Inside the Makeup Magic of Dropout’s Very Important People: Prosthetics, Improvisation, and Creative Challenges

Working on makeup for an actor in a television series can be a time-consuming process, especially when prosthetics are involved. It’s even more impressive that Very Important People makeup department head Alex Perrone does not get to sit down with actors ahead of time for measurements or makeup tests. She must deliver multiple complex looks within a limited time frame, since the show films three episodes a day.

Dropout’s Very Important People is a series where comedians create a character for a fully improvised interview with host Vic Michaelis, after receiving full makeovers — including makeup, prosthetics, and costumes. Since makeup time can vary and comedians have only five to ten minutes to develop their characters, Perrone and her team are responsible not only for hiding their process from the performers but also for actively deceiving them in playful ways.

Host Vic Michaelis interviews Zeke Aaron McKinley (Anna Garcia), a fourth grader turned into rocks.

When asked about collaboration, Perrone explains that she works closely with director Tamar Levine and the writers. They communicate throughout the year via texts and meetings, sharing ideas about animals or concepts, and develop their designs through presentations. This collaborative process often starts with one idea and slowly evolves into a completely different creature or character — truly a makeup artist’s dream.

The makeup application can take from one to three hours, especially for heavy prosthetic looks. Actors have no access to reflective surfaces or their phones to avoid spoilers about coloration or design. Once Perrone signals readiness, the curtain drops on the reveal room and the comedians have only five to ten minutes to embody their characters before interviewing with Vic.

Perrone shares how she and makeup artist Bruce Spaulding Fuller enjoy toying with the actors to keep them guessing. They sometimes pretend to accidentally mention wrong details, adding a layer of playful deception to the process.

Standouts this season include Zeke (played by Anna Garcia), whose ambiguous character allowed for a visually creative approach without knowing how the actor would interpret it. Perrone highlights the surprise and delight of seeing Anna bring the character to life in unexpected ways.

Among challenging looks were those of Paul F. Tompkins and Anna Garcia, where typical prep like fittings or makeup tests are impossible due to the show’s format. Perrone describes the process as on-the-spot MacGyvering to make everything fit and work smoothly on camera.

The creative freedom mixed with logistical challenges makes Very Important People a unique and fascinating experience for the makeup department, highlighting the skill and adaptability of Perrone and her team in crafting unforgettable character transformations under pressure.