# Becoming a Film Makeup Artist: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 21, Test 1, Listening Part 2

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 21, Test 1, Listening Part 2. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 11 | A | Make sure your transport costs are covered. |
| 12 | B | as well as different ethnicities |
| 13 | A | even when they're having to work with directors who are impatient or unhappy |
| 14 | A | At first, I found it overwhelming and could hardly speak. |
| 15 | A | which they'll be expected to have with them at all times |
| 16 | C | you'll need to get approval from the makeup designer |
| 17 | C | get this done without wasting any time |
| 18 | A | This information needs to be kept in good order |
| 19 | B | being willing to do whatever is asked of you |
| 20 | C | you'll need to keep up a swift pace |

## Why these answers are right

**11. A.** Claire says trainees on low budget short films work for free, but they should make sure their transport costs are covered. Transport costs is a paraphrase of travel expenses, and make sure signals something you can insist on, so A is right.

**12. B.** On big budget films, Claire says you are likely to work with a range of age groups as well as different ethnicities. That matches option B almost word for word, and likely to get the opportunity is the meaning of may get experience of.

**13. A.** Claire describes the makeup department as stressful and says top artists stay professional even with directors who are impatient or unhappy with their work. Impatient, unhappy directors are the difficult directors in option A, so that is the problem she identifies.

The why and the trap for questions 14 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/becoming-a-film-makeup-artist/answers).

## Transcript

**Announcer:** Part two.

**Announcer:** You will hear a woman giving advice on a podcast about how to become a makeup artist in the film industry.

**Announcer:** First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 16.

**Announcer:** Now listen carefully, and answer questions 11 to 16.

**Ian:** Hello and welcome to the film making podcast.

**Ian:** In this week's episode, Claire Lemarre talks to us about how to become a makeup artist.

**Ian:** Claire's been working as a makeup artist in the industry for over 20 years, and has lots of useful advice about how to get started.

**Claire:** Thanks, Ian.

**Claire:** Well, before you can become a makeup artist on films, you have to spend about two years working as a makeup trainee.

**Claire:** A good place to get your first job.

**Claire:** Would be on a low budget short film.

**Claire:** Of course, this means that you'll be working for free, but it's often worth it for the experience.

**Claire:** Make sure your transport costs are covered.

**Claire:** And remember, there's very unlikely to be any catering provided, so bring plenty of food.

**Claire:** If you're lucky, you might start out on a big budget film, where you'll get the most useful experience.

**Claire:** On productions like this, makeup and hairstyling are separate departments.

**Claire:** So you won't need to bring your curling tongs.

**Claire:** But you're likely to get the opportunity to work with a range of age groups as well as different ethnicities.

**Claire:** Doing makeup for special effects is highly specialized, so don't expect to be offered any practical experience in that.

**Claire:** One problem with working in the makeup department is that it's a high pressure environment.

**Claire:** There are very few times when you'll be bored or have nothing to do.

**Claire:** 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.

**Claire:** Follow your supervisor's lead, and try to remain calm at all times.

**Claire:** I've worked with many very famous actors over the years.

**Claire:** At first, I found it overwhelming and could hardly speak.

**Claire:** I was so in awe.

**Claire:** That's preferable by the way.

**Claire:** To becoming too excited and asking for selfies.

**Claire:** 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.

**Claire:** Every makeup trainee will need a makeup kit, which they'll be expected to have with them at all times.

**Claire:** Just the essentials will do for the kinds of tasks you'll be given.

**Claire:** It won't be anything complicated.

**Claire:** 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.

**Claire:** It's very important to build your portfolio.

**Claire:** You should take photos of all the work you do, and ideally show the different stages of makeup application if you can.

**Claire:** But remember you'll need to get approval from the makeup designer in charge of the department.

**Claire:** As you'll be sending your portfolio digitally, you won't need to get photos printed.

**Announcer:** Before you hear the rest of the podcast, you have some time to look at questions 17 to 20.

**Announcer:** Now listen and answer questions 17 to 20.

**Claire:** So what does a makeup trainee actually do?

**Claire:** You need to think about whether you're the right kind of person to do the job, and whether you'd enjoy it.

**Claire:** So to give you some idea, here are some of the things you might be required to do.

**Claire:** You may be asked to help prep an actor ready for makeup.

**Claire:** Some actors will arrive having already cleansed and moisturized their skin.

**Claire:** But sometimes you'll need to step in and get this done without wasting any time.

**Claire:** Otherwise the makeup artist will get behind schedule.

**Claire:** Trainees play a useful role in continuity.

**Claire:** It will be your responsibility to take photos, log them digitally, and print out a hard copy to put in each actor's file.

**Claire:** This information needs to be kept in good order, as a reshoot can mean replicating makeup months later.

**Claire:** General duties mean doing anything from getting the teas and coffees to putting on a wash.

**Claire:** Having a positive attitude and being willing to do whatever is asked of you will help you get your next film job.

**Claire:** You won't be asked to apply makeup to any of the principal cast, only the extras.

**Claire:** If there are dozens of extras involved, you'll need to keep up a swift pace, and not spend too long on each person.

**Claire:** It takes quite a lot of confidence to be able to do this well.

**Claire:** OK, now, about terms and conditions.

**Announcer:** That is the end of part two.

**Announcer:** You now have 30 seconds to check your answers to part two.

[Practice Becoming a Film Makeup Artist](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/becoming-a-film-makeup-artist)