Industry References

 John Barnett - Chief Executive Officer, South Pacific Pictures
 Sally Campbell - Producer Power Rangers
 Janine Dickins - Producer
 John Laing - Producer, Outrageous Fortune 3, South Pacific Pictures
 Jennifer Ward Lealand - President New Zealand Actors Equity
 Carmen Leonard - Co-Producer, South Pacific Pictures

John Barnett Chief Executive Officer South Pacific Pictures
Gabrielle Jones and Dianne Ensor are two of New Zealand's most experienced Make Up professionals. Between them, they have over 30 years experience on a wide range of film and television projects, covering every genre of production. They have both been in high demand from production companies, including my company, South Pacific Pictures, but they have now elected to set up The Makeup School and pass on their considerable knowledge to a new generation of makeup stylists.		For anyone contemplating a career in this field, the opportunity to learn from these two experts will give them a significant advantage. Gabrielle and Dianne are consummate professionals, who will be able to pass on the very best training to their students. We are sorry to lose their services to our productions, but we can look forward to a new group of Stylists, who have trained under the best.

Sally Campbell Producer Power Rangers
I have worked with Gabrielle Jones and Dianne Ensor on numerous productions over the last 12 years. We have worked together on various local productions and bigger international productions. They are highly respected creative people who always strive to get the best production values possible.		They will design a make up course that is relevant to the industry. They are up to date with the latest techniques and they have a wealth of knowledge. I think it is important that the valuable knowledge they have acquired is passed on.

Janine Dickins Producer
I first worked Gabrielle Jones in 1994 and Dianne Ensor soon after. At the time I began working with Gabrielle, she was one of only two makeup artists in New Zealand who were proficient in prosthetics work having recently returned from London where she had trained. Right from that time Gabrielle has been top of her game and along with Dianne who is also extremely experienced with her own unique skills, they are the best team one could wish for in training up and coming makeup artists. I have worked with both Gabrielle and Dianne on numerous jobs over the years and have found them to be extremely professional and experienced in the business of running their departments and liaising with others to produce the very best results. They are both favourites within our industry.		When practicable, Dianne and Gabrielle have trained many younger makeup/hair artists on the job, but time and time again I have heard them bemoan the lack of well trained younger artists. The makeup schools currently operating in New Zealand just do not have the expertise to produce makeup artists that have the knowledge to work in the stressful and highly organised world of the film set. I am unswerving in my belief that despite them being a loss to the industry in the short term, the makeup artists that come out of The Makeup School will more than make up for that loss. I believe strongly that the students that graduate from The Makeup School will be the best we have seen come out of training to date.

John Laing Producer Outrageous Fortune 3 South Pacific Pictures
As a director and producer I have worked with both Dianne Ensor and Gabrielle Jones on a number of very demanding television productions over the years, New Zealand and international projects. Television production is a difficult environment for any Head of Department. It requires a unique combination of creative and organisational skills and composure under extreme pressure. This would be no more so than for the makeup designer who has to deal with time and budgetry constraints and creative demands as well as running a large team of makeup artists and dealing with the often delicate egos of performers. Both Dianne and Gabrielle have handled these pressures with consummate ease for a growing industry as long as Ive known them. But in recent years they have encountered the increasing problem of accessing adequately trained staff to service a growing industry.		Having been through the process themselves they understand the value of formal training. But there is no substitute for experience and I believe that this will be the great benefit of their course over other training programmes available in New Zealand. Both of these makeup designers have worked in the industry they are training for, from the bottom to the top. And with their on-going connection with film & television industry they will be able to draw upon the skills and expertise of others who daily face the same challenges their students will encounter when they emerge into a real working environment. I believe that The Makeup School will be an ideal school for students at entry level as well as practicing makeup artists who want to increase their skills for an industry that is constantly developing and changing.

Jennifer Ward Lealand ONZM President New Zealand Actors Equity
As a New Zealand actress, I wholeheartedly recommend The Makeup School as a training institution. To have two highly regarded and skilled make up professionals such as Dianne Ensor and Gabrielle Jones helming the school shows their level of commitment to the industry.		I have no doubt that The Makeup School will ensure the next generation of makeup artists is provided with a excellent skill base to serve the film and TV industry.

Carmen Leonard Co-Producer South Pacific Pictures
The Film & Television Industry in NZ has never been in a better state. However, skilled crew are hard to find. I was delighted to hear that The Makeup School has opened up as the Industry is in need of trained makeup and hair artists to fill the growing production requirements.		I have worked with Dianne Ensor and Gabrielle Jones many times over my 21 years in the Industry. They are both highly skilled professional women with many years of production experience to offer potential make up and hair artists. They will be the best people to provide this training and I wish them every success.