JWL Make Up & SFX is the name of a German film and theater make-up and special effects department with notable stations of work at theater, film and TV productions  in Berlin, Hamburg, Munic, Zurich, Bern, Bregenz, Salzburg and other European production countries and cities. It has been founded by the Make Up and SFX artist Jenny Wieland to have a professional team of many helping hands for larger project requirements.

CONTACT: mail (at) jwl.rocks

While mainly in the field for cinema and TV film shootings and larger stage productions with the overall look at the projects goal, for example as a Key Make up artist with support and  cooperation of other SFX artists and studios added if needed, or even as a jump-in helping out on growing projects or on spontaneous project requirements with time limits, the experience of over a decade of working in the field with all the challenges and changes in the industry and the individual projects, requires to not only have a full stack reputation as make up artist and specially trained "Maskenbilder" (explained later) but also experience in the field of production management and development. A fully integrated Make UP & SFX department can scale a project not only on the shooting days buts also in the overall work flow from the very beginning. Feel free to contact us any time to learn more about it or of you need to find out how we can help.

Maskenbildner vs Make up artist

The work of a "Maskenbildner" goes far beyond the international idea of what a make-up artist does. A "Maskenbildner" is an all-rounder and can cover a wide spectrum of crafts. It's main difference is a larger professional training on top of the make up training for stage production requirements and SFX requirements at cinema, but also Beauty Make-up, Historical and Modern Hairstyles, Stage Make-up, Making Wigs and Hairpieces, Modeling and Mold Making, Special Effects (SFX) from various materials (silicone, latex, foam, etc.), Airbrush and much more. After a 3 year apprenticeship at one of the most prestigious training centers in Europe, Jenny Wieland established herself as "Maskenbildner" (make up artist and SFX artist) with notable workstations in different countries over the last 12 years.

Changes in the industry

In the past, faces were a canvas with many layers of color in films and on stage. In the age of HD/4K/8K film technology and "natural" theater, the requirements especially in the area of face shaping have changed and the work done on faces shouldn't be noticeable no more the way it does before. Special products are used to make the work done remain almost "invisible". 

But what actually remains the same, no matter if 10-20 years ago or today, is a good sense of shapes and colors and the artistic craftsmanship and a deep interest in the project's picture and story telling concept. So products used are changing and it is necessary to stay tuned and attentive to fulfill new requirements for modern work and skin protective products but the importance of the department hasn't dropped. Rather the opposite. Today it is even more required to incorporate it into the work flow.  Also special effects (SFX) are subjects of change and much of this work is done in close collaboration with the CGI departments today. So it is important to keep up with the times and to recognize current evolution, to seize them and to communicate about them. A detailed discussion of all departments involved is the key to outstanding results. Because that hasn't changed in film making since its beginning: only when all departments work together, a good story can be told at its best.