From Bulgaria to Hollywood:
Yana Stoyanova Makeup Artist
The journey of Makeup Artist Yana Stoyanova
Yana Stoyanova
By J. Jekyll
June 2009
Goremaster.com
Yana (Jana) Stoyanova is a remarkable makeup effects artist with unique talents including speaking several languages (English, Russian, Macedonian, Serbian and Bulgarian). She has created special effects for many films including "The Man with the Screaming Brain" (2004), "Alien Apocalypse" (2004) and "Return to House on Haunted Hill" (2007). Read on to learn more about her work and her facinating perspective of the industry. |
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GM: When did you make your decision to enter the field?
YS: This was a long time a go. My father is Bulgarian movie director, Mother Script supervisor. All my life I was around movie makers and artist. Parents try to keep me away but very unsuccessfully, even my little sister is a script supervisor now. I do remember the decision to do effects and make up came a long time ago before me really to know what is this-I saw Dark crystal and Never ending story is the Sunday kids show given that time from the movie union in a Communist Bulgaria. Had no idea who did it and what was it…took a while to do the connection between Muppets, Jim Henson and Willow later .Than was silence and the dream fade away. We never develop make up school here. Effects were not existing .So I was in my second year study Directing of cartoon animation and Nu Image decided to create a creature shop and broth a guy who use to work for them in South Africa/Willie Botha/ So this was it. People in the University almost stop seen me.
GM: What or who inspired you to start? Who was your influence?
YS: As I was saying all started with 3 movies, Dark crystal, Never ending storey and Willow. As the only info we had here were books our boss was ordering on line and internet….took me a while to see and know some really good makeup guys over the ocean. It was Dick Smith of course, Stan Winston, And I still for me think the best one is Rick Baker. His work is just…..it is really depends my love was going with the films, I thing what ever Steve Johns Edge FX were making with the Spiderman movies was great. Love theirs Blade . KNB zombie movies are classical .There are so talented people out there .You can not name one. Every movie is an achievement and there is what to see and learn
GM: Favorite early special effects memory – movie scene – book – TV show?
YS: My first favorite ever scene was the witch fight in Willow. Than was the transformation when Willow tried to get the Witch human look and she was everything else but not a woman…and that the pig transformation J very favorite movie
GM: What are your top five special effects movies?
YS: Underworld, Lord of the rings, Willow, Click, Pan’s Labyrinth
GM: What is your favorite makeup special effects scene from a movie? (it doesn’t have to be from one of your movies)
YS: I think the old age make ups in Click are the best achievement in a long time!
GM: Who is your favorite special effects person?
YS: Rick Baker, Kazo, Mike Elizalde
GM: Whose current work do you admire?
YS: I think the last Hellboy was great! And I think Spectral is the NEW hit FX studio. They do great job!
GM: How have you gotten work in the industry?
YS: did start as a translator in the New creature shop in Nu Image when they did open it before 11,12 years, than show my work to the manager in this time. He capped me as an artist. Start learning molding, casting –all what you can do in the shop. Met a Viennese make up artist owner of a make up school. we made a deal because I didn’t have the money for it. So I was working for him-sculpting, and I got his 6 months pro-make up course. Well since I am back I do Make up in some films ,or I am hired as an effects person of I do bough.
GM: What was your toughest job?
YS: Wrong turn 3 was one of those! I had no money, no crew and my work had to look good as the first 2 are well known and good show. Didn’t have prep time too. Every night I had to cast a new Treefinger mask, end up sleeping not more than 3,4 hours every day. The remake of The day of the dead/dir. Steve Miner/ was also crazy! We were 4 make up artist plus the additional more 6 and we had days with 80 zombies!
GM: What was your favorite job?
YS: "Return to House on the Haunted Hill" with I was working with Arjen Tuiten /DDT/ and the film I just finished The way back/dir. Peter Weir, Head of make up department Ed Henriques and Key make up Greg Funk.
GM: How do you pick out materials to use for a project? Do you make your own? Are there any brands that you recommend?
YS: The decision goes with how much time I have, what is the bugged and what is the script. What my hero will do, where…will it be in the water. For prosthetics I do really love Plat Sil Gel and Sculpting Gel that Mold Life do. Using Burman’s cap material and their flocking. Love Shavant for sculpting. As I do use a lot of transverse scars .I think it is so easy to apply and they look so realistic. Love Dudman blood great color.
GM: Are there any new breakthroughs or ideas in the industry that excite you?
YS: Yes, I do think that the Platinum silicon systems are great and made make ups so much realistic. And faster. Translucency give so much life.
GM: What is a current project you are working on? Or what project are you excited about?
YS: I am about to join French project calls AQ. It is a show about the creation of the world. Will be great make up experience. Adrien Morot and his Maestro Studio FX creating a lot of prosthetics for it. Has to be great. I will apply some of those make up, so exited Plus I have some low budged shows lined up .On those I have to do the prosthetics effect only.
GM: Do you have advice for a beginner or someone just getting started in the business?
YS: Practice! Be prepared for hard work. Our job sounds interesting but it is very exhausting and if you think you are not loving it enough just consider doing something else. It is our life. You have to be ready for long hours in the studio. And do experiment .Everything comes with the practice. School is not helping.
GM: What was the best advice/training you ever received?
YS: Can’t say exactly. Any make up artist I was assisting to give me something. There are great people among us. Just great. I have a big list of people who help me and made me what I am and I am very grateful for it.
See more of Yana's (Jana) Stoyanova's work at her website:
http://www.sofiafxstudios.com/
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