Words by Elisabeth King
When talk turns to professional makeup for movies, fashion and TV, one name leads the conversation. The Australian College of Make-Up and Special Effects, the country’s pre-eminent college in the field, widely known by its acronymn ACMUSE.
ACMUSE Founder and CEO, Scott Lattimer, is not only on top of his game, his gilt-edged network also includes industry insiders, some of Australia’s top makeup artists and international makeup stars.
From 2009 to 2017, Lattimer was a strong supporter of the International MakeUp Artists Trade Show (IMATS) in Sydney, one of the most popular global makeup and beauty shows, which currently operates in six locations around the world – Vancouver, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, London and Toronto.
“I love the makeup and hair industry and IMATS was more of a special event than Beauty Expo. Following the last Sydney show in 2017, I felt that we needed something to fill the gap,” says Scott Lattimer.
The Show Sydney: showcase for Australian and international talent
The Show Sydney is on track to be a lot more than that. The inaugural two-day event will be held at the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC) on February 8th and 9th, 2020.
“It will be an annual event as Australia’s premier trade and education exhibition, celebrating the artistry of hair, beauty and special effects professionals,” says Lattimer.
“A showcase for international and Australian talent and a networking get-together for everyone from students to professionals and enthusiasts. Attendees will also get the chance to meet mentors and industry leaders and learn about new techniques and products to take their careers and interests to the next level.”
The guiding principle behind The Show Sydney is to offer something people have never seen before, says Lattimer.
“There’s already a lot of anticipation because we will have Oscar and Emmy-winning makeup artists such as Brian Sipe and the head of makeup for Captain Marvel, the first femaleled superhero film from Marvel Studios. Rachel Montgomery, whose client list includes Ruby Rose, Damian Martin, Adam Johansen, the prosthetic makeup artist’s who were awarded and Oscar and BAFTA for Mad Max: Fury Road, Vanessa “The Skulltress” Davis and Jennifer Guerrero, the hair stylist department head whose on-screen credentials include major US TV shows such as Dancing with the Stars and How I Met Your Mother, are also major drawcards.”
There will be a strong focus on education with expert speakers, says Lattimer. “Visitors can also see the latest launches from major cosmetic companies. Brands across the board will be on show because we envisage that 60 per cent of attendees will be professionals and 40 per cent will be beauty enthusiasts. Both targeted audiences keen to see experts introduce the latest seasonal trends and preview new products and techniques to boost their makeup skills.”
For more from Scott Lattimer, see the October issue of esprit Magazine Australia. CLICK HERE to subscribe.