Barbra's Make Up Artist talks...

27 May 2006

David DeLeon talks about working with Barbra on Meet The Fockers and the Guilty Pleasure video shoot. It's so refreshing to read first hand reports of working with Barbra, instead of malicious reports from people who have never been near Barbra in their lives!

"There Are Moments You Remember All Your Life"

One of the great things about my job as a Make Up Artist are the unexpected experiences. For instance, I once stood face to face with a white lion (there was a cage between us) on a photo shoot in Las Vegas with Siegfried and Roy. The power and majesty of this beautiful animal was overwhelming. It’s voice alone was awe inspiring. It filled the giant showroom we were shooting in with such natural effortlessness and ease. When it roared I could feel the sound vibrating through my body.
Awesome!!!
I have always loved Barbra Streisand’s voice. I have all her albums, have seen her in concert, and have been an enthusiastic listener for as long as I can remember. So when I was asked to be her Makeup Artist for the cover shoot for her Guilty Pleasures album I was ecstatic. Maybe they would play some cuts from the cd while we were shooting. I had worked with Barbra before on Meet The Fockers and had a wonderful time with her. I’ve always felt at ease around Barbra. She’s a very down to earth lady and easy to talk to. I was told we’d be shooting the album cover and a couple of music videos and interviews. On the day of the shoot I showed up early. I always like to show up early so I can get my bearings before shooting begins. I wandered around the scoring stage we were to be shooting in and watched the grips and camera crew setting up their equipment and lights. Barbra had asked me previously if I wouldn’t mind doing Barry Gibb’s makeup also for the shoot. So, Mr. Gibb arrived first and I did his make up. I found him to be a charming talented gentleman and it was a pleasure working with him. Then Barbra arrived and we got her ready and the photo shoot began. They did indeed play cuts from the album while we were shooting and I was a very happy camper.
Then something magical happened. The musicians from the album were there to play in the videos. At one point during a break the piano player sat down and began to warm up. Barbra walked over to him and said, “Would you like to run through the song?” All of a sudden in a gentle, quiet voice, Barbra Streisand started singing. I think I dropped my brushes right then and there! I had no idea they were going to film her singing live! After a quick run through the director walked over to Barbra and said, “Should we try one?” “Sure,” she said. She sat down at the microphone, I touched up her makeup, the camera started rolling and she sang the song “Letting Go.” It’s hard to explain what it’s like to come face to face with a voice and talent like that. We as a public tend to be so jaded nowadays that we take great artists like Barbra Streisand for granted. But, there is a reason why we’ve been listening all these years. Talent like that has the ability to reach through the microphone, the ages, and straight into our hearts and imaginations. At ground zero, the only thing I can liken it to is standing face to face with that beautiful lion. As I stood there transfixed, I could feel the power, majesty, and natural effortlessness of her voice vibrating through my body.
Awesome!!!
Not every job we do as Makeup Artists are about powder, paint and illusion. Sometimes we come face to face with the natural wonders of the world, and when we do... it’s magical.