22 • THE ARTISAN SUMMER 2020
Department Head Hair Michael Reitz and I have
been fortunate to work on This Is Us since the pilot.
We look back and laugh because we remember being told the
show
was just a little period family drama. Four seasons later,
we have traveled to Washington, D.C., Memphis, Philadelphia,
New York and Vietnam and covered time periods from 1908 to
THIS IS US
B Y Z O E H A Y
D E P A R T M E N T H E A D M A K E U P
2045, following the extended Pearson family through time in a
completely nonlinear way. This presents many challenges on an
episodic television schedule, coupled with a large cast, age make-
ups, de-aging make-ups, look-a-like make-ups, period make-ups,
character make-ups, extensive facial hair and prosthetics.
Along with myself, these are applied by Heather Plott
(Assistant Department Head Make-up) and Luis Garcia, who
must fl ex their make-up muscles handling both grooming,
beauty and special effects on a regular basis.
This is probably the most collaborative project I have worked
on in my career. Our cast, show creator Dan Fogelman, and
Continued on page 24
MAKE-UP
