Today, it is my honor to introduce a crew member from the upcoming crime/thriller film entitled To Avenge, written and directed by Nick Belial. Kat Carollo is a makeup artist with an abundance of experience within her chosen profession, and her vivacity and joie de vivre are as readily apparent as are her impeccable skills. Recently, Kat and I had the opportunity to converse about her career thus far, including her aspirations for the future, and I am delighted to feature her today!

RH: It is so nice to chat with you today, Kat, and welcome to Nick Belial’s To Avenge.

KC: Thank you, Ruth, very nice to chat with you as well. I so appreciate all that you’ve done to help promote the film already. I love the interviews you have done with the cast.

Thank you, Kat. I think Nick is pretty smart about marketing the movie the way he has. And because of him, I have been introduced to these wonderful people who are now associated with the film.

I’m really honored to be a part of this film.

With Marissa Urban, singer of Urbano photo shoot

Now, I have talked with a couple of other makeup artists and costume designers from other projects, and I always find it fascinating. I also feel like I get the “real” story from the crew. Not that the actors don’t tell me the truth, but they often don’t know everything that’s going on behind-the-scenes, and that is where the action really happens.

I agree with you on that, Ruth. I feel like the crew has a bit of a different perspective from the actors.

How did you get started in makeup?

Well, it’s a kind of a funny story. I was in school studying for a career in the medical field. I always enjoyed doing makeup, so I signed up to do direct sales with the cosmetic line Younique. I would post videos all the time of me doing makeup. My videos came to the attention of someone involved with the film industry, and they reached out to me to see if I would be interested in doing makeup on the set of a lower-budget movie. And I said, “Yeah! Why not? Sounds like a good idea!” So I went on the interview, and I got the job. And from there, the rest is history.

I started working on other movies. I have been going back and forth to Georgia to work on some events that they have there. For example, they did the finale of The Vampire Diaries and The Originals. I did some photo shoots. And then I opened my own makeup bar. So it just escalated from one thing to the next to the next.

Unfortunately, I did decide after a year and a half that it’s time for me to close the makeup bar. I’m just traveling too much. And I got into bridal makeup as well. So when I do bridal makeup, they don’t want to come to the makeup bar. They want you to come to them. It was an amazing experience having my own place, but I’m more a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of girl. I like to travel, and I can’t just stay in one place. So I knew it was time to just do what I love–travel and do makeup.

So the medical stuff just ended up going by the wayside?

Yeah, basically. I finished, and I never got a job in that field. But at least I always have something to fall back on.

That’s smart, Kat. I’m a substitute teacher in addition to being a journalist, so I understand completely. I was a full-time teacher, and if had to, I could return to the classroom. But it sounds like you are cut out for the film industry lifestyle.

Thank you, yeah. It is definitely insane at times. Sometimes you’re on set working sixteen-hour days for five to eight weeks. And it can be so chaotic. But the great thing about it is that when it’s over, you can take a little breather before your next project. It’s not like every single day it’s a nine-to-five job where it can be so repetitive. It’s got a different atmosphere, different places, and you get that little break, which is always wonderful.

What was the first project you worked on?

Cris Cyborg on set of Fight Valley

The first movie I worked on was Fight Valley.

Oh, I have not seen that film in its entirety, but I saw an extended trailer at a film festival I attended a couple of years ago. And the director led a quick discussion about it.

First day on set of Fight Valley

That’s great. Then after that, I just kept working with different people. Then I worked on a movie called Worthless, and that is just now going to film festivals. In fact, it just got back from the Philadelphia Film Festival, where it did pretty well. And I just got done doing a movie called Wing Girl. We’ll see how that one goes. Then I have three new projects coming up after the new year, but unfortunately, I can’t disclose what they are because

On set of Worthless with Erin O’Brien and Rene Vettese

I’m under contract and can’t talk about it yet.

I am familiar with Wing Girl since it stars Toni Ann Gisondi from Annie, which was my movie when I was growing up. I don’t even know how many times I watched that movie as a child.

Hey, I still watch it! It’s like that obsession where you have to watch it all the time.

I am also familiar with Worthless because Tara Reid is in that.

Oh, yeah, it was great working with her. She knows what she likes and what she doesn’t like, and I love that. Especially when someone is in your chair, you want that person to be able to say, “Listen, this works for me, and this doesn’t really work for me.” And when they’re on the West coast, and you’re not, you don’t get to do those trials prior to set. So it’s really nice when you have someone who is so professional and comes in and tells you what colors work best and what products work best for their skin. And she was super sweet to me.

Oh, that’s cool. I think she is an actress who tends to be underrated. I know she’s known for Sharknado, but she is so much more than that. I saw her in a Christmas romance movie that was very different. And I was very impressed with her.

That’s really neat to hear. I know that so many of these actors have more range than what they might be given credit for. They get typecast in a category, but they can do it all. And Tara Reid is definitely one that can do it all.

Have you worked with Nick Belial previously?

Series finale of The Vampire Diaries party in Covington, GA

No, this will actually be my first time working with him. I’m really excited. We met each other through a mutual person. As we started chatting, I absolutely fell in love with his idea for To Avenge. This script is just amazing. Without giving too much away, I can say that To Avenge is a project that I am very interested in working on. It’s definitely going to be a different type of movie for me. He has an amazing group of actors attached to the project, and I am so excited to work with them!

I couldn’t agree with you more on that, Kat!

I also think that the storyline is gonna be so moving. It’s hard to explain without saying too much. I think that this movie is going to hit home for a lot of people.

Will your role include

doing all the makeup for the cast?

What I can say is that I will definitely not be doing the special effect makeup. Don’t get me wrong. I love doing special effects makeup and it’s lots of fun.

31 Days of Halloween

Right now, I’m doing thirty-one days of Halloween feature, and that’s been super fun. Every night I do a live video on Facebook, and it’s of different Halloween ideas. And there are some special effects stuff in there. However, for myself, I am not confident enough in my special effects skills to put my name on it. Unless it was something very minor. I don’t mind cuts, I don’t mind bruises. But anything more than that, I leave it to the professional special effect makeup people.

I do love getting to highlight the crew members because they are often overlooked in films and TV. I like to feature all the people that work together to make a movie like this, and that includes the behind-the-scenes people like you. In fact, I think I have heard it said that it’s really a miracle every time a film is actually completed and put out there so people can watch it.

Photoshoot: Covington GA Model: Kylie Cordell Photo Credit: Jordan Expressions

I hear ya on that. And I do get the fact that the crew is under-appreciated. But in my experience, usually, the cast is very appreciative of us. And I think that’s why the crew is okay with being behind-the-scenes. It’s not about getting the recognition along with everyone else. It’s being appreciated while on set because it takes so much work. And when you see the final product, it’s enough to just go, “Oh, I’m a part of that!” But all of us crew members are aware of what we’re signing up for. We sign up for a job where we’re not going to be noticed, but that’s okay with me.

Of course, you have To Avenge and these other projects you cannot mention as of yet. But I’m wondering if you are interested in being involved in other parts of the industry besides makeup.

Rachel Allen prom fashion show in Atlanta

Okay, so I do hair and makeup. I do not cut and color hair, but I do style it. To be honest, as of right now, I’ve just been trying to expand in the film industry, doing photo shoots, fashion, and I do enjoy doing bridal makeup. But one day in the future, I have always thought of opening a franchise…I don’t want to say makeup artist because I think that in today’s society, everyone wants a salon. They want a one-stop shop. But I’m thinking more in terms of a teaching franchise. People can come and learn. They can bring young girls to come in and learn how to do makeup properly. Now, YouTube is a great thing, but I think there’s a big issue with electronics these days and people being on them too much and not interacting with other people. I’d like to have a franchise where people could come and learn how to do makeup and how to style their hair.

I think that sounds like a great idea, Kat!

And I have a dream. I want to work on at least one movie during Christmas on the Hallmark Channel.

Filming the talk show The Goss with Bonnie Bruderer

Oh yeah, I can definitely understand that! And they are expanding a lot and doing a record number of movies.

Yes, and they are doing a lot in Georgia. But I want to say that I am determined…whatever it takes. I know Hallmark tends to work with union people, and I am non-union. I’m not too interested in becoming union, but that could change in the future. I’m married, and I like the flexibility of picking what I want to do. And I’m sure you get to do that in the union; it’s just a little different.

Well, I think that’s a great goal, and I really hope it happens for you. You never know in this industry.

Exactly. It just takes one right person to meet you or see your work and really like you. Especially in this industry. It’s very much who you know and/or how hard you are willing to work. Persistence is key. But also there’s a lot of cutthroat people in this industry. And it’s hard because you try to have really tough skin. Now, I have tough skin, but I do also wear my heart on my sleeve. I have noticed that the tougher you are, you tend to get in with someone faster. However, I’m looking for longevity. So I’m noticing that the nicer I am, the more I can show my skill and I can prove to someone that I am worth taking a chance on.

On set of a music video with Urbano

I know exactly what you’re saying. There are those who maybe advance faster because they’re getting more opportunities, but they’re not creating relationships.

Yep, and then those people can be very negative, and I just don’t want to work with negativity.

Me neither! And Kat, you certainly sound like you have the right mindset. I commend you for that, and I tend to think that in time, that will be what takes you far. You’re going to be much more than a one-hit wonder.

Thank you, Ruth, it’s so good to hear you say that.

Thank you, Kat, for taking the time, and I can hardly wait to see your upcoming projects, including To Avenge.

Ruth, it was a pleasure chatting with you. And I’m very excited to start filming To Avenge so that everyone can see it and enjoy it!

Opening of Kat Carollo Makeup Bar

As the first member of the To Avenge crew that I have been able to highlight, Kat is an exemplary artist who has consistently demonstrated an eagerness to work within an industry that can often be extremely challenging and even difficult to navigate. Far too many people enter this profession with dreams of fame and fortune, but it is thoroughly evident that Kat’s motivation is one of service and earning a living doing what she loves. While I have not had the opportunity to see any of the projects on which Kat has worked previously, I am ecstatic about this upcoming opportunity with Nick Belial’s To Avenge, and I applaud Nick’s decision to add her talent and personality to the team. While we await this exhilarating film, I invite everyone to check out all of the links below (for Kat, To Avenge, and Nick Belial) and consider following each where applicable. Moreover, while I cannot instruct Hallmark to hire Kat as one of their makeup artists, I can certainly cross my fingers for her and wait expectantly for that news that I hope will come for her someday in the future when she can announce, “I am working on my very first Hallmark Christmas movie!” And I promise to be the leader of her cheering section!

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