Michael Key

During one of our lectures, we had the honour of meeting Michael Key and getting to know what IMATS is about. Before Michael came in, I didn't know who he was or what he did however after meeting him, I was so glad I had attended that lecture. He motivated me a lot and taught me nothing comes easy. I was feeling very down with the overload of work, coming up assessments and everything however Micheal proved to me at the end it'll all be worth it. He made everyone in the room feel valuable and a character of their own. He also told
us a lot about his life, how he became a makeup-artist, what inspired him and how he runs IMATS. Below is an online interview I found of Michael Key:

'Michael is a musician who was caught in a twist of fate. When asked what started his career in make-up, he replied, “music was my first love, but it wasn’t taking. I’ve always loved movies, and I came across ‘Cinefex’ a magazine that covers behind the scenes movie make-up. It had a step-by-step on how to sculpt, and I thought, `I could do that’. So, I went to a hobby store, purchased plaster and clay and did everything wrong.” It turns out, that after 7 weeks, he successfully sculpted a head. He and his friends used it as a prop to scare people. Then, he got his friends to pitch in to purchase foam latex, so they too could have their own props.

Project after project Michael was able to make somewhat of a portfolio, although, he credits his “gift of gab” for getting him his first make-up effects studio job.Michael’s make-up career includes five Emmy Award nominations, and two wins for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. His make-up credits include Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Planet of the Apes, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Charmed, Batman and Robin and more.

When asked who were his heroes and mentors, Michael replied, “with no hesitation, Michael Westmore, Jack Dawn,Christopher Tucker, Jack Pierce, Rick Baker, and Dick Smith. He credits Michael Westmore for teaching him lessons you don’t learn in a text book, like how to work with a producer and how to present yourself as a class act. He is grateful for Dick Smith for agreeing to be a part of the first IMATS stating that because of Mr. Smith, it was a success.

During Michael Key’s early career, he noticed that there weren’t enough resources for aspiring artists. Everything he learned was from trial and error and knowledge shared by his peers and mentors. Because this knowledge was so valuable, he was inspired to get it in writing and thus Make-up Artist Magazine was born. He admits that he’s shocked it went beyond the first three issues, but today we celebrate 106 issues of a great publication.'

mmartinezatmud (2014) The man behind IMATS and make-up artist magazine: Michael Key. Available at: http://blog.makeupdesignory.com/2014/01/16/the-man-behind-imats-and-make-up-artist-magazine-michael-key/ (Accessed: 25 March 2016).

Michael gave us our own personalised cards to get discounts for the IMATS tickets.

What is the IMATS competition?

'The International Make-Up Artist Trade Show is the make-up world’s biggest gathering. Thousands of make-up artists, exhibitors and enthusiasts discuss, display and collect the best the industry has to offer. Make-up pros from fashion and film (including Oscar, BAFTA and Saturn award winners) provide education and demonstrations at IMATS, and new products often debut there. IMATS also features a make-up museum and the Battle of the Brushes student make-up competitions, where international make-up students race to create winning looks.

Before IMATS, there were no trade shows specifically designed for make-up artists, although cosmetic companies had expressed a desire for such an event. In response, Emmy Award-winning make-up artist and Make-Up Artist magazine publisher Michael Key held the first IMATS in August 1997 in Los Angeles. It allowed artists to customize what they wanted to see and it offered a diverse mix of products, demonstrations and education from industry leaders.

IMATS expanded to Europe in 2002, with the debut of IMATS London. Continuing this commitment to artists around the world, Make-Up Artist magazine acquired the Canadian Makeup Show in 2009 and launched IMATS Toronto. That same year IMATS Sydney launched, and in 2010, IMATS Vancouver, British Columbia debuted (which was previously part of CMS).

Like Make-Up Artist magazine, IMATS continues to educate and connect make-up artists from around the world. The show is held six times annually in Los Angeles, New York, London, Vancouver, B.C, Sydney and Toronto.'

IMATS (2016) About IMATS. Available at:

http://www.imats.net/about-imats/ (Accessed: 25 March 2016).