Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Bertucci.
Hi Samantha, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always kind of knew I would be in an art career. But I think the pivotal moment of deciding I wanted to be a Make-Up Artist was my long-time interest in Tim Burton’s movies and knowing someday I wanted to do make-up for film. But the next step was finding a school for makeup so I could learn some basics and more advanced techniques. I went to Joe Blasco’s Makeup Artist and Training Center where I graduated as a Professional Make-Up Artist. Afterward, I got hired by Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida as a makeup artist for Halloween Horror Nights and Grinchmas. This really was a turning point for me as it opened new doors for additional opportunities and productions I was able to work on. Once the pandemic hit however, my jobs started to halt or take a different route and eventually, I was jobless. So, I packed up my things and fur children and moved to California to pursue my dream. Best decision I’ve ever made! So far, this year has been the best year yet and the year of opportunity. I have gotten the chance to work with many great productions. Some of these include working with the Christian Channel for their ‘Knights of The Cross’ series, Neff Head Wear on their apparel product line, and most recently being part of the Magee FX team working on Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. In addition, I got to finish a full-length feature that comes out next year and so many well-known companies. So, you can say my career has been on the rise and I look forward to what is in store next!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
To say I’ve had it easy would be a joke. Being in this industry, you must take a lot of risks with your career, take it from someone who moved twice across the country for my career. One of my best pieces of advice for anyone seeking to pursue this line of work is that it involves a lot on networking, keeping up with the latest trends, and consistently refining your skillset and learning new techniques. You really must put yourself out there which for me in the beginning was always something I was afraid of. As my career has taken off, I got more comfortable and sociable around others within the industry. I find myself surrounded by others just like me and it allows me to express myself for who I really am.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in Beauty and Special effects makeup. I have taken an interest to be exposed to different mediums so I can have a larger skillset. I find my favorites to be anatomy prop work and prosthetics for movies. I find time to work on personal projects and one that I have come to admire is my ‘Women of Horror’ series, which puts a spin on the classic Universal Studios Monsters but with female empowerment. What I can say is that as a make-up artist, I have learned to be a self-starter, problem-solver, and being able to work in a fast-paced environment. You really do need to be prepared for anything that comes your way and sometimes that involves working quick on your feet.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I tend to surprise people with my favorite color not being black even though my whole closet is full of black clothes. Only people who know me very closely know that my favorite color from birth has been green. Another thing that surprises people is that I have a favorite smell which is lemon grass. It’s not the first thing people typically ask me but when I need to relax or buy candles, I always look for a lemon grass one. The smell brings me back to hanging out at my grandmother who had a lotion with lemon grass in it. And I would sit in front of her fireplace while she combed my hair, and I would put the lotion on. It’s the most comfortable sent, and since the scent is very hard to find in a candle, I tend to buy in bulk if I find it.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.samanthamayhem.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthamayhem/
Image Credits
Neff x monsters cereal
