The Story of the Makeup Light
MICHAEL ASTALOS
Michael has been creating lighting for professional makeup artists for 20 years. His first company, Cases for Visual Arts, was founded when his wife, makeup artist Vivian Baker, was struggling with good lighting when daylight-balanced lights were introduced to film and television. Using his knowledge of the complexities of lighting, he created the first CVA portable makeup station as a gift for his wife. This would begin a whole new career for Michael, who had worked as a commercial photographer and electrical draftsman for lighting. In 2013, Vivian needed to up the game even more as digital took over the world of film and television. She requested an entire upgrade in lighting. It needed to fit in the small spaces of her trailer, be bright, but not blinding, and have the full-color spectrum and color temperature. TML was born. Michael's two companies thrive today. Demand is pushing TML into the consumer audience, as more people want high-quality lighting. Michael continues to pioneer in LED lighting in ways no one else has done or is looking to do.
VIVIAN BAKER
Vivian, always a lover of transformations in makeup, quickly rose to be one of the most sought-after makeup artists in the world. In 2020, she won the Oscar and the BAFTA — among other awards — for her work on Bombshell, as one of the lead artists to Charlize Theron. Not new to awards, Vivian won an Emmy in 2009 for her prosthetic work on Drew Barrymore for Grey Gardens. Her prolific resume ranges from high fashion, to beauty, to prosthetics, to character transformations. The symbiotic relationship between Vivian and her husband has created the best lighting because it has come out of a working need.
