My name is Sabrina Lo. I graduated in 2018, July. I attended the complete program, the 8 month program, it was so much fun. And that’s how I developed my career, that’s the beginning.
How was your time at CMU?
I graduated high school in Hong Kong, and my sister is Canadian, and after high school I was kind of lost, didn’t know where to go. I was debating, “should I go to university, just like other people”. But I was thinking “I don’t like to study, I hate numbers, I hate work, but I love to draw”. And I always do face painting on my grandmother, I do face painting on my classmates, and I love to do hair. My mom suggested “why don’t you come to Toronto to visit and explore”. And then I discovered, “Oh there’s a makeup school in Toronto that’s pretty good, that you can learn prosthetic stuff, special effects, film, and TV”, and then after high school, I just applied. I was kind of nervous too.. because you need to write why you want to apply and I asked my sister to help me. Then we had a family meeting with my parents, because you know Asian parents, they kind of don’t want you to do something artistic. And thank God, my brother and sister were so supportive, they know how it goes, they explained their experience to my parents. And then they said “yeah, just go to CMU”. Then I applied for the longest course because I want to know all the things that I like. Once I wanted that, there was no way for me to change my path.
The complete path, you really have options, you’ll never regret having the skills.
Yes! Exactly. At first I thought that I would just do film and TV stuff, but then after I graduated, the pandemic hit, then the strike, it just makes me want to think about, “maybe I need to think of more ways to survive”. Life is hard, inflation, everything just happens. That’s why right now I’m doing my own bridal business, as well as being onset.
What was your first job, or most memorable job?
After graduating, I was looking around, because you know, you just graduated, no one‘s going to hire you. And then I came back to the school and I asked Liz and Barb for advice. “How do you get a job”, and they sent me some modelling agencies, like fashion stuff, and then I started there. Then I looked on Google, calling those agencies. But sadly, they didn’t reply to me. And then I found Fashion Art Toronto, every year they host a fashion show. I went there for the whole week doing free jobs, 10 hours a day, just doing make up, and that’s how I started. I met people from there, to bring me in onset.
So you networked with people there?
Yes. Someone recommended to go on Facebook groups, and I joined those Toronto Film Facebook group, people just post jobs. There’s a lot of film students who also just graduated. I did a lot of free student films, trying to build my experience to be more comfortable to work onset. Because you know it’s fast paced, no one’s going to let you just chill there. After that, I think before the pandemic, once I had a certain amount of hours, I applied to IATSE. During the pandemic, I waited for six months. I went for the interview, it was so stressful. It was the hardest thing in my life. It took 2 hours, there were a couple of tables that had all the heads of the departments there, and they’re just looking at your kit, asking you questions. You need to send them your profile, it was crazy, it was so intense. But luckily I got in, and I worked on a TV show 2 years ago. Because you know, last year was the strike, I just worked on 1 Hallmark christmas movie at the beginning of the year, and then after that I just did bridal, nothing onset. It was so bad.
Anything you think future students or prospective students should know?
I would say never give up, no matter how hard it gets. If you know what you’re passionate about, just go for it and don’t think about it. Because you know, its good to start young because you know, working onset is long hours. Even now, I’m thinking, I can’t work until I’m 60 onset! Overnights, 12+ hours a day, that’s insane! I don’t think normal people would do that, unless you love to work onset.
And then.. Don’t think too much. Just do it. When I got started, I had nothing, I had thick skin to ask people. I think that’s also the key, if you want something – just ask for it, go out and meet people. I’m kind of an introvert deep down. To meet people – networking – that’s the thing. That’s how people bring me into films, and also bridal too. At first, I didn’t have any experience working on weddings, and then I asked some wedding photographers and they referred me to some bridal makeup artists. And then I worked with them, to do moms and bridesmaids, and that’s where I started to explore weddings. I love it.
