For an artist, the work is often the reward. Getting to contribute to such memorable and impactful projects within the entertainment industry is truly an honour in itself. So, imagine the feeling for two Vancouver Film School alumni when their names were called at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 8. That’s right – Makeup Design alumni Emily Walsh and Suzie Klimack have won their respective Emmys for their work on the Disney+ series Shōgun. The series took home a whopping 18 trophies on awards night, making it a top Emmy-winning TV show.
But that’s not all! We did our usual deep dive into the entire ceremony for the 76th Emmy Awards in 2024 and are excited to announce that 398 alumni (and counting!) were credited on nominated projects, with 114 of this total on winning projects.
Emily Walsh (third from the right), alongside the rest of the winning team, accepting the award for Outstanding Period or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Makeup. (Phil McCarten/Invision/AP Content Services)This was the first win & nomination for both Emily and Suzie. While Emily, credited as 1st Makeup, won ‘Outstanding Period or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)’ for the episode ‘The Abyss of Life’, Suzie, a Special Makeup Effects Artist, won ‘Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup’ for ‘A Dream of a Dream’. Both Emily and Suzie were in attendance for the big event (what a thrill this must have been for them!).
We’re also celebrating the 14 total VFS Makeup Design alumni who have worked alongside our Shōgun makeup Emmy winners throughout the show’s run, proving that our alumni are a dominant force within the show’s makeup department!
Suzie Klimack (right) accepted her award for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup alongside her fellow nominee Bree-Anna Lehto. It’s no stretch of the imagination when we say our alumni are EVERYWHERE, especially within the entertainment industry. To briefly summarize Vancouver Film School’s alumni successes at the Emmys:
- VFS alumni worked on 70+ titles recognized at this year’s Emmys, including The Bear, Hacks, Abbott Elementary, Fargo, True Detective, The Crown, Black Mirror, RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Simpsons, Family Guy, The Regime, American Horror Story, The Witcher, What We Do in the Shadows, Ahsoka, and many more.
- Aside from our Makeup program, these alumni span numerous other VFS programs, including: 3D Animation & Visual Effects, Film Production, Acting for Film & Television, Game Design, Writing for Film, Television & Games, Animation Concept Art, Classical Animation, Sound Design for Visual Media, and Digital Design.
- They also worked in a vast array of creative positions, including Animation Supervisor, Storyboard Artist, Makeup Artist, Drone Operator, Visual Effects Editor, Digital Compositor, Interpreter, Still Photographer, Production Assistant, and even in Acting roles!
For these 398 alumni, this is nothing short of a triumph. We’re so pleased to see that their hard work & talent is being recognized and rewarded with the highest honours in the television industry. Ready to be the next Emmy-winning makeup artist? Apply today to VFS’s Makeup Design program and be fully trained for a career in production makeup and join our VFS Emmy-winning alumni in just 1 year!
FAQ
1. How many VFS alumni worked on Emmy-recognized projects in 2024?
A total of 398 VFS alumni were credited on Emmy-nominated projects, with 114 contributing to winning titles.
2. What did Emily Walsh and Suzie Klimack win Emmys for?
Emily Walsh won for Outstanding Period or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Makeup, and Suzie Klimack won for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup, both for their work on Shōgun.
3.Which VFS programs are connected to Emmy-winning alumni?
VFS programs such as Makeup Design for Film & Television, 3D Animation & Visual Effects, Film Production, and Writing for Film, Television & Games have trained Emmy-recognized (and winning!) talent.