BY BETHLEHEM BEDLU
Bethlehem Abebe was born in Addis Ababa and raised in Mizane Tepi till she completed her fourth grade. Due to the unrest in the area at that moment, her families were forced to move back to the capital and she was able to continue her education here.
She has received her first degree from Addis Ababa University in the field of architecture. Right after graduation, she was able to put her prints in the interior design industry.
Being adesigner in one of the prominent productions in Ethiopia was the first job she took when she joined the film industry for nearly a year. Besides that she was doing regular makeups.
It did not take her long to make her childhood dream a reality. She opened her own studio ‘cosmo-berry’ when she performed makeup art and other related activities.
However, soon after her studio was opened, the outbreak of the Coronavirus forced her to stay at home. Due to her aspiration for special effect makeup art, she was happy to experiment in the special effects makeup.
Again, finding oneself in a film industry where the dominating genre is comedy, discovering a different character with a special effects makeup was not easy. So, she focused on doing Hollywood characters such as Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean and Gollum from the Lord of the rings, Maleficent.
The Ethiopian Herald had sat down with Bethlehem to talk about her journey and work experience in makeup art. Enjoy your reading!
Herald: When did you start your career in the special effects makeup art?
Bethlehem: Though I am familiar with most of the activities in the makeup art and cinema industry, it was on the last year Halloween celebration that I presented my first special effects makeup art for the general public.
Besides working as a set designer, I have been doing regular make up art, costume, and art directing. But I can say that it was the celebration which has opened the door to show my longstanding gift to the public.
Herald: How is a special effect makeup art different from regular makeup art?
Bethlehem: I believe that the major difference between regular and special makeup art is that first makeup art focuses on beautifying characters while the other has a different role in showing bruises, abrasions, and wounds of characters.
As for me, I have been focusing on imitating western movies characters with special features since it has not been easy finding one in our film industry. Even though special effects makeup artists have been showcasing bruises, abrasions etc., I preferred doing full makeup effects.
Herald: How well do you think that your works represent what you want to convey?
Bethlehem: Given the limited resource that
I had and the situation I was in due to the pandemic, I can say that I was very effective with my works. But, I am sure that I will do more realistic special effects makeup using the right and quality inputs in the future.
Herald: Could you mention some of the challenges that you have faced in your career and how you were able to pass them?
Bethlehem: The hardest thing about the job was finding the necessary materials in the market. The things that are available on the market are mostly useful for regular makeup. Throughout my special effects works, I was forced to use homemade substances to do the makeup. It is essential to find equipments as the homemade equipments and substances could not help the film industry in general and come up with the right effect on character in particular.
Herald: How do you assess special effects makeup art in Ethiopia? How do you think that it can contribute to the growth of the film industry?
Bethlehem: The areas that I have worked so far like in set design, costume and makeup art contribute hugely for the visual art in general. However, the recognition it has gain in the film industry is very limited. It has the smallest budget which I believe minimizes the quality of our film.
As an artist, we are responsible to push forward and do our part to change the situation. We need to strive to show the importance of the art in enhancing the growth of our film industry.
Herald: Don’t you find it hard being a special effect makeup artist when the dominating film genre in Ethiopia is mostly comedy?
Bethlehem: Honestly speaking, it is not easy. As our work is very limited to performing small effects rather than doing a full character, it is not attractive. But the positive side is that it gives us the opportunity to be the first special effect makeup artists in the industry.
Herald: Do you believe that the emerging of special effects makeup artists like you could have a share in changing the dominating genre of the film industry?
Bethlehem: Definitely! Like I said earlier, visual effects have a big role in the film industry. If we provide fitting effects in our cinema industry, we can win our audiences’ hearts and eyes.
The problem is not the inability of the art to contribute to the cinema industry, but it is with our understanding and the credit that we give to the art that drawback our industry.
Most of all, by giving the necessary amount of appreciation, we will not only attract more audiences but we will definitely drive more writers and film professionals to change the dominating film genre to other genres.
Herald: What are your accomplishments and your short term plans?
Bethlehem: Currently, Cosmoberry is reopened after the lockdown, and now, I get back in business. I am also working hard to expand my business into production company to be more involved in the film industry.
Fortunately, I had done my thesis on disability
and inclusive education. Currently, they are using it as a guideline after certifying it so I think it is a big accomplishment.
Collaborating with different volunteers, I have been doing a voluntary in training children skills. I believe that children need to have someone who helps them explore their skills apart from their academic performance. So I have been trying to train children in graphics, music language and other skills.
As a career, I think I have accomplished my childhood dream by opening Cosmo-berry.
Herald: What do you hope to share with our readers?
Bethlehem: I would like to take this opportunity to call on the government and concerned bodies to give the right amount of attention to the industry as it has not get the desired rate of attention. When the advertising industry is flourishing given its money involvement, the film industry is understated.
So, besides what is expected of the entire artists, the government needs to take the lion’s share for the betterment of the film industry so that it could contribute hugely to the economy.
The Ethiopian herald December 19/2020
