Introducing the Faculty Spotlight – every month, we profile an instructor in one of the 13 programs at VFS. It’s a chance to look beyond their bios and get to know the industry pros who are a big part of making the VFS experience what it is.

Makeup Design for Film & Television instructor Linda Gill-Crone is the very definition of a professional makeup artist. Behind her stories of on-set mayhem and hilarious celebrity encounters is a diverse and successful career that began in Canada in the ’70s. The many film and TV credits she brought with her when she joined VFS three years ago include Alive, Johnny Mnemonic, Searching for Bobby Fischer, Adventures in Babysitting, and Road to Avonlea.

It’s no secret that the faculty in Makeup Design is second to none – the collective experience from top to bottom is absolutely staggering, and Linda is no exception. Now, as an instructor in the program, she gets to share her expertise – and anecdotes – with a new generation of artists. So here it is: A Faculty Spotlight on Makeup Design Instructor Linda Gill-Crone.

What do you do in the Makeup Design program here?

Linda: I work with the students when they first arrive at VFS, for the first half of the program. I start with the basics, or foundation – no pun intended – classes. We follow a course outline, beginning with the proper care and construction of makeup brushes, working with highlight and shadow, sketching, learning about different products, allergy testing, skincare, set etiquette, period makeup from the 1920s to now, goth, avant garde, drag… I do out-of-kit effects, such as black eyes, cuts, burns, frostbite, bullet wounds, and so much more. We also do a film shoot with the students.

I teach colour theory and oil painting. I have painted all my life. Painting ties in so well with being a makeup artist.

How did you break in as a professional makeup artist, and what sorts of projects have you worked on?

Linda: I began my career in Toronto over 35 years ago. I apprenticed with George Abbott, a well-known Canadian makeup artist – he was Anne Murray’s makeup artist for many years. I also studied with Jack Medhurst. I received a Canada Arts Council Grant to study special makeup effects in Los Angeles with Tom Burman and his family. His son Barney just received an Academy Award in makeup for Star Trek. When I was there,  I helped work on Buckaroo Banzai and Star Trek III.

Out of your filmography, is there something that you’re especially proud of, or particularly good stories to tell?

Linda: I have worked on so many interesting films and with such amazing actors and crew.

I was most fortunate to have worked with Marlon Brando on a film called Christopher Columbus: The Discovery. He was such a wonderful person, and definitely a high point in my career.

Another highlight was on a film called Nobody Makes Me Cry, with Elizabeth Taylor and Carol Burnett. I worked with George Abbott, who I first studied with – he did their makeup, I did [Taylor's] nails. She had removed her false nails and had to have them put back on to match a scene… so in the rush, I crazy-glued our fingers together. “Oh well,” she said, “You can be my friend in the restaurant scene with me.”

I was working on Cocktail with Tom Cruise. He had his own makeup man, Rick Sharp, and I did the rest of the cast. I went in to do final touches on Elisabeth Shue, and it was a very difficult spot to get to. We were at a waterfall, with light stands and flags everywhere…

Well, I tripped over a stand and ended up in Tom Cruise’s lap. He was very surprised, to say the least, and wanted to help me. All I wanted to do was get up and out of there as fast as I could. Having managed to also scrape the whole side of my leg in the fall, I limped away totally embarrassed.

What excites you most about teaching at VFS?

Linda: It is so rewarding to be able to share some of my years of knowledge and experience with the students. I love to see them arrive in class not knowing what it’s all about, and see them grow in confidence, from that first application with shaking hands, to graduation day, so full of knowledge, hands no longer shaking, ready to step out and make their mark.

Find out more about Linda Gill-Crone:
VFS Faculty Bio
IMDB