialised, so don't expect to be offered any practical experience in that.
One problem with working in the makeup department is that it's a high-pressure environment. There are very few times when you'll be bored or have nothing to do. It can be stressful but you'll see that the top makeup artists are very professional - even when they're having to work with directors who are impatient, or unhappy with the makeup artist's work. Follow your supervisor's lead and try to remain calm at all times.
I've worked with many very famous actors over the years. At first, I found it overwhelming and could hardly speak. I was so in awe. That's preferable, by the way, to becoming too excited and asking for selfies. Now meeting the talent is just a normal part of the job and to be honest most actors don't look that special without all the makeup!
Every makeup trainee will need a makeup kit, which they'll be expected to have with them at all times. Just the essentials will do for the kinds of tasks you'll be given - it won't be anything complicated. It's worth looking at what the other makeup artists have in their kits - but whatever you do, don't borrow anything without asking first.
It's very important to build your portfolio. You should take photos of all the work you do and ideally show the different stages of makeup application if you can. But remember you'll need to get approval from the makeup designer in charge of the department. As you'll be sending your portfolio digitally, you won't need to get photos printed.
So what does a makeup trainee actually do? You need to think about whether you're the right kind of person to do the job and whether you'd enjoy it. So, to give you some idea, here are some of the things you might be required to do.
You may be asked to help prep an actor ready for makeup. Some actors will arrive having already cleansed and moisturized their skin. But sometimes you'll need to step in and get this done without wasting any time, otherwise the makeup artist will get behind schedule.
Trainees play a useful role in continuity. It will be your responsibility to take photos, log them digitally and print out a hard copy to put in each actor's file. This information needs to be kept in good order as a reshoot can mean replicating makeup months later.
General duties mean doing anything from getting the teas and coffees to putting on a wash. Having a positive attitude and being willing to do whatever is asked of you will help you get your next film job.
You won't be asked to apply makeup to any of the principal cast, only the extras. If there are dozens of extras involved you'll need to keep up a swift pace and not spend too long on each person. It takes quite a lot of confidence to be able to do this well.
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