board of advisors
artists and industry professionals guiding and advising LMA
Howard Berger
Oscar Winner for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Emmy Winner for The Walking Dead
“When I heard Ve Neill was opening a makeup school I was ready to sign up and attend.
When I think of makeup, education and experience, I think of Ve Neill. Her years as a leader in our industry say it all. Why not learn from the best, and Ve is the Best!
Makeup, Education, Success = Ve Neill”
Tym Buacharen
Emmy Winner for American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace and Feud
When I am looking for school or higher education. I am looking for educators with experience. Ve is a legend and has the knowledge and experience to passed on to her students.
Ve was the first Makeup Department Head to hired me over 20 yrs ago. She was so nurturing and so generous with her knowledge with me on the set of AI. I know that’s how she will be with her students”
Greg Cannom
Oscar Winner for Vice, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Mrs. Doubtfire and Bram Stoker’s Dracula
“I’ve known Ve since I started working with Rick Baker in the 70’s. We have worked on several projects together, and have both won the Oscar together for Mrs. Doubtfire. Ve is simply the best makeup artist I have ever known. She has done it all. And I am very happy she is opening Legends Makeup Academy. You will learn from the very best.”
Andrew Clement
Emmy Nominee for All the Way, Guild Award Nominee for Deadpool and All the Way, HFCS Award for Best Makeup for The Disaster Artist
Owner and Curator of the Dick Smith Special FX Makeup Program
“I think the two most important things in any teacher are experience in the subject, and a genuine desire for the student to succeed and ideally surpass the teacher.
Ve and Lee have both of these qualities in abundance.”
Bill Corso
Oscar Winner for A Series of Unfortunate Events
Emmy Winner for Grey Gardens, The Shining and The Stand
“I seriously doubt, no, I know, I wouldn’t be where I am in my career without the experience and wisdom I’ve gotten from Ve, and I’m not the only one! So many of us owe our careers to Ve and the opportunities she’s afforded us.
I can’t think of anyone a Makeup Artist would learn more from than Ve Neill. She’s responsible for mentoring many of today’s top artists and an opportunity like that could be career making… It certainly was for me”
Ken Diaz
Emmy Winner for Westworld, Star Trek: The Next Generation and Alien Nation
“I have had the pleasure of working with Ve as part of her makeup team starting in the 1980s with “The Lost Boys” and “Beetlejuice,” then on the first three “Pirates of the Caribbean” films. I consider Ve Neill to be one of the best Makeup Department Heads of all time.
I am pleased to know that Ve’s Legends Makeup Academy will be where our industry’s top Makeup Artist will be passing on their wealth of knowledge to the next generation.”
Leonard Engelman
Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Award winner for Running Mates and Un tè con Mussolini, Lifetime Achievement Award
“Legends Makeup Academy has the perfect blend of artistry, management, and success in business to guide both the brand-new Makeup Artist Student, or the seasoned Makeup Artist.
“With the combination of these leaders and the legendary Makeup Artists who will be instructing and sharing their knowledge, you have the perfect blend to be on your way to becoming a Master Makeup Artist.”
Kenny Myers
Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hairstylist Guild Award for Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997), Emmy Nominee for Carnivàle, Alien Nation: The Enemy Within/Body and Soul, Creator of Skin Illustrator (distributed by Premiere Products Inc.)
“First of all, there’s no one like Ve anywhere in this universe. She’s a one of a kind, and anyone interested in makeup will make a pilgrimage to LMA to learn from the best.
Along with Lee Joyner, one the most experienced sculptors in the industry… well, to put it best, what a student will learn at LEGENDS boggles the mind, an opportunity not to be missed.”
Selena Evans-Miller
Over 25 years in the Film and Television Industry
Talent – Johnny Depp, Damon Wayans, Justina Machado, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessica Chastain, Daniel Henney
“Ve has been my mentor, amazing teacher, and friend, and I will never forget the day she asked this African American Girl, to assist her on Edward Scissorhands. She has always been ahead of her time…and my life and career had been changed forever.
I can proudly say, this academy is going to, really change lives and careers!!!!”
Joel Harlow
Oscar Winner for Star Trek (2009)
Emmy Winner for The Shining and The Stand
“I had the luck of learning from Ve directly over the course of several films, and the knowledge I took from her mastery of makeup and special effects artistry has helped shape my career. For anyone serious about pursuing being a makeup artist, the fact that Ve is offering her insight and wisdom should be treated as an extremely rare gift and seized upon without hesitation.”
Eryn Krueger Mekash
Oscar and BAFTA Nominee, Emmy Winner for American Crime Story, Feud, American Horror Story, The Normal Heart
“I can’t think of anywhere I rather get my makeup training than from Ve Neill’s makeup school! You want the best? You got the best!
When Ve told me that she was creating a brand new makeup school the first thing I thought was ‘Can I attend?”
Steve LaPorte
Oscar Winner for Beetle Juice
Emmy Winner for The X Files
“With the addition & partnership of educator & administrator, Lee Joyner, I see great things ahead. Having worked extensively with both Ve & Lee on an instruction level, I’m excited to see what lies ahead. Together they bring a lot to the table & have a vision like no other makeup school offers. I look forward in joining with their efforts.
I’m excited to see what lies ahead.”
Neville Page
Emmy Winner for Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Discovery
“Ve contacted me and said, ‘We are putting together a school….’, before she finished, my response was, “I’m in!”
Knowing Ve, knowing the core team and the access to the talent that will be the educators of Legends, it was overtly crystal clear as to the power, the relevance and the impact this institution will have upon aspiring artists. I couldn’t be more excited or supportive of this institution.
To be great at something takes humility, modesty and a keen awareness of who to ask for guidance. If that is your aspiration, then Legends Makeup School is where you need to be.”
Yolanda Toussieng
Oscar Winner for Ed Wood and Mrs. Doubtfire
Emmy Winner for Pee-wee’s Playhouse
“I consider myself one of the luckiest hairstylists in the film industry. I spent my 41 year career working with only two makeup artists. Ve was one of them.
To have a school dedicated to film and industry makeup taught by film and industry makeup artist instructors. This is truly a one-of-a-kind school”
Scott Essman
Makeup historian, writer, director and Creative Director of Visionary Media
Rondo Award for Best Feature Film Commentary, American Cinema Editors, Below the Line News, MovieMaker, Cinefex, Variety, LA Times, Makeup Artist Magazine
“I first met Ve Neill on the set of what became known as Gattaca—originally The Eighth Day—exactly 25 years ago this spring. Since then, she has been a close friend and collaborator throughout my 25 years of creating makeup history books, articles and special live events. It gives me great pleasure to have been asked to participate in this new venture as a contributing instructor.”
Nikoletta Skarlatos
Saturn Makeup Award Nominee For Immortals, Makeup and Hair Guild Awards Nominee for Hunger Games Catching Fire & Mockingjay Pt 1
“I am pleased that Ve Neill and Lee Joyner have come together to open what will become the greatest makeup school in the world. I have had the privilege of working on several films with Ve over many years who shaped my life and career most profoundly.
To work alongside the best is to learn to strive for the highest level of excellence.
Ve’s extensive knowledge and mentoring has shaped the life of almost every makeup artist in the film business. Anyone who has the opportunity to learn from Ve and this extraordinary team on a first hand level will have the opportunity of a lifetime.
I am honored to have been asked and I look forward to contributing to Legends Makeup Academy.”
Michael Westmore
Oscar Winner for Mask
Emmy Winner for Star Trek: Voyager, Deep Space Nine and The Next Generation and many more
“It has been my privilege to have known and worked with Ms. Ve Neill for over 30 years. Her extraordinary talents in the Art of Makeup Design, Makeup Application and Professional Teaching have always been held in high esteem. Every Makeup Artist benefits when they are exposed to Ms. Neill’s exemplary teaching techniques.”