About
Stepping Up provides continued education and training for Film Industry Professionals. Courses are taught by working professionals of the Vancouver Film community.
Our goal is to create a community and lifeline for artists to grow and improve throughout their career. The excitement of being able to maintain and elevate the standard of work that our founders of the Vancouver Film Industry started motivates us daily.
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We train novice to professional artists and technicians working, or hoping to work in the film industry. Stepping Up allows artists to keep their skills sharp and to master practical techniques and innovation with the industry.
This is our passion, to strengthen and elevate the skillset of our peers, to keep Vancouver’s Film Industries great reputation thriving.
The Founders
Kate Blythe
Is originally from the UK and has been working in film and television since 2002, starting her career in London England, working on live studio shows as a Graphics Operator. She soon decided to switch over to makeup and hasn’t looked back. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Media Production from the University of Bedfordshire, Makeup for Film and Television Certificate from the London College of Fashion, and a Makeup Artistry Diploma from John Casablanca Institute of Applied Arts. She has been a makeup artist for 15 years and has been an IATSE 891 member since 2014. Past and recent projects include, The Man in the High Castle(Amazon), Altered Carbon(Netflix), See(Apple), Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist(Hulu).
Kari Anderson
Is a member of ACFC West and IASTE since 2010. Hailing from Bolton Ontario, she
has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Guelph and graduated from Blanche
MacDonald Centre in 2008 from their Makeup Master’s Program. Kari has been doing
makeup for 20 years, getting her start in musicals, theatre and weddings. Kari was also
a Visual Arts Teacher at the Visual Arts Council of Orleans but has spent the last
decade focusing on film. Past and recent projects include; Wayward Pines (FX), The
Flash (CW), Six (History) and Netflix’s The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Kari is a two
time nominated and winner of a Leo Award for outstanding makeup.
Guest Instructors
Zabrina Matiru
Zabrina brings two decades of experience in film and tv to the table. Born and raised in Kenya, schooled in the UK and now residing in Canada. Her story has allowed her to develop a global perspective on racial relations, ethnic standards of beauty, and a rich understanding and appreciation of pigment and texture. Zabrina's credits include; Love Guaranteed, Lost in Space, Supernatural and Motherland: Fort Salem. Zabrina is a committed, vocal member of the Black Lives Matter and BIPOC movements.
Tina Teoli
Tina Teoli has been working in film and television for 25 years. Hired right out of school by one of her teachers to assist on a local tv series, she fell in love with the mad pace of television. She went on to assist on features like Fear, Freddy vs Jason, Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, the list goes on!
After assisting with many talented department heads she went on to head her own shows that include, The Good Doctor, Smallville, The Flash, When Calls the Heart, Hope Island, Like Mike 2, Radio Rebel and Noah's Arc. Currently Tina is heading up 'Debris' for NBC.
Lisa Marie Blair
Founder of The Skin Girls, Lisa has been in the beauty industry since 2006 and is a Certified Medical Aesthetician.
The Skin Girls was built on the principle that great skin should be attainable for everyone.
The Skin Girls has become Vancouver's top skin clinic/medispa with many celebrity clients. We are excited to have Lisa on the team sharing her knowledge with you all.
Leah Ehman
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Leah Ehman has been a makeup artist since the mid 90s. Starting out with commercials and fashion she eventually moved towards her goal as a member of IATSE 891. Her resume includes film credits such as iRobot, Tron 2, Sucker Punch, Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Night at the Museum 3. TV Credits include Stargate Atlantis, the Magicians, See, Beverly Hills 90210 the Reboot and most recently The Astronauts. Leah is also a past instructor at Blanche Macdonald Centre and Vancouver Film School.
Candice Stafford Bridge
After graduating from make-up school in April 1998, Candice Stafford applied to the local IATSE film union and was granted membership in 2001. Since then she has worked on countless film and television productions, most recently Candice was Department Head for The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Six, The Hypnotist's Love Story and Big Sky. Stafford is focused on keeping members’ skills at world-class levels and ensuring standards are maintained.
