MTH: That’s so fun and what an opportunity! We ran into you a few years ago at Midsummer Scream. How did you get involved with that convention? Was that also through Boneyard Effects?
Jacqie: Yes, that was through Larry (Bones). Anything he’s done, especially Midsummer Scream or Monsterpalooza I try to be a part of the team. Plus, the fun about doing those conventions you get to make your own creations. So, it was just fun times. Midsummer got big!
MTH: It did! We saw it on Goldstar and we were kind of worried about it because a lot of cons are for professionals and we weren’t sure if it was going to be fun for us but we had a blast! We walked right in! No line and then every year after that got bigger and bigger and then we saw Horror Nights and Dark Harbor there with a promo and we were like, “What!? This is a big deal now!”
Jacqie: Yes, people just love Halloween!
MTH: Who are some of the clients you’ve worked with that were really exciting for you that you got to do their makeup and you thought, “Oh, my God! This is so awesome!”?
Jacqie: I’m doing a film now with Taryn Manning from Orange is the New Black. I have to say she’s probably been my favorite person to have worked with. She’s just so humble and so down-to-earth and she’s such a great actor. When you talk to her she’s so smart and has a lot of knowledge about things.
Jacqueline has also got to meet Tony Todd on set and has worked on celebrities through Devin (Dygert) for Project Fashion Tails such as Finn Wittrock, Sarah Wayne Callies, Robert Englund, and Morgan Freeman! Project Fashion Tails is a non-profit organization geared towards helping homeless animals and giving animal rescue awareness.
MTH: That’s great!
Jacqie: She’s so cool!
MTH: So, you told us a little bit about your work with Devin Dygert and how you met him. What have been your collaborations with him up to now?
Jacqie: He’s also from Florida. When I met him, he’s very cool. So, I would like, “Hey, do you want to go out with me and we can try and think of things and do a shoot?” and he was always down. So, we’ve done a lot of fashion and I know he came to one of my Monsterpalooza events. He’s also watched me grow too. I was super, super shy, and pretty quiet and then we stuck together. We did Project Fashion Tails. They bring celebrities together to get people to foster and adopt animals. We did so many of those shoots together and I’ve done the commercial he was doing, his music video, anything Devin needs. Even this morning he called and said, “Could you do makeup for this thing?” and I said, “Yeah, sure! No problem.” He’s like family to me. He’s just someone very close to me. I love Devin and I got lucky to meet him in LA.
MTH: Devin’s great! I think one of the things that’s great about him is that he’s very creative but he’s also about collaboration and helps everyone else rise up too. He wants everyone else to succeed. What makeup artists inspire you and why?
Jacqie: Well, of course, Ve Neill. Female and when I think of movies when I was little…I was so scared of Beetlejuice (laughter) but it was just so visually stunning to me. Edward Scissorhands and everything when I got older. When I was younger I had no idea I was going to go into makeup but it all makes sense now. All those movies I loved when I was little like The Dark Crystal and all these visually stunning movies. Even Jurassic Park because of the animatronics of that but I’d definitely say Ve Neill is probably on my top. I would also say my friend Veronica Rodarte. She worked with me at Halloween Horror Nights but she was also the one that got me into that transition into film. I knew nothing about film lingo. People would be like, “10-1” and I’d think, “What is everyone saying?” (laughter) She’s probably done hundreds of movies and we’re really close friends. So, every time we get to work together I always look up to her. It doesn’t matter the budget, she’s just always professional.
MTH: Ve Neill is incredible! What would be your dream gig to get? We know that it’s Covid times but a movie that’s coming up, a show that you’ve always wanted to work on, or a filmmaker you’ve wanted to work with?
Jacqie: I would just say hopefully one day I get to work on anything that’s HBO. When I look at HBO or even behind-the-scenes of Game of Thrones, all the departments come together and I just watched Raised by Wolves! All the shows that HBO does are just so top-notch. What’s the highschool one Euphoria. I looked up the makeup artist on that and she really crushed it! Even the beauty makeups and the glitter and everything but it’s always HBO shows. I feel like I’m lucky on the projects I’ve worked on but when I look at the shows HBO does, they take time with it and make sure it comes out great. Netflix has done a good job too. American Horror Story, would be something good to work on, and it’s a different show every season. Yeah, but anything HBO though. Hopefully, one of these days!
MTH: Putting it out there in the ether! You’ve done fashion, special effects, horror, and sci-fi. What is your favorite makeup to apply and what do you feel is the most creative for you as an outlet?
Jacqie: I think honestly, I love it all. I really do. I do like working on films just because you hit that day when you’ve created something great. When you get to work with a makeup team unit you just become a family with everybody and it’s always different. The last movie I did was boxing. Today I got to do a bridal thing and tomorrow I’m doing all these Pros-aide transfers for a death scene. I just like it all. I’m glad it’s such a mix. I think if I only did one…I know everyone says you gotta focus on one thing to be the best at that but the good thing with film is especially when you work in teams you really do help each other. It’s always different. It worked out for my brain. I really feel like filmmakers or anyone in this industry they’re a different type of brain you have to have because you never know? You’ve got slow peaks and then there are busy times and now with Covid, it’s a different world.
MTH: It is a different world for sure!
Jacqie: It’s so scary! It’s scary for everybody on set too. Even with Batman, weren’t they two days into production and Robert Pattinson got sick. I’m like in a hot zone because I’m working with actors with no masks. So, I have to get tested 3 times a week for this one and it’s just going to be interesting though. You hear so many things. Are the rapid tests accurate? I’ve always tested negative but when you hear all these things on set it’s crazy.
MTH: Yeah, and then if everyone says, “The only person I was in contact with was makeup.” but then you’re makeup. It’s really scary.
Thank you for doing this interview Charlene & Daniel. Makeup artists are a very important piece in the filmmaking process and rarely get the spotlight they deserve. I really enjoyed reading about Jacqueline’s journey. Also, I think it’s very cool Daniel that you got to be a zombie for George Romero’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!
Thanks J!
Jacqueline is great and so talented and totally agree! Make-up artists are such a pivotal part of the movie-making process especially in horror, fantasy, and sci-fi. re: Daniel. That was so cool! I had to work and was sad I couldn’t be there but so excited for him and hearing about the process.