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About
Thoughtful, detail-oriented visionary with more than 25 years in the Beauty, Hair and Makeup Industries and 17 years’ experience working in TV and film as an artist, then moving on to supervisory and design roles. Melanie previously worked as a designer in the fashion industry along with multiple jobs within TV entertainment and red carpet events. Melanie has also worked in education before and during TV roles, teaching her skills at mainstream universities and managing her own award winning hair and make-up academy, helping transport students through the historical eras, cultures and imaginary worlds to showcase how to bring stories to life and shape the audience’s perception though the craft of hair and make-up artistry.
Melanie has always kept informed by continually updating her skills with some of the best prosthetics artists, afro and textured hair tutors within the industry, excelling in both areas. Melanie is skilled in hairdressing, barber, all aspects of make-up including designing and creating prosthetics, along with skills in collaboration with other departments and building creative teams that work and bond well together.
Melanie recently worked for 10 months on a Disney TV production with US network company Colour FX as a hair and make-up supervisor. She looked after more than 250 main cast, taking on many roles in designing some of the looks for the special effects make-up, attending production meetings and being required to step up to assist the designer due to the size of the project. Melanie is at a point in her career where the next step is taking on the role as a HOD in high-end TV drama.
Melanie is currently a HETV Leader of Tomorrow. Participants in the three-year inclusion programme for mid-level professionals are nominated by senior colleagues in high-end TV. Her nominator Marcia Blackwood said: “Melanie has a real passion for her work and is committed to continuously developing her skills. She genuinely cares about whoever is in her chair and has the ability to make people feel comfortable. Her strong leadership skills were developed from running her own hair and make-up school where she was committed to passing on her knowledge to others. I feel that the Leaders of Tomorrow programme will continue to help her develop her existing skills to move onto the next phase in her career.”
ScreenSkills Training Passport
Melanie Doyle has completed the following modules within the ScreenSkills Training Passport.
Experience
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Hair, makeup and Prosthetics Designer
Designer of Prosthetics and Hair and Makeup for Bjorn of the Dead In my role as Designer for Hair and Makeup along with Prosthetics design, from sculpting right through to the production of the pieces, I successfully led my talented team in sculpting, designing, and creating innovative prosthetics that ranged from whimsical features like forks protruding from necks to playful zombie aesthetics. My approach balanced humour and creativity, aligning with the comedic tone of the film as envisioned by the talented scriptwriter, Austin Dickinson. I took great joy in developing character looks, from designing mood boards to collaborating with the executive team, bringing to life characters spanning the 1980s to the modern day. This project allowed me to showcase my ability to create visually engaging and comedic character designs that complemented the film’s humour. I had the privilege of designing looks for a diverse cast, including renowned talents such as Bruce Dickinson, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Austin Dickinson, Michael Byrne, Ralph Brown, Amber Grappy, Calum Lynch, and comedian Mark Williams. My work included everything from crafting 1980s New Romantic, mullets to intricate prosthetics featuring eyeballs for comedic effect, enhancing the film’s overall narrative and visual appeal.
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Hair & Makeup Supervisor & Mentee Designer
Hair, Makeup, and Prosthetics Supervisor, Quay Street Productions Netflix Production In my role as Supervisor for Quay Street Productions, I was responsible for overseeing hair, makeup, and prosthetics for a Netflix production while actively participating in the Leaders of Tomorrow Programme to facilitate my progression toward a design role. I undertook multiple responsibilities, including managing team hours to prioritize mental health and ensuring that each member received adequate time off and opportunities for exercise, as well as one-on-one support. I independently created character breakdowns for all five episodes and established a shared Google Drive for easy access to necessary documents. I managed scene continuity and maintained the upkeep of the production truck, providing mentorship and training to junior and trainee team members on special effects techniques, thereby enhancing their skills and maintaining team morale. Additionally, I served as the Key Artist for notable actors including Ashley Walters, Richard Armitage, Rudi Dharmalingam, and Lisa Faulkner, as well as various day players. I also designed special effects looks for multiple characters and conducted fittings, tasks assigned to me as part of my mentorship within the design role.
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Supervisor
. Key Special Effects Makeup Artist, FX Productions Disney Historical Period Production (1960s to 2010) For this extensive 11-month production, I supervised the core team and collaborated closely with Designer Karen Hartley Thomas to develop character designs, with a focus on special effects casualty makeup. I was responsible for overseeing episode breakdowns, managing finances and budgets, procuring necessary equipment and supplies, and maintaining synchronisation on set for over 250 main cast members. I led the design and application of special effects makeup for various characters across nine episodes, while providing mentorship and support to the team. Additionally, I served as the Key Special Effects Makeup Artist for Josh Finnan, overseeing hair and makeup for several key cast members and executing all special effects makeup for scenes requiring casualty effects.
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Hair and Makeup Supervisor
Key Hair and Makeup Artist, Ralph and Katie Awarded Two Royal Television Awards, 2023 In my role with the award-winning team for Ralph and Katie, I provided supervisory oversight, effectively delegating tasks and supporting team members. I collaborated closely with Designer Marcia Blackwood to develop character concepts and select appropriate hair colours, while ensuring continuity through meticulous haircut management. I created detailed character breakdowns and oversaw the project’s financial aspects. Additionally, I served as the Key Hair and Makeup Artist for Sarah Gordy MBE, our lead actress, providing tailored support and learning opportunities to enhance her performance during filming.
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Key Hair and Makeup Artist
AKOS Winner, Royal Television Award, 2023 As the Key Hair and Makeup Artist, I collaborated closely with the lead actress to address her specific needs, leveraging my specialised background in teaching neurodivergent learners. The production focused on the experiences of young people with ADHD, prioritizing the inclusion of neurodivergent actors to enhance authenticity and relatability for the audience. Designing the hair and makeup alongside for the character ‘Addie,’ in alignment with her sensory sensitivities, was a rewarding experience. I thoroughly enjoyed my role in this impactful project, which is set to have a second series.
Education and training
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Work well series
ScreenSkills Funded
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Coronavirus basic awareness on production training
ScreenSkills Funded
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Addressing unconscious bias: basic awareness in the workplace
ScreenSkills Funded
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Tackling harassment and bullying at work
ScreenSkills Funded
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Diversity, equity and inclusion for the screen industries
ScreenSkills Funded
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Introduction to mental health awareness at work
ScreenSkills Funded
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Safeguarding for all: basic awareness for the screen industries
ScreenSkills Funded
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Leaders of Tomorrow Induction session
ScreenSkills Funded
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HETV Working with learning disabled cast and crew 2024
ScreenSkills Funded
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The guiding principles of departmental budgeting in high-end TV and film
ScreenSkills Funded
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Building your Professional Portfolio for Leaders of Tomorrow
ScreenSkills Funded
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Resilience workshops for Leaders of Tomorrow
ScreenSkills Funded
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Mental health awareness workshop for Leaders of Tomorrow
ScreenSkills Funded
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Path to success: Self-promotion and CV advice for mid-level crew in HETV
ScreenSkills Funded
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Understanding Access Needs on Set for Productions - Leaders of Tomorrow
ScreenSkills Funded
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Group coaching for Leaders of Tomorrow cohort 3
ScreenSkills Funded
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Leaders of Tomorrow Induction session
ScreenSkills Funded
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Coronavirus basic awareness on production training
ScreenSkills Funded
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Coronavirus basic awareness on production training
ScreenSkills Funded
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Tackling harassment and bullying at work
ScreenSkills Funded
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The guiding principles of departmental budgeting for HETV and film
ScreenSkills Funded
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Coronavirus basic awareness on production training
ScreenSkills Funded
Certificates
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Tackling harassment and bullying at work
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Mental health awareness workshop for Leaders of Tomorrow
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Diversity, equity and inclusion for the screen industries
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Work well series
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Addressing unconscious bias: basic awareness in the workplace
-
Introduction to mental health awareness at work
-
Safeguarding for all: basic awareness for the screen industries
-
Tackling harassment and bullying at work