MEET THE WESTMORE ACADEMY INSTRUCTORS

Marvin G. Westmore is a six time Emmy nominated, 3rd generation professional Hollywood Makeup Artist, with a history of over 35 years in consumer makeup and in the Motion Picture and Television industry. Mr. Westmore is considered by his peers to be the top makeup specialist in his many fields.

Kandace Westmore

Kandace Westmore has been a self-proclaimed makeup geek since the tender age of four. She started cosmetology school at the age of 16, and was lucky enough to begin her professional career working with famous photographers Harry Langdon and George Hurrell. For the former, she utilized her fashion skills while for the latter, Kandace contributed her makeup talents on album covers for artists ranging from Basia to the Pet Shop Boys in the mid-eighties. She also did many independent films including several feature films for TransWorld Entertainment where she worked as head makeup artist. She also worked for Tribune as a makeup consultant, and with Geraldo on all of his specials.

Kandace honed her craft on various other projects such as infomercials and game shows, including celebrity host Bob Barker on “The Price is Right”. Following an assortment of other assignments, she balanced everything from entertainment specials to sitcoms to reality shows to episodic television. Her many accomplishments include the long-running “Baywatch” and “McGyver” series, “The X-Files”, “Lois & Clark”, and more recently, “American Dreams” , for which Kandace and her team received the coveted 2004 “Best Period makeup” from her peers at the Makeup Artists & Hairstylists Guild, and now “Ghost Whisperer”. She was also thrilled to be nominated for an Emmy for her work on “The Rat Pack” in 1999.

Apart from the glamorous aspect of the business, Kandace has also been involved with medical esthetic makeup for post-operative cosmetic surgery patients, as well as laser resurfacing facially disfigured patients. She has also been asked to utilize her talents to test and evaluate products for various cosmetic and top skin care lines.

Kandace, who Life Magazine spotlighted as the “First female Westmore to pursue the craft”, continues the Westmore dynasty as a fourth-generation Hollywood makeup artist whose most recent projects include “Revelations” starring Bill Pullman and Natasha Henstridge (directed by David Seltzer) for which has received another Emmy nomination, “Hollywood Division” (directed by James Foley), “Checking Out” starring Peter Falk and Mario Van Peebles, and the television series “Surface” starring Laura Daughtery. Kandace is currently working on the set of “Ghost Whisperer” starring Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Kandace has spent nine years on the Executive Board of Hollywood Local 706 IATSE, and has been a member of the local 706 for 18 years. She is also a member of CEA (Cosmetology Educators of America), and has continued the legacy of the Westmores being active with the Hollywood Local which her great uncles and grandfather started.

Christie Leister, Head Beauty Instructor

Christie is a graduate of Westmore Academy , which expanded her career from weddings and special occasion makeup to include photography, video, television and film. Christie's work can be seen on the new home improvement show “Designed to Sell”, “The Jury” on the discovery channel, (a Directors Guild recognized film). Her work also includes a variety of photo shoots and music videos including American HI-FI, Donnie Rai and Nina Shaw. “Westmore Academy provided a pertinent stepping stone in my makeup career and can do the same for anyone wanting to take their skills to the next step."

Mark Bussan

Mr. Bussan is a highly skilled Makeup Artist from beauty to makeup effects. Mark has won two Emmys and eight Emmy Nominations. For over 35 years he has done numerous motion pictures, dozens of television shows such as "The Young and the Restless", "Charlie's Angels", and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" just to name a few. He recently worked on "Deadwood" for HBO.

Ms. Kaori is an Emmy winning makeup artist, who joined the Makeup Union in 1980. Ms. Kaori teaches our very specialized traditional Japanese Kabuki and Geisha makeup. She brings with her all the traditional style and beauty of the Japanese products and tools which have been used for centuries to create these amazing characters. Her credits includes “Flash Dance,” “Ghost Busters,” “American President,” “One more time,” “Blind Date,” “The Natural,” “Batman & Robin,” “Mars Attack,” “Star Trek,” “Escape from LA,” “Last Samurai,” “American Beauty,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “Moon Lighting,” “Step by Step,” “Ally McBeal,” and “ER”. In 2003, Ms. Kaori won the Emmy Award for the TV series, “Alias”. She produced the international fashion spectacle, “Living History of Kimono” in 2005, which some of the industries’ top designers attended.

Kaori was recently honored by the Emperor of Japan with the Order of the Rising Sun with Gold and Silver Rays (Kunsho Award) for her cultural contribution to promote understanding of Japanese traditional arts and kimono within the entertainment industry. She has also been supportive of various Japanese-American community organizations in Southern California including Keiro Senior Health Care.

Dalbert Buitrago

Dalbert brings to Westmore Academy a background in fashion design along with his skills as a professional make-up artist. Having earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Fashion Design and Marketing from AIU, he worked as a designer for 6 years before directing his artistic skills to fashion make-up design. He has worked with high-fashion photographers such as Davis Factor, Tony Ward, and Andrew Matusik. He regularly works on photo shoots with Fred Segal and Smashbox Studios, as well as designing sporty make-up looks for Nike’s seasonal fashion shows. As a make-up artist for Shiseido’s high-end line, Cle de Peau Beaute, Dalbert works with celebrity clientele on a regular basis. He keeps his roots in the fashion world by staying up to date with designer’s collections, runways shows, and the latest trends in clothing and accessories.

Gordon Banh

Gordon is a graduate of Westmore Academy of Cosmetic Arts and has been practicing his craft since he was fifteen years of age. He is also a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Merchandising & Design (FIDM).

Gordon has experience in film, print, music videos, and commercials but his main passion is fashion and beauty make-up.

He is an instructor at the Westmore Academy teaching avant-garde and high fashion make-up.