For Donna Bis, a thirty year journey through the world of makeup design reached a triumphant peak recently when she accepted a Canadian Network of Makeup Artists award for Best Wig Making for her work on the film Connie and Carla. It was a banner evening for Bis, who watched as her long time friend and colleague Phyllis Newman received a Career Achievement Award handed out by still another twenty year colleague.
“By the time I went to receive my award I was already in tears,” says Bis “The only reason I’ve gotten where I am is because I have had such a wonderful group of people supporting me along the way. To have these women present [the awards] was unbelievable. It felt like my career had come full circle.”
Bis, who in addition to being a hairstylist is also an expert wigmaker, has worked in film since making Draw! - a Western starring Kirk Douglas - in the mid-1980’s. But she actually started her career in the theatre. Originally from Niagara-on-the-Lake , Ontario , which is home to the respected Shaw Theatre Festival, Bis grew up surrounded by the excitement of the productions. After studying theatre, she went to work for the Festival, doing everything from wardrobe to props. Following the advice of the stage manager, Bis went for her hairdressing licence. On her first day she had the daunting task of styling the hair of esteemed stage, radio, and TV actress, Kate Reid. Bis met the challenge and never looked back.
She was hired as resident wig mistress for the Citadel Theatre , at the time a new company getting started in Edmonton . The Citadel’s Artistic Director, John Neville, set his sights on making the Theatre world class, and sent Bis to the National Art Centre in Ottawa to develop her skills under one of Canada ’s top wigmakers, Donna Glidden. “Wigmaking just came naturally,” says Bis.
Bis’s reputation as a period-hair specialist quickly spread from the theatre community into the film and TV industry, and she juggled both careers until leaving the Citadel to pursue film full-time. “My experience in theatre really helped me to survive in this environment,” says Bis. “There is a lot more involved with this job than the hairstyling; you have to know when to speak to a producer, when to yell at a producer, how to gauge an actor’s personal space when you’re working with them. It’s not a place for people who are wishy-washy.”
In 1986, Bis was hired to work on The Clan of the Cave Bear . While filming in Vancouver , she received so many additional offers, including Rocky IV, she decided to stay. Now, nearly twenty years later and a senior member of IATSE, the local film technician’s union, Bis has earned an extensive list of credits ranging in everything from the period piece Little Women (where she worked under one of the world’s best wigmakers, Peter Owen), to last year’s Christmas hit Elf.
One year ago, Bis was invited by long-time colleague Charles Porlier, Head of the VFS Makeup Department, to be a guest lecturer at the school. The response to her was so encouraging that Bis returned to VFS to work with Porlier on developing a Hair Technique curriculum which provides on-set experience that prepares students for a professional environment. “Teaching is a very important thing to do to pass on our craft,” says Bis. “I never stop learning when I’m teaching. Our students make me think twice because there is always somebody who sees things out of the box.”
On location near Thetis Lake, British Columbia, for the filming of Marker, producers Erin Haskett and Larisa Andrews took a few moments from their busy production schedule to share what has helped shape their rising careers. In the past six years, Erin and Larisa have produced award winning short films, opened their own production company and, now, are shooting their first feature film.The two met in 1998 while attending