RICHMOND – KEY HMU NEEDED FOR LOW BUDGET FEATURE – JULY 24TH-AUGUST 22nd – Paid

Job Position(s): RICHMOND – KEY HMU NEEDED FOR LOW BUDGET FEATURE – JULY 24TH-AUGUST 22nd – Paid

Virginia Film Office — Jobs is seeking a Key Hair and Makeup Artist for a low budget feature film shooting in Richmond, Virginia from July 24th through August 22nd. The Key HMU leads the hair and makeup department on set, overseeing all looks from character design through final touches on camera, and maintaining continuity across the full shoot. This role suits a working department head with feature film production credits who knows how to run a lean department without sacrificing quality.

About the Role

As the Key HMU on a low budget feature, you are both the designer and the hands-on artist, building looks in prep and executing them daily through a compressed production schedule. You will work directly with the director and director of photography to establish the visual language for each character, then carry that through every shooting day. Expect close collaboration with costume and production design to keep the overall aesthetic cohesive from frame to frame.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute all hair and makeup looks for principal cast, day players, and background as required by the script and director’s vision.
• Maintain detailed continuity records and photo references for every character across the full August production schedule.
• Manage all department supplies, kit inventory, and on-set hygiene standards throughout the shoot.
• Coordinate with the costume department head to ensure hair, makeup, and wardrobe reads consistently on camera under each lighting setup.
• Hire and supervise any additional HMU artists brought on for high-demand shooting days.
• Prepare actors in a timely manner according to the daily call sheet and communicate clearly with the first AD regarding department readiness.

What You Bring

• Verifiable credits as a Key or Department Head HMU on at least one feature film production or comparable long-form project.
• A professional kit stocked for both beauty and character makeup across a range of skin tones and production conditions.
• Experience working within low budget feature constraints, including managing a small or solo department efficiently.
• Strong continuity discipline and familiarity with on-set production workflow alongside camera and lighting departments.
• Availability for the full shoot window, July 24th through August 22nd, in Richmond.

Why This Role

Virginia Film Office — Jobs exclusively posts paid positions, and this Key HMU role is compensated. Richmond has become a steady market for independent feature film production, and this shoot offers a department head credit on a completed feature with a defined end date. The four-week schedule gives you a full arc from prep through wrap without an open-ended commitment.

Apply now for the Key HMU position with Virginia Film Office — Jobs and bring your department head experience to this Richmond feature.