Funemployment Released!

Funemployment Released!

by | Mar 5, 2019

Funemployment – Released! 

March 5th, 2019 

If you have know me for awhile, then I’m sure at somepoint or another you have heard me mention the film Funemployment. I’ve even mentioned it on this blog a time or two. This is because being of that project was such a pivotal thing in my life. It was what started me on the path of full-time becoming a makeup artist in the film industry, and introduced me to friends and collaborators that I worked with for years to come, and to this very day. So, 5 years ago we did principle photography, then we did the kickstarter, then a while later we did some pickup scenes, and then in between then I know the director Christine Chen did countless sessions of ADR, edits, and reedits….but here it finally is! Available for your viewing pleasure.

You can find it on vimeo: http://vimeo.com/ondemand/funemployment
And also on Amazon.

Along with watching the full film finally, the gang has working on a podcast to accompany the film. You can hear from various members of the cast and crew discussing the crazy roller coaster that was the creating of the film! You can find it on all podcast players, and also you can find it in video form on their youtube here

Additionally, as I mentioned in a previous post, I’m actually one of the guest! and am in two episodes. Specifically if you want to hear me reminisce and talk about the shenanigans, and lack of experience I had, watch the two videos below!

Max Frost – Money Problems

Max Frost – Money Problems

by | Mar 2, 2019

Max Frost – Money Problems

Roxanne

March 02, 2019

Some days you get to work in nice comfy studios, close by, temperature controlled, ect. Then there’s the jobs the make you drive over an hour out to Lancaster at the crack of dawn, and have you working in freezing cold weather outside all day, in a junkyard. As less then ideal as those conditions can be, they do tend to produce some amazing videos. Here’s some new work for singer Max Frost new song “Money Problems”. (Make for background characters and dancers by me)

 
Directed by DreamTiger Team Jonatan Lopez and Adrian Arrendo
Produced by Holly Harding
DP: Corey C. Waters
Choreography: Luther Brown
Stylist: Amanda Mariko 
Makeup: Roxanne McDanel
Production Company: Black Dog

Funemployment

Funemployment

by | Jan 15, 2019

Funemployment

January 15th, 2019

What is the beginning of a new year without looking back at the years before and what all we have accomplished? And well, luckily friend and director Christine Chen made that super easy for me this year! So flashback to five years ago, when I had was a drift in life, loved makeup, loved movies, wanted to combine the two, but had no clue how to. And into my life came Christine, who was working on her first feature film. And so began the insanity of that project, and many more to come!

Came back to the present, and Christine is getting ready to release that first film, planning on making another! So how does all this happen? Well, here’s the parts you need to know:

-Podcast! Because of what a crazy ride making that first film was, it was decided that it needed to be documented. and what better way then in this day and age, then to do a podcast. You can find the Funemployment podcast on most streaming services. Also if you want to specifically hear from me I’ve included the video of me gabbing:

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-Preselling Funemployment! Yup, as mentioned the film is finally coming out, and you can go ahead are buy it in advance at this link:

 

-Buy the collection of short films! Can’t wait for Funemployment? That’s okay, you can watch a collection of award 5 winning short films that the Moth to Flame Team has worked on! Plus along with getting some instant entertainment, you also get to contribute to funding our next feature. Win win!

 

its amazing looking back at all these projects, seeing how far we’ve come from making these, and also the pride in sharing them. It has been an interesting 5 years, and I’m so happy with where life has taken me. here’s to the next 5, and making more amazing projects, with great people!

“Not Your Ordinary Hero” 

“Not Your Ordinary Hero” 

by | Sep 10, 2018

“Not Your Ordinary Hero”

September 10th, 2018

This year I once again returned to Shreveport, Lousiana to work on not one, but two short films to be submitted for The Louisiana Film Prize Competition. And happily both films made it into the top 20 and will be premiering there in October!

This post is going to be focused on  “Not Your Ordinary Hero” which was the brain child of filmmaker Christine Chen, who I have mentioned numerous times in posts as she is one of the directors I’ve most frequently had the pleasure of working for. Having worked with each other as much as we have makes for a wonderful working relationship since we know each others styles and what the expectations are.

Part of what was fun about this project was that compared from some of the previous shorts I’ve worked on with this team it was all fairly straight forward makeup and hair looks. It was normal people, doing normal things, in normal places. The focus was all about the story and enhancing characters without distracting. One of the funny things about being a makeup artist in film is that 75% of the time if my work is not noticed, then its at its best. And part of how this was achieved was by using products from Urban Decay Cosmetics, who were amazing and supported out film. I’ve loved the brand since my early makeup days, and this project solidified why I loved them. The colors were great, and stayed in place, and didn’t cake up. And with the intense humidity of Louisiana that is saying a lot!

So for those going to Shreveport This early October, I hope you enjoy “No Ordinary Hero” and consider it for your vote. watch the video below for a little sneak peak 😀 ¡Viva La Film Prize!

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Hello LA!

Hello LA!

by | Jun 12, 2018

Hello LA!

Roxanne

June 11th, 2018

Over the past couple of years, I’ve been living my life in transit between Austin and Los Angeles. Austin was home base, however I began booking work in LA and started going there more and more. So much so that in 2017 I spent close to 80% of the year there working. With that in mind, it was time to make a change. It was time to make the leap. It was time to really persue my passion. It was time to move.

So hi LA! I’m looking forward to creating amazing things with the people I already know, and with those I’ve yet to meet. I’m so excited for all the opportunities to grow and expand in a city that is all about film. I’m looking for any and all opportunities from assisting other artist for both fx and beauty projects, department heading, photo shoots, music videos, commercials, anything and everything needing makeup or fx, I’m there.

Austin is an amazing city, and it will always be my home, however I just was no longer growing my business there and wasn’t getting the kinds of opportunities I was wanting. It’s sad to leave, but I don’t plan on cutting my ties completely. I still plan to come back to Austin as much as possible to visit my friends and family, and with any luck continue working in productions too when the opportunities present themselves. For my film family in Austin, thank you for having supported me and helping me to have become the artist I am today. I’ve joked around that indie film in Texas is the Wild West of filmmaking where there’s little rules and it’s a lot of flying by the seat of your pants. It’s lead to some great adventures and memories I will always treasure. Our shoots were intense, but it made for some great footage. You are all so wonderfully talented and I’m looking forward to when our paths cross again.

For those in LA, let’s talk projects! My calendar is open and I’m ready to start working immediately. Feel free to message me to talk dates and details.

The Case of The Gilded Lily

The Case of The Gilded Lily

by | Dec 22, 2017

The Case of the Gilded Lily

Roxanne

December 21th, 2017

Below you will find ‘The Case of the Gilded Lily’, a short made by Shipwrecked Comedy that I got to work on earlier this year. I can easily say it was hands down the most unique project I’ve been on and one that I am absolutely ecstatic to have been apart of! If you want to skip my thoughts on it/me being sentimental, now is the time to scroll down and press play. If not, then continue reading.

When I was studying film at UT Austin, one of the areas I focused in on was was old movies and film history. I loved the topic so much, that for a while I planned on leaving makeup behind me and was going to go all the way for my Phd in media studies to become a film historian. (If you had questions on how nerdy I was, I think they were just answered) So a black and white, period, film noir, set in 1939 Hollywood was an dream project to do! The trailer they put together for the film I think sums it up better then I ever could:

When I was first contacted about working on the production, I was sent a link to the Kickstarter page, and I was in love with the project within minutes. This was something that was right up my alley, and yet completely out of my usual realm and challenging in the best possible way. The makeup designs I got to create on this were so fun. Working in black and white is such a different medium then color. If you go too subtle it won’t show, but at the same time you can’t go too heavy or else it looks like a stage play. All the guys had to have their lips darkened in order for them to be defined, everyone was contoured to make such their face still had dimensions and wasn’t too flat. And then there was also that we were doing period hair and makeup, plus multiple shoot days involved the majority of the cast. (Huge thanks to Cortney Heiser for coming in and assisting me on the crazy days!) Even on the most simple of shoot days, there was still a tremendous amount of work that went into it. But my goodness it was worth it! 

(Here’s some production posters that they have been releasing on the @ShipWreckedComedy Instagram)

Everyday I was exhausted by the time I got home, however everyday was such a creative joy. All the members of the production put so much heart into it, it was magical. On top of that too, everyone was so humble, and kind, and friendly. The Shipwrecked family are all so funny and talented. They created these great characters in this very defined world that all just mesh together perfectly. Beyond the work I got to do on this, I’m so grateful to have met all these people who I have now gotten to work with again since, and also now consider to be my friends.

 

I could go on for longer and get more sappy, but instead I gonna cut it short (as i look back over this post I see I may have missed my chance for that). I leave you you the funny and brilliant ‘Case of the Gilded Lily’.

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