Ryan Murphy Promotes Hair And Makeup Artists, Diversity At 2017 MUAHS

After relaunching their annual award celebration three years ago at the Paramount Studio, demand for tickets forced the Makeup-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild out of the space. This year, their increasingly popular event, lovingly referred to as the MUAHS, was held downtown at The NOVO. As the crowd acclimated to their new environment, actress/writer/producer and a host of “The Real” Loni Love reprised her role as MC, keeping the mood light and joyful.

After a dance sequence merging the joyful tap in “La La Land” with the creative makeup effects in sci-fi and horror nominees concluded, Lifetime Achievement Award recipients Barbara Lorenz (hair styling) and Leonard Engelman (make-up) were honored. Lorenz reflected on her earliest job: a 1970s photo shoot featuring Bo Derek. The popularity of the work inspired actress Racquel Welch to recommend Lorenz to do her hair for Merchant-Ivory’s “The Wild Party.”  This was followed by leading the hair department on “The Marathon Man” as well as television’s “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”

“I couldn’t imagine in my wildest dreams where my career would go,” said Lorenz. “My first feature was a Merchant-Ivy piece, and I hit the ground running. I have been blessed.”

In addition to a successful career working with stars including Cher, Val Kimmer and Sylvester Stallone as well as their numerous films, Engelman has been a driving force for the rights of hair and makeup artists as both a Local 706 Business Representative and beyond. He was instrumental in securing the Makeup and Hairstyling Branch with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and is now in his tenth year serving as the branch’s first governor. Upon accepting the award from producer Hawk Koch, he shared a valuable lesson. While at an academy meeting, Engelman noted the work of all other departments didn’t matter when the shot was tight on an actor’s face. During a pause he saw Koch slightly shaking his head, signaling him to stop speaking.

“He really guided me and taught me an important lesson. Never say anything that lessens another branches art or work,” said Engelman.

Upon receiving the guild’s Distinguished Artisan Award, producer/writer/director Ryan Murphy also shared a valuable lesson he learned when he began producing for television.

“I asked Warren Betty for advice, and he told me ‘Make sure the wigs are good’,” said Murphy.

Thus began Murphy’s dedication to the “Power of Aesthetics.” He discovered not only does hair and makeup (along with the reality all other departments create) make a production look better, it serves the actors, allowing them to “find power from their physical transformation.”   He referenced his current mini-series, “Feud” as a prime example. Actress Jessica Lange was trying to find a way to understand the legend she was portraying, Joan Crawford. Crawford would spend hours applying strong makeups and server hair styles. In an early makeup test, Lange related it to Crawford applying armor – a revelation that aided in her portrayal of the icon.

Solidifying his devotion to the work the hair and makeup stylists perform for him, he announced his longtime makeup artist (who’s performed VFX makeup as well as hair in past shows) Eryn Krueger Mekash would receive a producer credit for “Feud.”

He also announced, in response to the Half Foundation – an organization he’s directly tied to that promotes diversity – that not only would 50% of all episodes in upcoming projects be directed by women, but 50% of all department heads would be run by women, people of color and gay/trans people.

“Diversity leads to a better world,” said Murphy.

What follows is a complete list of the 2017 MUAH winners:

Winners for Feature Length Motion Picture (Feature Films):

BEST CONTEMPORARY MAKE-UP 

Nocturnal Animals

            Make-Up Artists: Donald Mowat, Malanie J. Romero, Elaine Offers

BEST CONTEMPORARY HAIR STYLING

La La Land

            Hair Stylists: Barbara Lorenz, Jackie Masteran, Frida Aradottir

BEST PERIOD AND/OR CHARACTER MAKE-UP

Suicide Squad

            Make-Up Artist: Alessandro Bertolazzi

BEST PERIOD AND/OR CHARACTER HAIR STYLING

Hail, Caesar!

            Hair Stylists: Cydney Cornell, Pauletta Lewis-Irwin, Matt Danon

BEST SPECIAL MAKE-UP EFFECTS

Star Trek Beyond

Make-Up Artists: Joel Harlow, Richie Alonzo  

Winners for Television and New Media Series:

BEST CONTEMPORARY MAKE-UP

Westworld           

            Make-Up Artists: Christien Tinsley, Elisa Marsh, Rolf Keppler

BEST CONTEMPORARY HAIR STYLING

Dancing With the Stars

            Hair Stylists: Kimi Messina, Gail Ryan, Dean Banowetz

BEST PERIOD / CHARACTER MAKE-UP

Game of Thrones

            Make-Up Artists: Jane Walker, Kay Bilk

BEST PERIOD / CHARACTER HAIR STYLING

Game of Thrones

            Hair Stylists: Kevin Alexander, Candice Banks

BEST SPECIAL MAKE-UP EFFECTS

Westworld

            Make-Up Artists: Christien Tinsley, Georgia Allen, Hiroshi Yada

Winners for Television Mini Series or Movie Made for Television

BEST CONTEMPORARY MAKE-UP

The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do The Time Warp Again

            Make-Up Artists: Julia Valente, Pip Ayote

BEST CONTEMPORARY HAIR STYLING

American Horror Story: Roanoke

            Hair Stylists: Michelle Ceglia, Valerie Jackson

BEST PERIOD / CHARACTER MAKE-UP

The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

            Make-Up Artists: Eryn Krueger Mekash, Zoe Hay, Heather Plott

BEST PERIOD / CHARACTER HAIR STYLING            

The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Hair Stylists: Chris Clark, Natalie Driscoll

BEST SPECIAL MAKE-UP EFFECTS

American Horror Story: Roanoke

            Make-Up Artists: Eryn Krueger Mekash, Michael Mekash, David Anderson

Winners for Commercials and Music Videos:

BEST MAKE-UP

American Horror Story: Roanoke – Promo

            Make-Up Artists: Kerry Herta, Jason Collins, Cristina Waltz

BEST HAIR STYLING

Dior J’adore “The Absolute Femininity” Feat. Charlize Theron

            Hair Stylist: Enzo Angileri           

Winners for Theatrical Productions (Live Stage):

BEST MAKE-UP

A Chorus Line

            Make-Up Artists: Vanessa Dionne, Donna Levy, Romain Markus Myers

BEST HAIR STYLING

Amadeus

            Hair Stylists: Laura Caponera, Melanie Hinchee 

Winners for Children and Teen Programming:

BEST MAKE-UP

So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation

            Make-Up Artists: Tonia Green, Danielle Rush

BEST HAIR STYLING 

So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation

            Hair Stylists:   Dean Banowetz, Cory Rotenburg, Kimi Messina

Winners for Daytime Television:

BEST MAKE-UP

The Real

            Make-Up Artists: Melanie Mills, Kevin Haney, Brian Penikas

BEST HAIR STYLING

The Young and The Restless

            Hair Stylists: Regina Rodriguez, Adriana Lucio