Student make-up artists join the AFL Grand Final ranks

This year's AFL Grand Final featured a spectacular pre-match performance by global rock legends KISS.

The signature KISS make-up painted on 500 young performers was thanks to a team of 40 make-up artists – either current students or alumni of our Diploma of Screen and Media CUA51020 (Specialist Make-up Services).

As an audience, we often see the final result without looking behind the curtain at how the magic happens. Lead Makeup and Costume Educator, Lynn Hunt took us into the wings to recount her memories of how the day played out.

“There were about 80 performers per group,” Lynn says, “that meant we were working like a production line.”

“We needed to have several teams of make-up artists and assistants, all across different dance locations. I was one of the head make-up artists alongside six or seven other artists.”

Crafting a composition as iconic as the KISS facepaint, required a high level of precision and attention to detail. A challenge heightened by the race against the clock as each performer’s make-up had to be done in under five minutes.

“It was a wild rush, we’d have one person applying the base, then another setting it, then the next one airbrushing the KISS stencil design on,” Lynn recalls.

“Continuity was so important, that is, making sure we had uniformity across all the performers as well as longevity, the make-up had to last.”

All the moving parts led up to an outstanding once-in-a-lifetime pre-match performance which showcased the skill of Melbourne Polytechnic’s past and present make-up artists.

“It was a great opportunity,” Lynn says “and everyone who worked on it can put that into their portfolio to say they’ve actually worked for the AFL, which is huge”

For Lynn, practical assignments like this are an essential part of the course. The experience helps prepare students for the variety of work they will come across once they graduate.

“I try to use assessment on real-time, real-life projects,” explains Lynn. “Students work on at least two films through the course here.”

Our Diploma of Screen and Media offers a versatile and hands-on experience that opens up students up to a booming industry.

As Lynn puts it, “It’s actually the best time to study make-up at the moment, jobs are in demand and Melbourne Polytechnic is one of the few institutions that offers this course. The majority of our students go directly into the industry.”

We would like to congratulate all our students and staff who helped bring the KISS performance to life. It’s a privilege to know we created one of Australia’s most memorable Grand Final shows to date.

If this story inspired you to try your hand at make-up and styling, learn more about our Diploma of Screen and Media CUA51020 (Specialist Make-up Services) here.