Film London has unveiled the inaugural cohort selected for its pioneering Hair & Makeup Academy, a new training initiative backed by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Channel 4. Designed to address critical skills shortages in the screen industries, the program offers emerging hair and makeup artists intensive, industry-led growth and direct access to high-end film and television productions. Bringing together leading practitioners, major studios and broadcasters, the academy aims to broaden pathways into behind-the-camera careers and ensure that the UK’s screen sector continues to reflect the diversity and creativity of the city it calls home.
Inside the Film London Hair and Makeup Academy A closer look at the new cohort and curriculum backed by major studios
Behind the doors of Film London’s specialist training hub, a handpicked group of emerging artists are learning how to turn script directions into screen-ready looks at industry pace. Drawn from a wide range of backgrounds, the new intake includes career-changing salon stylists, self-taught beauty creators and recent college graduates, all selected for their technical potential and narrative instincts. Their training is shaped directly by input from Sony Pictures Entertainment and Channel 4,ensuring that every wig fitting,prosthetic application and continuity check aligns with what major productions demand on set. The curriculum blends intensive workshops, real-time feedback from working heads of department and collaborative projects that mirror the pressures and rhythms of a professional shoot.
Core modules move beyond customary beauty work to embrace character-first design and on-screen realism, with trainees regularly rotating through simulated TV, streaming and feature-film scenarios. A typical week layers hands-on craft sessions with production briefings,so participants understand both the creative and logistical side of working in high-end screen drama and entertainment. Key focus areas include:
- On-set protocol – navigating call sheets, tight turnarounds and multi-camera setups.
- Inclusive styling – hair and makeup for diverse skin tones, hair textures and cultural contexts.
- Screen continuity – managing looks across complex shoot schedules and reshoots.
- Industry readiness – portfolio building, set etiquette and approaching agents and productions.
| Module | Studio Insight |
|---|---|
| Character Design Lab | Mentored by drama series creatives |
| High-Pressure Shoot Simulation | Modeled on major film set schedules |
| Career Clinic | Guidance from Sony & Channel 4 partners |
Industry partnerships driving change How support from Sony Pictures Entertainment and Channel 4 elevates training standards
Backed by the combined influence of Sony Pictures Entertainment and Channel 4, the academy is able to mirror the pace, pressure and precision of real-world productions. Their support goes far beyond branding: senior creatives, line producers and heads of department are helping to shape a curriculum that reflects contemporary on-set realities, from HD scrutiny to inclusive casting requirements. This industry-led approach ensures trainees are not only technically proficient, but also ready to collaborate within complex production ecosystems.
- Access to working professionals from high-end TV and feature films
- Curriculum calibrated to current streaming and broadcast standards
- Insight into studio workflows, from call sheets to continuity reports
- Mentoring pipelines that connect graduates directly to hiring managers
| Partner | Key Focus | Impact on Trainees |
|---|---|---|
| Sony Pictures Entertainment | Cinematic scale & franchise-ready aesthetics | Confidence handling big-budget, multi-camera shoots |
| Channel 4 | Bold storytelling & diverse talent development | Skills aligned with inclusive, character-driven productions |
This collaboration also strengthens quality assurance, with both organisations feeding live feedback from sets back into the training room. As production demands evolve – whether through new camera technologies or more rigorous equity, diversity and inclusion benchmarks – course content is updated in real time.The result is a workforce-ready cohort whose portfolios, set etiquette and technical standards have been directly informed by the expectations of major commissioners and studios, narrowing the gap between training and sustained employment.
Championing diversity and regional talent How the programme opens doors for underrepresented hair and makeup artists
Backed by major industry players, the Academy acts as a fast-track into a sector that has historically been difficult to access for those outside London’s established circles. Targeted outreach, regional taster days and partnerships with community organisations ensure that applicants hail from a broad range of ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds and localities, including areas with low screen-industry visibility. Participants receive tailored support, including travel bursaries, kit subsidies and flexible scheduling, to help remove the financial and logistical barriers that too often prevent talented artists from taking up training opportunities.
- Artists from across the UK’s regions, not just the capital
- Career changers and returners seeking a second chance
- Parents and carers balancing training with family life
- Practitioners from culturally diverse communities
| Support | Impact |
|---|---|
| On-set shadowing | Real-world credits and confidence |
| Mentor pairing | Direct links to working departments |
| Portfolio clinics | Industry-ready profiles and showreels |
| Networking labs | Introductions to producers & HODs |
By combining skills development with genuine routes into employment, the programme helps studios and production companies access a richer pool of creatives whose lived experience can shape more authentic characters on screen. Graduates leave with the practical know-how to step onto high-end productions, but also with the professional relationships that are crucial for sustained work, ensuring that the UK’s hair and makeup departments better reflect the audiences they serve.
From training to on set careers Practical pathways and recommendations to help graduates secure work in high end film and television productions
Bridging the gap between training and employment in high-end film and television demands more than technical skill; it requires strategic navigation of an intricate production ecosystem. Graduates are encouraged to build a strong on-set profile by assembling a compact but compelling portfolio, including high-resolution before-and-after images, call sheet credits and short behind-the-scenes clips demonstrating continuity work under time pressure. Equally vital is understanding on-set etiquette: punctuality, confidentiality and the ability to interpret briefs from HoDs and designers translate directly into repeat bookings. Many new artists start by shadowing established teams, taking dailies work, or supporting crowd and background units, using these roles as stepping stones to principal cast positions and long-form contracts.
To convert academy experience into enduring work, participants are advised to focus on targeted networking and agile availability. This includes maintaining up-to-date profiles on industry databases, aligning with recognised agencies and responding quickly to calls from production co-ordinators. Graduates can also enhance employability by acquiring complementary skills such as wig knotting, character breakdown, or HD camera testing, which add tangible value to high-end drama and feature productions. The most resilient pathways blend formal training with proactive self-promotion and ongoing professional development, ensuring that emerging hair and makeup artists remain visible to producers, line managers and heads of department across London’s rapidly expanding studio landscape.
- Build a focused portfolio with clear, screen-ready looks
- Gain set experience through dailies, crowd rooms and short films
- Prioritise reliability and on-set professionalism
- Stay visible on crew databases and via agents
- Invest in niche skills such as wigs, facial hair and SFX basics
| Step | Action | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 Months | Create portfolio & online profiles | Ready to share with productions |
| 3-6 Months | Take trainee & dailies roles | First credits and set references |
| 6-12 Months | Join agency / repeat productions | Regular work in HETV & film |
In Conclusion
As the latest cohort embarks on this intensive programme, the Hair & Makeup Academy underscores both the strength and the urgency of investment in below-the-line talent. Backed by major industry players such as Sony Pictures Entertainment and Channel 4, and driven by Film London’s strategic vision, the initiative signals a clear commitment to nurturing the next generation of craftspeople who will shape the look and feel of UK screen storytelling.
In an increasingly competitive global production landscape, initiatives like this not only address critical skills gaps, but also open doors for fresh voices and perspectives behind the scenes. The success of the new intake will be measured not only in individual career trajectories, but in the long-term resilience and diversity of the UK’s screen industries-on set, in the chair, and on screens around the world.
