Margarita Vailas was born in Winnipeg to a Greek father and Canadian mother. She grew up moving between Winnipeg and Greece every three years. In 1999, her parents decided to stop moving so much after a 6.7 Richter earthquake took down her high school. For years, she had wanted to be a dentist and had been accepted into university to pursue that career, but at the last minute, she decided to do something more creative and artistic.
In 2003, she went to esthetics school and worked at a spa until 2007, when she decided she wanted to go to makeup school in Toronto and then move back to Greece on her own. During her six years in Greece, she would be the manager of a 5-star hotel in Santorini (where her family is from), working with Greek actors and performers in salons as well as going to different islands to do bridal makeup. It was an incredible experience. Kitesurfing quickly became her weekend sport, and doing makeup for creative photoshoots.
At 28, she decided to move back to Winnipeg and have a fresh start, so as soon as she got back, she applied to IATSE 856 as a permittee. Over the next couple of years, she started working as an instructor at an esthetics college until she got more consistent work in film and became a full member of the union in early 2018. From the beginning, she’s been an advocate for women, children and the working people. Currently, she is the secretary of IATSE 856 and chair of the women’s committee. She does a lot of charity work and helps women’s shelters and advocates for women’s rights continually.
Between films and on weekends, she is a certified personal trainer/nutritional consultant.
She has two sons, Okeani and Bastian. Working in film is hard with little ones, but having the breaks between is even more fun because we can do more things, like go back to Greece or go camping. Having good support is important, even though it’s not how it is for everyone.
When and how did you start in the media production industry?
The passion to work in film started in 2003, when I met another makeup artist during my esthetics program. After going to Complections Makeup School in Toronto in 2007, I moved to Greece, where I worked as a makeup artist for editorial and bridal. After moving back to Canada in late 2012, I applied to start getting my day calls. During that time, I worked on many indie projects and commercials until I finally got my union days in 2017.
What area of the film industry do you work in now and why?
I am a working member of the makeup department. Previously, I did a little bit of editing and would love to dabble more in that area, as well as scriptwriting and directing.
What has been a substantial change in the industry since you started?
The amount of technology that has come in. Not only VFX and AI, but also doing all the paperwork and organizing continuity photos digitally. We used to print them and organize them by cast # and have them posted all over the makeup trailer!
What advice would you give to someone starting off in the media production industry?
Work with as many people as possible. Learn different parts of the industry because we all each only do a small part that comes together. It’s good to understand what everyone else is doing. Understanding what the lighting team does can immensely impact what makeup looks like on screen.
Why is learning and training important?
Our industry is evolving and changing all the time and in every way. I’m constantly trying to keep up with new programs, the way makeup reads on screen, different types of makeup and skin care and how it can affect my job. I also take mini courses or listen to podcasts and read books on pre and post production. How can our job be done more easily, or how can it make me be the person for the job? Learning new and smarter ways to work will never end and is very important.
What are some of the films, TV series or even books that have inspired you?
Books by Victoria Hislop and Dennis Lehane have always inspired me. These authors have had their books become very successful and incredible tv shows and films. The Island was one of the best tv series I have ever seen on Greek television. I didn’t own a television for most of my adult life, but when I get the chance to watch anything, I’m into real-life scenarios and documentaries.
How about anything new you’ve been into?
I’m re-visiting what I knew in editing and have been interested in how that has evolved over the last 15 years. Makeup is such a wide spread of niches. An area that I’ve been trying to get better at is airbrushing. Before I even got into makeup, I would go to the junk yard and paint car parts for fun with my airbrush.
Is there something about you or an interesting past experience that you’d like to share with your colleagues?
Film is an industry where we work so many hours and are around each other all the time. In my experience, I think it’s just so important to be supportive of everyone. You never know what’s going on at home. We aren’t promised tomorrow, so don’t work your life away either. We get breaks between shows, so it’s important to live a little.
Is there someone within the film industry you would like to work with and why?
There are so many directors and writers and makeup artists that I’d love to sit and chat with and even work with one day, but I don’t think I could narrow it down to just one person. I’ve been seeing some up-and-coming creatives in our own community, which I’ve loved watching grow and hope to work with them in their roles too.
Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
I hope that whatever I’m doing and whatever I have done over the next 10 years impacts people in a positive way. It’s not very often that I think about anything so far away, but I want to hope that I get to work on some more fun and creative films and help out with some post-production stuff as well. Honestly, I’d love to do some film work in Greece too.
FTM is a member of the Province of Manitoba’s Sector Council Program funded through the Manitoba Business, Mining, Trade & Job Creation. FTM builds a highly skilled and adaptable film industry workforce to support the activities of Manitoba production companies. FTM collaborates and partners with members of the film and television industry to identify training needs to support workforce development output.