An open letter to the make-up/hair, beauty/film industry in Vancouver

An open letter to my make-up/hair beauty/film industry in Vancouver.

This has been on my mind for awhile and although it shouldn't have taken the recent roar events for me to publicly speak on it- here we are. 

Vancouver has become Hollywood north. Ranking the 3rd largest film production centre here in North America, we've had the pleasure of being amidst of a growing community of black talent, many whom have moved here to pursue their careers as actors/actresses from other provinces.

This is a wake-up call to us that has been long over due. As an entire industry, it is our job and has always been our job to be acknowledge our black community. I say this because it saddens me the amount of times I've had a client or friends of mine working in film, express to me their disappointment with the beauty department. I've only been in the film industry for a little over two years (I wouldn’t say I’ve fully set foot in either) I work on MOWs, I day-call in the union, and I take on a whole variety of commercials, indies and music videos. So although it may not ring true to every single production, with the limited experience I have, I've still observed quite a bit of this. 

We've had black talent arrive on set time and time again, perhaps as BG, or a double, a main cast member- just to be turned away OR come face to face with a MUA stumbling over their kit. Either not comfortable with working with dark skin tones OR not carrying a proper range of color palettes/foundations with them. They've come head to head with hair stylists who’ve had no clue what to do with their hair! Or worst, attempting to "fake it til they make it" and running a brush through their hair, hoping it'll “smooth” out and putting heat to their curls.

I could ago off explaining the intimate connection in which black culture carries with their hair and identity but even I have so much to learn.  (Also I'm no expert in any way. But it's useful to note that black hair is a whole industry of its own. Afro hair is a different battle than the way it was taught in beauty school, under a european standard. An entirely different set of products/tools are used)

If you're put on the spot where you don't know what you're doing and in a pinch- this is not the time to try to BS your way through the situation. In fact, it's damn disrespectful. Ask first, then have an open, honest, and transparent conversation (without using any offensive, stereotypical terms/words that desperately need to be unlearned. Look it up). Trust me, it's much appreciated. 

Beauty schools may not have provided us the education (or enough focus) however they did teach us (or should’ve) that we must be adaptable any person that sits in our chair. That being said, it is entirely our responsibility to do the RESEARCH and to EDUCATE ourselves. It’s up to us to fill in the blanks. Take a course, watch videos, and ask the sources themselves as we work on them. Ask other artists and even ask me. There is much more I need to develop but I'm more than happy to share the tips and tricks I learned along the years when it comes to working on deeper skin tones. It just needs to be said that as beauty artists, we should do the best we can to be versatile when it comes to working with all types of beauty.

Watch the "Good Hair" doc on Netflix.

Take @thetextureworkshops course.

Follow black MUAs , @danessa_myricks @patmcgrathreal @ajcrimson @ashley_rudder or other artists who have done the work and are well versed.

YOUTUBE, GOOGLE, READ BOOKS. 

As the beauty department, when talent sits in our chair- we automatically take on the role of setting the tone for their day. It’s a part of the job to ensure they feel comfortable in their own skin in order to do their jobs effectively. If someone walks into our trailer to start work and we have nothing for them- how would they feel?

That being said, understanding and researching what we need to take into consideration when working with black talent stretches beyond make-up and hair.  This can extend to directors: making sure they’re culturally sensitive when interacting (e.g. not saying rudeass racist remarks such as "Can you talk more black?”) learning before speaking about things they are not aware of, to costume designers/stylists: being mindful with what you're putting on the talents bodies/not appropriating or stereotyping cultures, production coordinators/managers: sourcing teams, make sure your teams know what's up! Even the light department: properly lighting black actors. The list goes on and on and on. 

We cannot neglect these things yet they’re easily forgotten. It's not okay for us as a film industry to profit off of black people and their culture and have us unable show up and do our jobs properly. To exclude a community through a careless lack of knowledge is unacceptable. We are a team and a community, which means, we support each other. On a business level, If we are misaligning , then the quality of our work shifts and also affects the big picture.

If you are in the industry and have been concious of this already than I applaud you and urge you to continue to share your awareness with others. Otherwise, take accountability and do the work. We’ll all be better for it :) 

Best,

Miel E.

Beneath the Room Noise

Iris Chia and I sucessfully produced this photo series on December 29, 2018 as the heaviness of last year slowly came to a halt. I had hit a mental low and it was possibly the lowest I had ever been. However, if there was one thing that has ever helped me progress through anything at all, it has been my craft. So I came to Iris with the concept and together we formulated both an inspiring and healing collaboration which we found we could pour our hearts into. We were honored to have the incredible Lory Nixon and Joshua Ongcol birth the vision into life simply by allowing their vulnerability to unravel right before our eyes.

One thing about art that I’ve always found beautiful, is the idea that one person’s creation (or in our case a group of us) can share the capacity to connect to all kinds of people in many different ways. We can all look at the same painting that triggers and stimulates -yet feel in complete different paces based off of our own personal experiences as individuals. I feel like all four of us, Iris, Lory and Josh had our own stories held close to us as we were involved in the making: A story that is universal and interwoven. Personally, for me to call myself an artist of any kind means to find strength in the nakedness of that. Everyone has a different truth and this series was a representation of mine among any one whom is going through something similar or the same.

Everyone has a shadow, some of the most powerful people we know in our lives, or the quietest, the person sitting next to us on the bus, the girl with the contagious laugh- we wouldn’t know it. They don’t need to look like they’re carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders.

I can’t stress enough when I say that depression is no joke. Mental illness is serious business. Society has time and time again wrapped it into a taboo topic. We will so much as give it a nod but won’t speak it's name. We throw on our hoods and turn the other cheek. Dare someone show any sort of uncomfortable emotion, we freeze. We are simply not taught how to acknowledge or respond to feelings. In return, it comes back to us ten fold.

Last year, a domino of unfortunate events hit me hard. I ran into a lot of scary emotions. I remember the mornings. I couldn’t move. I felt numb. There’d be moments where I would shut down but my body would be going through the daily motions of my routine while everything inside me felt ready to die. It actually felt as if some one was physically holding me down each morning. As if I was waking up next to a monster. It was the first time ever feeling thoughts as intense as those where I felt convinced there was no light at the end of the tunnel. It’s one thing to not have control over your surroundings but when you lose complete grasp over everything inside yourself, it’s a fucking scary hole to be in. Depression was something I had mildly dipped in and out of since high school, but last year felt like the first battle and internal war with it in myself. I battled it and I continue to battle it among many around me.

With this shoot, I wanted to acknowledge mental illness as secondary being and not something I would allow myself to identify with but a haunting that could be put to peace. I also wanted to give a voice to what the inner turmoil would look like if we painted it into a picture. Iris and I played with fabric, color, ambience, and overall artistic direction. Lory and Josh played with movement and connection/disconnection. I added to the “rise and fall” tone through make-up and hair. If this series is uncomfortable and uneasy to look at- good. That’s intentional. I can only hope for people who are still learning and struggling to understand- will gain prespective in some way.

I think we forget the amount of power we carry as human beings. The way we move and speak has a ripple effect on our surroundings. I learned recently how valuable it is to simply hold space for someone and allowing them to feel what they need to feel. I also learned how easily shame is formed and its paralyzing cloud can swallow us the second we are told it’s not okay. At a certain point in time, it felt like spilling open infront of someone or at all for that matter- was the worst thing I could possibly do. I found myself surpressing and detaching until it physically took its toll on not only my mental health but physical too.

My therapist shared with me how important the cycling of emotions was. Leaning into the sadness and allowing self compassion to shine through was vital. In fact, we are surpised how much faster the flooding gates of healing comes when we allow ourself to feel. I also have to say that the people that truly hit home for me in those moments were the ones who could sit still and recieve without judgement. I can go on and on about this but every one’s struggle is a little different and really there are limitless layers to it.

I want to express how incredible it was to have worked with such a powerful team in the creation of this. Iris Chia, by far one of the most make-shift creative photographers I know who I am also honored to call one of my greatest friends. Joshua Ongcol a gorgeous human of movement and meaning. He is a walking masterpiece that is intentional in every way and Lory Nixon- calling her a model is a simple understatement. She carried so much power in being able to tap into emotions and feelings during our process that not many would have the courage to do. She is an artist of all sorts beyond just the camera but through her voice and hands.

My purpose with this piece is left to be an open ending. I want to share my own truth and hope that you can gain your own from it as well. whatever it may be. So I want to end this off by saying you a few things: You’re not alone. I’m proud of you for existing. You are strong for peeling yourself out of bed each morning. You are strong for allowing yourself to feel. You are resilient. You are a warrior to have gotten this far. You are worthy and everything rooted in you has purpose and value.

Be kind, be careful but be intentional.

All the love, and good vibes,
Miel E.

#mentalillnessawareness