Comments on: VFS – Too Much Money For Too Little Opportunity

By: The Artist

The Artist — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 02:34:24 +0000

Like the ”Makeup Artist” blogger wrote: Do your homework!!!! There are not jobs out there!!!! It is so true there are tons of artists out there with years of experience waiting to get some makeup gigs. When you come out of school, you are not prioritized when it comes to ”Paying jobs”.

To respond to ”makeup student 11”, you obviously live with your parents or have your studied paid for like ”Makeup Artist”said and for ”Sicaa”, your ”ure its alot of money but so what ” just confirms how most of the people taking theses courses have not idea of the value of money and the Makeup bizz market out there. To some of you its just a fun one-year in school and you are not thinking of the after….Do your homeworks!!!! ask makeup artist out there how they are doing? if they have great paying jobs and trust me, its not because they didnt believe in their dreams or didnt work hard believing they will make it.Here are a few things you should know about the makeup art biz:
1- Too many GREAT makeup artist who believe in themselves, not enough jobs!!
2- Paying someone to do your makeup nowadays is a luxury to some and lets not forget how cheap it is to have a great makeup done at MAC, $56 and you get a free mascara..Why the hell would I pay a makeup artist more than $56 bucks if I can get it done at MAC for cheap and get a gift.
3-A lot of big events and fashion shows hire makeup students or makeup artist volunteers who want the name and xperience on their resume….No $$$ here.
4-For some of us who did try being makeup artist to do a living, having a $35 K Debt for a makeup course is not an option.
5- For the blogger up there who says: ”s far as the tuition goes, i know it seems high, but once you are in the program and you see how much makeup supplies we are given it seems like we must use even more than we pay for.”…Come on, you think paying 35 K justifies a great makeup case???? You could buy half a makeup store with this kinda money. DO YOUR HOMEWORKS!!! You can get good makeup discounts by going to makeup events and if you can prove you have some makeup work or are a makeup artist, you can get discounts at stores and if you end up at the Bay or Sears like lots of aspiring MUA, you can easily build a great makeup kit there..for less than 35k…
Like the makeup artist blogger said up there and I so agree with everything he/she wrote, someone willing to pay 35K for a school must have some parents’ help, be rich, or wants to be putting all their salaries to pay it back.
I have been a makeup artist for over 6 years. Work for fashion shows, MAC(only part-time for 3 years..not lots of full time opportunities), lots of free gigs and to my surprise, the biggest co. are not necessarily the ones who pay. So many famous enterprises will hire makeup artist for…..a reference letter, no pay! they think they are doing you a favor working there.

I always believe makeup artists needed a union. so many of us are taken advantage but ..oh well. Over the years I have loss a lot of my clientele who now do..their own makeup, thanks to learning how on YOUTUBE…

You decide, your dream , your futur, your debt. I know some people dont want to hear it but if going to an xpensive school like VSF is your thing and making a living right out of school (and paying that fee back) is not an issue..Then go for it but every ”negative (to some) comments..I call them informative by people who have been in the business do not strike a cord with you, they probably will once you are on the field.

By: Sicaa

Sicaa — Tue, 31 May 2011 04:42:52 +0000

I am considering taking this course. I beileive its something i was meant to do. Anyways these comments all seem negative and whiney. sure its alot of money but so what. And the teachers are not going to hand you jobs, they are simply giving you the tools do make it on your won and if your lazy and arent finding jobs than thats your fault. “you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink” as for myself. I plan to further my studies in cClifornia where demand will be much greater than Vancouver.

By: Aimen Zeenni

Aimen Zeenni — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 08:10:49 +0000

I attended VFS for 1 year and enjoyed every minute of it. I took the film production program and am happy with the projects that I worked on and have to show for it. I do agree however with it being too expensive for what it is, especially that the productions end up being the sole property of VFS. As for the opportunities that come after graduating, it is very minimal and you feel like an outsider as soon as you graduate but me personally I feel if you go out there and push for what you want you can get it. Too bad VFS doesn’t have a solid program to help students find work or introduce them to people that can offer jobs or training.

If you want to work in the movie business you truly don’t need to go to school for it, VFS is just a place to get your creativity flowing but nothing else.

By: makeup student 11

makeup student 11 — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 03:35:56 +0000

My parents just sent me the link for this blog and after reading it i feel like i have to comment. I am currently in the VFS makeup design program and i have to say, the suthor of this blog seems to be really negative.

From day one in the program our teachers tell us about the importance of practicing techniques outside of school, getting into student films and taking advantage of any side opportunities we are given. in my year in this program there have been many times when all the student are notified of an event outside of school in which we can participate as makeup artist and earn a screen credit as well as great networking opportunities.

if the school allotted every technique we learn, a full week of in class practice time until every student was perfect, we would be in a 5 year program not 1 year. that said i think each technique is given the appropriate amount of attention in class for us to take those skills and practice on our own time.

As far as the tuition goes, i know it seems high, but once you are in the program and you see how much makeup supplies we are given it seems like we must use even more than we pay for. the cost of some of these supplies are enormous and we are given almost limitless use of in class supplies as well as a lot of replacement product for our kits.

i think this school is offering a great program and just like any other university, college or private post secondary school, we have take take it upon ourselves to use our qualifications and skills to find a job after graduation. one of the joys of this field is that the work is constantly changing so it never gets boring, so yes it is rarely a stable working invironment no matter where you graduate from.

as a final note i would like to point out that the previous poster “A MAKEUP ARTIST” suggests that if you want to get into the industry you should go on youtube or hire a successful makeup artist to tutor you. well, it sounds good, except that you cannt get into any union withought having formal makeup education at a approved institution. so you may learn the best techniques out there, but you still wont get any work. and youtube doesnt help you improve or point out you mistakes so you can learn from them.

All said and done, i am glad i spent the money on a great makeup school and i am excited to start pounding the pavement to begin working in this industry

By: The Makeup Artist

The Makeup Artist — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 20:52:15 +0000

EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO SPEND $$$ IN MAKEUP SCHOOL, PLEASE READ THIS:

I am a licensed aesthetician and ex-makeup artist/teacher for the last 15 years. I started with being and esthetician and wanted to add the makeup diploma under my belt in 2005.

Please read my points:
***Save money and do not put yourself in financial crisis for the years to come unless you are financially rich or have parents that are able to pay for this unbelievable course fee. I almost felt off my chair. 35k for a makeup course????? come on!!!!

Here are the very important points:

*There are no jobs out there period! If there were many, your makeup teachers would be on the field, not teaching. They have no choice to teach because of the lack of job stability and $$$

**10 years ago, I would have said :”go for it(not at 35k)” but now you have some much tools you can use to teach yourself (youtube, the net). The best thing you can do is to hire a professional makeup artist that gives private course to show you the skills and if SPFX is what you like and you want to save some $$, there are some SPFX artists (craving for jobs and $$) as well as SPFX labs that will gladly take your money(lot less that this school) and teach you. The best part of this is that you will already be in the lab and if they have upcoming contracts, they may hire you or use you as an assistant which is a very valuable experience. Think about it, when you graduate, so are 10- 15 other students. Do you really think they need all these students/Artists? that is besides the ones that have years of experience, waiting for contracts.

I am not trying to discourage anyone to follow their heart and do what they are passionnate about but trust me, there are not enough jobs out there..a loooot less in SPFX. Why? CGI, not many gore/alien movies anymore. There is enough great artists as it is doing it with years of experience, my BF works for a video game co. at the cinematic dept, he does all the special FX in 3D. He did a couple of blockbuster movies that had lots of creatures…In 3D.

I beg you not to spend that kind of money for a makeup course especially if you have to borrow that money. Once you graduate, you often have to do lots of free work to get yourself started. Hafl my class with whom I took my makeup course from one of the best school in Toronto in 2004 are not in the field anymore. Once we graduated, most of us ended working at shoppers, the Bay, MAC, unpaid student movie projects. I agree with the author of this post.

Finally, I do believe VFS and other makeup schools are great. I just think the price of these courses are ridiculous for the types of jobs we get in the end. If you really want to go to a makeup school, then look for one that is muuuuch cheaper.

The really of it all is that you can go to the best school in the world, employers (Fashion, Movies) dont really care, it’s how good your portfolio is that matters to them. Lots of great makeup artist are self-trained. Never was I asked for my diploma when I went for interviews but rather to show them what I can do.

If you want to spend this kind of money, think about the monthly payment you have to pay once the course is done(this does not include your rent and other day to day life spending).

As much as we believe in ourselves and our potential, the reality of it all is that there are too many artists, not enough jobs.

Oh and I agree about the author on the Union thing. Years of waiting to be part of it. You have to do ton of free student films or other types that can give you some credits and all this to become….a permittee (not even part of the union). To become a permittee can take years. What is a permittee Union employee? Google it. In a few words, u are the one they call if they cannot find any of their full-time members to do the job. How hard is that? not hard since we are all looking for jobs, especially blockbuster movies.

DO YOU HOMEWORKS!!! Look into this! If you have money and no need to borrow, go for it. If you have to put yourself into debts at a young age and borrow money all this to have to pay it back with a $8/$9*hour salary working at the Bay, Thiiink about it!

Esthetic is a field that has lots of openings. I started doing that 12 years ago. I worked in Spas and was able to have extra money by having my own little home studio.

Good luck and be wise about it!

By: Ashley

Ashley — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 05:20:33 +0000

I am considering moving from Toronto to take this program. I am a certified Esthetician and am wondering by the comment above if this program is worth it and what the success rate is after completion for a career? The tuition does sounds very expensive and I would be very disappointed to have no job or career in the field having the pay the loan back for years since to be an Esthetician is roughly 9,000 for 2 years. Also I am wondering how intense or hard the course is if you have basic makeup training. I have seen mentioned on the site that you need a portfolio for admission? Thank you for your time to whomever responds.

By: Catalina

Catalina — Sun, 30 May 2010 08:55:59 +0000

Hi. I’m from Colombia and I’ve graduated from film and tv production. I also did a diplomae in art direction and I enjoyed the make up and special effects classes a lot. So, I’m considering to study makeup design on VFS but the fees are a little too expensive for me. Reading this article and Stan Edmonds’ answers have confused me a little. Does the VFS really worth that amount of money? What’s the difference between the makeup design program at VFS and the advanced special effects makeup, prosthetic and props at the Sheridan Institute in Ontario (my second option)? Can anyone help me make a decision? Thanks, and please excuse my bad english.

By: kikimiki

kikimiki — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:32:41 +0000

That’s actually not true, Reece, there were actually at least three other British students before you each in different classes…

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:52:15 +0000

Hey Reece,

We’ve since removed the comment, and we’re just as surprised as you that somebody would stoop to such a level.

I’m glad your experience was positive, and you’ve shed some light about the strength of the program.

Good luck.

By: Reece Mack

Reece Mack — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:38:25 +0000

I was shocked and disgusted to see a comment upon here which is a cheap imitation of myself. I am the only English person to have gone to VFS on the make-up course in a few years and have no problems with the school. I believe they offer a service which is second to none. Stan, the head of the course, shares his love of the art with all of his students and helps them tailor their own style to become the best of the best. To whomever it was who did imitate me, I do not appreciate it and I ask of you to please refrain from doing this in future. I refute any bad press about VFS as it is false.