The Biz Interview: John Craig and Charie Van Dyke of New Image College of Fine Arts
Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, and originally established in 1980, New Image College of Fine Arts is one of Canada’s top accredited post-secondary institutions offering unique “real world” training in film & television acting and makeup artistry and esthetics.
Co-owners Charie Van Dyke and John Craig are dedicated to preparing their students with the knowledge and hands-on training needed to be successful in their chosen fields by award-winning professionals with accomplished careers in acting, makeup artistry and esthetics.
In advance of New Image’s appearance at the Northwest Fanfest, we spoke with Charie and John about the organization and their insights into makeup artistry.
Tell us about your respective careers prior to New Image College of Fine Arts and what was the inspiration behind starting the school?
Charie Van Dyke: I was a model when my mother started New Image back in 1980. At that time it was a school for self-improvement. I took over when my mother left to care for my dad after he suffered a debilitating injury. It’s been a journey, and when I met John we redefined the vision for the school and haven’t looked back.
John Craig: I started with Jimmy Pattison; office and operations oriented, then moved into clothing manufacturing and marketing for a few companies before opening a couple of bars. Diverse, I know!
One of the areas that New Image specializes in is makeup artistry. From your standpoint, what makes for effective makeup on screen and what does it add to the creative process of a film or TV show?
Charie: Because every show is different our education process teaches makeup artists-in-training the knowledge to figure out which makeup works best for different types of lighting and camera set ups.
John: I also think that makeup enhances the actor or the character being played, this helps connect visually with the emotions of the viewer, essentially making it a full experience.
You have a production company through New Image College of Fine Arts called New Image Entertainment. What can you share about your current projects and the goals of the production company?
John: We mainly work on makeup driven movies, genre films, and are in post-production on five features and pre-production on our next two features. Our goal is to be a self-sustaining production company that distributes its own movies and works together with other like minded Independents in the industry.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to be involved with makeup artistry in film and television?
John: First, get an education because you need one. Second, be prepared to work hard because it is not easy, but what worthwhile endeavour ever is!? Third, understand that this is a lifelong career. It will take time and hard work, but once you’re there and in the union you will be doing what you love. You’ll have fun going to work every day. I always tell our students that the definition of insanity is going to work every day and doing what you don’t love to do.
Where do you see the future of makeup artistry going in the next 5 to 10 years?
Charie: The future is hard to predict, but what we do know is that even though there’s a ton of CGI coming on strong in film and television, there will always be a place for beauty and design and practical makeup effects worldwide, forever, that’s not going to change.
What books would you recommend relating to makeup artistry?
John: I would recommend Grande Illusions and Bizarro by Tom Savini.
Charie: Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin and Stage Makeup by Laura Thudium.
What’s next for you and New Image College?
John: We want to spread our education philosophy worldwide as well as add to our course load. But what we really will continue to strive for is to be the best at what we do, and that is to educate with hands-on training through practical studies; rewarding hard working students with successful working careers.
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For more information on New Image College of Fine Arts, please visit NewImage.ca.
For more information on New Image Entertainment, visit NewImageEntertainment.ca.
New Image College of Fine Arts students will be at the Northwest Fanfest from June 27th to June 29th. For more information, please visit NorthwestFanfest.com.
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