Special Effects (FX) Makeup Partnership Schools Pilot Scheme

In Autumn 2023, Screen Scotland funded Gibbet FX, led by professional special effects make-up artist Calum MacDonald, to deliver a series of SFX make-up courses to 15 partnership schools across Scotland.

In Autumn 2023, Screen Scotland funded Gibbet FX, led by professional special effects make-up artist Calum MacDonald, to deliver a series of SFX make-up courses to 15 partnership schools across Scotland (including Aberdeenshire, Angus, the Lothians, Falkirk, Glasgow City, North Lanarkshire and Perth and Kinross).

These two-hour workshops were run over three consecutive days and aimed to encourage Senior Phase students (S4-S6) to consider their options for work within the growing local film and screen sector. 

A group of school pupils stand in a line outside in a school playground. They hold out an arm each, which all have special effects make up on them, in a range of wounds and cuts.

This has been an innovative and exciting project which elicited a massive and enthusiastic response from schools across Scotland and aligns with the draft Film and Screen curriculum for Scotland, especially the Level 5 and 6 awards which are being tested as part of the curriculum pilot scheme and offer Senior Phase pupils the opportunity to specialise in particular screen roles.

Furthermore, this project supports the need to offer and develop a new set of screen skills with an eye towards potential entry into the industry for a new generation of SFX make-up artists.