Meet Emily (Em) Stacey | Hair, makeup and SFX artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily (Em) Stacey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily (Em), can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
Your network and connections are your most valuable asset!

I love connecting, assisting and working with other makeup artists. It’s so important to see how others work. You can learn so much and I always see it as an opportunity to grow in areas I feel less confident with. Community is so important! I get a lot of my work through the referrals of other makeup artists, and it’s good to have people you can trust to recommend if you’re unable to do a job.

I don’t believe in competing with other makeup artists, there’s enough work for everyone. We all have different strengths and skills and some artists are better suited to certain jobs. I learn so much from other makeup artists and I think it’s so important as creatives and freelancers to support and uplift each other.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always had an affinity for films with practical effects.

I started with SFX by studying an advanced prosthetics course with Sharp FX when I finished school. I really enjoy the hands-on aspect of SFX, specifically the sculpting component.

But it wasn’t until about 7 years later that I decided to knuckle down and seriously try to become a makeup artist. I took out a loan and enrolled in a diploma of screen and media for specialist makeup at AACM. I immediately started working on student films and took any job that popped up through the school.

I started the course about 6 months before covid hit, so instead of 1 year it took 2 years to complete the course. But I found the extra time beneficial as it gave me more time to grow as an artist and get my footing in the industry. Somehow I managed to build my CV over covid, despite the lockdowns and by the time I graduated I had a pretty decent network.

Obviously I’ve worked hard to get to where I am now, but it’s also been the easiest thing I’ve ever done. My goal was to have a job where I never thought “ugh I wish I didn’t have to go to work tomorrow” and I’ve succeeded. I get paid to do makeup(?!) and I get to work with other creatives and see everyone be amazing at what they do. It’s so inspiring and motivating to be coming up with these other young creatives and it makes me very excited for the future.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well hopefully it’s in the summer and I would head towards Daylesford/Castlemaine.

This isn’t exactly a week but this is my perfect day trip with a friend –

I would stop and get a take-away Ess Yen coffee and an egg tart from one of my favourite cafes in North Melbourne, Udom House. You gotta have a lil treat for the road.

There are a few towns along the way that are worth stopping at to check out the op shops and of course stopping for a little bakery snack for lunch.

Then we’d visit one of the swimming holes in the area, must BYO inflatable donut.

After everyone’s all swimmed out, I’d be heading to Naam Pla Thai Take-Away for the flakiest roti bread in Victoria and a curry. Then you can head next door to the The Love Shack to wash it down with a pint, and maybe there’ll be a gig on?!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My teacher from AACM, Gina Nomachi. She’s been a huge support and cheerleader for me from the beginning and has always made herself available to me when I need guidance. She also taught me to relax and not worry so much, she’s the best!!

Website: https://www.emilystaceymua.com

Instagram: @emilystaceymua