What’s not to love about the AMUA? We have amazing students, incredible instructors, and a support system around Nashville that keeps us all busy! So to spread the love, we’re making everyone our Valentine this February. It’s not a question… Be our Valentine.
Needless to say, the beginning of this new semester started off busy! From blood rigs at Belmont to flying to LA for IMATS Battle of the Brushes and so much more. Read on to see what our students have going on this semester because it’s going to be a good one!
IMATS Battle of the Brushes
Karlee Kane
Karlee Kane is an AMUA graduate from 2018 when she took our Advanced Beauty and Special Effects programs. She recently received her Esthetician license and has been crushing it in the bridal and commercial industry here in Nashville!
Karlee wanted to pay tribute to the toys and children’s shows from the 80s by creating a soft, feminine, vibrant character that would act as a guardian figure in a live-action My Little Pony.
Molly Howard
Molly Howard graduated from the Performance Makeup Artist Program in 2022. She is currently in cosmetology school to get her license in order to further her wig-making career!
Molly had her twin sister, Mattie, come to IMATS with her as her model! She wanted to depict a goth-girl version of the 80s and made the wig for her final look.
AMUA Mentors Teach at ThesCon
Michael Meyer (Wig Making and Styling Instructor) and Melissa Durmon (Costuming Instructor) attended ThesCon at Middle Tennessee State University the weekend of January 13th. Michael demonstrated how to do a Wig Quickfront in his master class at the conference. He also lead two short sessions, one on Learning to Ventilate and the other on 3D Transfer Applications. Melissa lead a master class covering the Decorative Art of Altering Materials. Her two short sessions included Basic Hand Stitching and Repairs as well as Millinery (hat making).
We’re excited to say we’ve already been asked back for next year’s ThesCon!
In the Studio – Students at Work!
Capri taught an Intro to Special Effects Makeup Class at the Nashville Film Institute and will be going back to teach more in the near future!
Reagan volunteered at the Imaging USA Conference and was in charge of running models to and from the makeup rooms to set, where she applied makeup touch-ups. She said it was an awesome networking opportunity!
Annie at Harpeth Hall was the weekend of January 27th! Ryanne headed the wig department with Lydia and Austin building wigs and applying bald caps to help bring this show to life.
Cuts, a Belmont film, wrapped at the end of January with Ryanne and Lilah doing special effects makeup including a blood rig for a wound.
We’re also building all the Audreys for Hazel Green High School’s production of Little Shop of Horrors! Lilah, Jazlyn, Tyler, and Alden are in the shop sculpting as we speak.
Smoke on the Mountain with Studio Tenn has Jade styling and running wigs for shows starting March 23rd. Get your tickets here!
Jade is also styling wigs for Julius Ceasar at Montgomery Bell Academy for shows starting February 22nd. Our costuming students jumped on board and are embellishing and altering costumes!
Over Christmas break, our students kept working and helped with wigs on Nashville Ballet’s Nutcracker and Nashville Repertory’s production of Elf.
Michael Meyer (Wig Making and Styling Instructor) and Melissa Durmon (Costuming Instructor) attended ThesCon at Middle Tennessee State University the weekend of January 13th. Michael demonstrated how to do a Wig Quickfront in his master class at the conference. He also lead two short sessions, one on Learning to Ventilate and the other on 3D Transfer Applications. Melissa lead a master class covering the Decorative Art of Altering Materials. Her two short sessions included Basic Hand Stitching and Repairs as well as Millinery (hat making).
We’re excited to say we’ve already been asked back for next year’s ThesCon!
Over Christmas break, our students kept working and helped with wigs on Nashville Ballet’s Nutcracker and Nashville Repertory’s production of Elf. 
Jazlyn A. – February 2nd