Today’s Pride Month (Extra!) Interview is with theatrical and television/film hair and make-up artist John “Jack” Curtin:
Hi, Jack! I hope you’re staying safe and healthy during current events. What are you doing to stay creatively motivated in these unusual times?
When the COVID-19 Pandemic shut down the entertainment industry in March and closed the Make-up Artists & Hairstylists Local 798, IATSE office, I started feeling anxious. I started making masks in an attempt to do something to calm those feelings. It actually worked to up my mood and reignited my creativity for sewing. I sent a bunch of masks to our mutual friend Karen Toth Seymour for her and the nurses she works with. I made them for my staff and Executive Board. Then I had a conversation with a friend who participates in Krew de Pink, a breast cancer charity in New Orleans. They have an annual Art Corset auction to raise money. So I pulled out my patterns and books from college and started making a corset to be auctioned. Now I plan to work through my fabric stock making things!
Since June is Pride Month, I have to ask: how has being gay influenced or informed your work in the theatre?
Being gay while working in theatre has been a mixed experience. While homosexuality is common in the arts and theatre, there have been issues.
I started out touring the country in the early 1990s as a wardrobe supervisor and truck loader. The touring company was a family where we could all be who we are; when we entered the theatre, we had to gauge how out we could be. In some places it was best not to be ‘found out’, in others we were ‘gay ambassadors’ educating people that we are all the same, no matter who we are attracted to. I have been cursed out, spit on and even been on the receiving end of a gun. Conversely, I had people thank me for being an “out gay man” as it helped them on their journey to come out.
When I started working on Broadway in the late 1990s, I thought I had left all that behind. Sadly, while it was ok to be gay, there were still people who would voice their negative opinion openly. I actually had a stage hand beg me not to let on we knew each other as he was seeing my roommate and we worked on the same show with his father.
Thankfully, we have evolved! The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), which Local 798 is a charted member of, created the IATSE Pride Committee. Discrimination based on sexual orientation will not be tolerated. At last year’s Pride March, all Locals of IATSE marched as one as LBGTQIA+ people.
I am the Local 798 Pride Committee Coordinator, overseeing the NY and GA Local 798 Pride Committees, and looking to create committees in every state in our jurisdiction. We need to keep informing people about the LGBTQIA+ community, and win the protections we need to insure our rights.
I would love to hear a bit about your history doing hair and make-up for live theater and for television.
As I mentioned, I started out in Wardrobe as I studied Costume Design & Construction in college. While on tour, I started taking care of the show’s wigs, and started developing an interest in hair styling. I took the time to go back to school and received my Cosmetology License from New York State. I have been fortunate during my career to meet great mentors and found great opportunities. My tenacious attitude and strong work ethic helped as well. Broadway Wig Designer David Lawrence gave me my first break on a Christmas show in Chicago, and then Dream, the Johnny Mercer musical. While working with David at Bob Kelly studio I met many other Broadway designers, and was introduced to Michael Ward. Michael asked me to supervise a little show called The Lion King. It was the pinnacle of my Broadway career.
As you know, it is still running some 20 years later. My experience with work prior was a six to nine month run, then move to a new project. At the end of year two, I should have moved on as there was no creativity for me. At that time I became an Educator for Paul Mitchell as a creative outlet. I worked hard and became a Color Specialist and finally a Senior National Educator. After 5 year on The Lion King I chose to go back to salon work and take a break from theatre.
Theater and the Arts had a different plan for me. I did not take well to salon work, and after about a year was back swinging (filling in) on Broadway shows. I found a home at 42nd Street for the last 3 years of its run. During that time, I studied and took the Journeyman Upgrade test Local 798 offered. After 42nd Street closed, I started working in film and television, “day- playing” as needed. I was working with film legend Colleen Callaghan on a low budget film called Joshua. She recommended me to Department Head Kidnapped, which I had to leave early to again assist Colleen on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (on the Louisiana location) which won the Oscar for Make-up and Hair. This is what sparked my love of working on period shows.
Thankfully, earlier in my career I met Jerry DeCarlo who became my mentor and good friend. I assisted him on Carol and The Knick, both garnered various nominations; Make-up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards, Emmy Awards and BAFTA. I also assisted Jerry when he ran background on Bridge of Spies and Vinyl. If you would like to see all of the work I have done go to https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2226766/.
Which leads me to ask: what’s the process like for developing a character’s look? How much say/lee-way do you have? And is it different for live theatre versus working on a television show?
The process to develop a character’s look is a long and involved one. After reading the script at a table read with everyone involved, there are discussions with the Director, Costume Designer, Actors and Production. We all bring our research to the table and discuss the direction the character will go. We then have wigs made, hair colored and cut as agreed upon. Then the look is screen tested and any alterations are done to finally reach the final look/s.
Hair/Wig Designers have a good deal of input as we do the research and present it. That said, compromises have to be available to allow all visions room to exist.
What inspires you?
Love and Life are my prime inspirations.
I look back on my life and am happy with the majority of it. I regret we were not able to be our true selves in our youth, and that we were taught the wrong messages regarding LGTBQIA+ people. That said, I am so proud of how far we have come, and having been a voice for change. The beauty of life and its ability to endure and blossom is awe inspiring.
I have celebrated Love in my life, and am grateful and humbled by it. I celebrated New York Marriage Equality while working on Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and by getting married the following November in my home state of New York. The Love my husband and I share is the warm comfort in happy times and the steel needed to endure the hardships. As Whitney Huston said “Learning to love yourself is the greatest gift of all”. That self-love has been my sword and shield against the adversity of life, and has helped me grow into my true self.
What are you working on now?
I am working for all working people who have been marginalized by reversals of Workers Rights by the current administrations National Labor Relation Board. Specifically, Make-up Artists & Hair Stylists in the Entertainment Industry.
In 2014 I became the Sergeant at Arms of my Local and became more involved. I also was the Education Director and worked hard to create a Membership Orientation Class for new members. In 2016 I made the choice to step away from working at my craft and to run for the office of Secretary Treasurer. It was a hard decision to make, but I saw a need to work for my Local and the membership. I won my election and took office in December of 2016. I am currently in my second term.
I was fortunate to join Local 798 in 1996, and work under Collective Bargaining Agreements which provide good wages, health, annuity and pension benefit so I will be able to live well now and retire with dignity. It was time for me to step up and insure that what was created by those who came before me to be available to those who will come after me.
Also, as I mentioned previously I have returned to creating through sewing. I’m starting with this Art Corset which I will post on my social media platforms (currently Facebook and Twitter, I have to get back to Instagram). After that I am researching male corsets and may create a second for the Krew de Pink auction. From there who know what else I will create!
And finally, where can people find you and your work online?
Most of my film and television work can be found on many of the streaming platforms currently available. For a complete filmography you can visit https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2226766/.
John “Jack” Curtin is currently the Secretary-Treasurer of Make-up Artists & Hair Stylists Local 798, IATSE. Jack is an Emmy and MUHS Guild Award Nominee and worked on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button which won the Academy Award for Outstanding Make-up and Hair. Film Credits include Wonderstruck, Bridge of Spies, Carol, Deliver us from Evil, Almost Perfect, A Little Help, Make Yourself at Home, Spinning into Butter and Joshua. Television Credits include The Path, Vinyl, The Knick, The Americans, America’s Got Talent (guests), Kidnapped and Law & Order. Broadway Credits Include Pricilla, Queen of the Desert, La Cage aux Folle, Grease (2008), Coram Boy, 42nd street, The Lion King, and Dream.