Today we’d like to introduce you to Julissa Martinez.
Julissa, before we jump into specific questions about your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started in the Beauty industry in 2007, but from the product development side, during my stint as an International Product Development Manager for the (now defunct) Dallas-based cosmetics company, BeautiControl Cosmetics. I was able to help the company develop some minority-targeted campaigns and got to collaborate with some talented creatives, but I especially zeroed-in on the makeup artists we had on the shoot.
I wanted to be doing their job and mine seemed somewhat boring in comparison (though it wasn’t, I really did have a blast there). Even though I continued in traditional corporate jobs at some amazing companies here in Dallas like The Richards Group and Consilient Restaurants, I started practicing makeup techniques and buying up nearly every new beauty product to hit the market, from cosmetics and skincare to hair products and styling tools. My obsession with all things beauty just never went away, so when the last company I worked at was sold and consolidated… meaning I got laid off, I decided to enroll in a proper makeup artistry course and shortly after, I began doing bridal makeup. It was fun and the money was better than my previous corporate jobs, but I didn’t feel like that was the path for me. I just had an epiphany one day and said to myself, “I’m going to do makeup on film sets!” I had never even been on a film set before, nor did I know anyone in the industry but I didn’t really care.
I decided that’s what I wanted, so I worked to make it happen and started my business. That was nearly five years ago and I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some pretty major production companies like SONY Pictures, HBO and Lifetime TV. I also have other streams of revenue from my craft such as teaching makeup artistry, SFX and airbrush classes along with brand ambassador contracts with makeup companies for beauty expo shows. I get to travel frequently and do what I love while making a living. Even though I decided to “slow down” in 2019 due to some health issues, I still managed to do 11 films last year! My business has not yet reached its full potential and I’m still developing it along with another business (in a completely different sector), so it is a work in progress. As a self-employed professional, you can never really stop grinding but I find that to be motivating. Every new film set I step onto, classroom I teach or beauty expo I walk into (TO CRUSH!) is exciting and brand new, that feeling is addictive for someone like me. I can truly say that I love my job, my life and where it’s headed.
Has it been a smooth road?
In order to break into my industry, I had to do many unpaid/internship type gigs just to make the contacts I needed. Some jobs were long and grueling and many times it COST me money to work these gigs, as I have to have quality (read: expensive) products and equipment in my kit. You can’t just show up on a film set with a bag full of drugstore makeup, not if you want to get hired again for an actual paying gig. You have to treat each job with the same professionalism you would a “big-fish” job, and that includes your people skills. Dallas has a ton of incredibly talented people who are going places, so it is never wise to burn a bridge. And although the majority of people in my industry are fantastic people, I have met a few difficult characters along the way. People show their true colors when something goes sideways (and on film productions, something always will!) but watching other people lose their cool on the job has taught me just how valuable a positive demeanor and flexibility really are to your career.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am a Film Makeup Artist, so my work is a bit different from a traditional glamour MUA who can doll you up like a movie star. I can do that too, but mostly I am required to do many different looks on several people at a time (beauty, aging makeup, homeless, drug addict, etc.) on every skin type, tone and texture. Film makeup is supposed to look a certain way that often requires me to use airbrush equipment. I also do special effects like wounds and injuries, induced tears, tooth decay and squib engineering (small, rigged bloody explosions, like a gunshot). Every project tells a different story, so I get to create new characters and use different techniques on each set. I usually read the entire script at least twice before production begins and I start forming all the character plans in my head.
I’m always striving to achieve more and I will but so far, I think I have developed a decent resume and IMDB profile and I’m pretty proud of it. The majority of my clients are production or theater companies, independent filmmakers, photographers and cosmetic companies, which are probably a better fit for me long term, than one on one clients. I think this is because I can pick and choose what kind of jobs I’m in the mood to take that season and I can perform my job in different capacities than just makeup application. I can educate, I can travel and network, I can rep beauty brands and earn commissions. I’ve even branched out into engineering my own SFX tools.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love that Dallas is a beauty-focused city and we’re not ashamed of it one bit! Everywhere you go, there are talented makeup artists, hair, nail and tanning salons, Sephora’s, Ulta’s and even MUA pro stores! There is no limited edition beauty product that I cannot manage to get my hands on if I really want it. Everything beauty is here!
I do wish that Dallas, and Texas as a whole, would nurture the film industry more by creating better programs to incentivize major production companies to film here more often. There is so much talent in Dallas! We shouldn’t have to travel everywhere to be able to book better gigs when we already live in one of the best cities in Texas.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.beautybyjulissa.com
- Phone: 469-879-3926
- Email: julissa@beautybyjulissa.com
- Instagram: JulissaBeauty
Image Credit:
Omar Ramos Photography
Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
