Bolzano native Katharina Pöder is a makeup and hair artist. She attended the European School of Beauty, Massage, and Make-up in Milan and completed specialization courses in this field. She works as a makeup artist/mask designer for theater and film productions both domestically and abroad.
What fascinates you the most about your profession in the film industry?
Above all, I am fascinated by the entire creative process — from the first reading of the script to the finished image resulting on the screen. Together with the director, the costume design team, and the many other departments, you develop a character and a visual concept step by step. Seeing how all these individual areas come together in the end — lighting, grip, sound, makeup, and many more — and what can emerge from a crew working together is something special every time. I also love collaborating with different people and teams. You work with various makeup artists, actors, and creatives, and are constantly learning new things. It is precisely this variety, travelling, and the fact that you never really stop learning in this profession that fascinates me.
Which experiences have shaped you?
A formative experience for me was the time at the beginning of my career in Switzerland. There, I worked with a head makeup artist who was very strict and extremely precise in her work. I learned a lot from her, and many of her working methods and standards accompany me to this day. In addition, encounters with various actors — including famous personalities — have shaped me greatly. I experienced how human and down-to-earth many of them are and how a very familial working environment often develops on set.
What has been the biggest success in your work so far?
A special success for me was working on feature films, for example, on “Lassie – A New Adventure”, which was later shown in cinemas. However, a very special experience was a commercial production in the Maldives. I had the opportunity to travel there with a film crew for over a month and work in that extraordinary location. This combination of professional work, international collaboration, and a unique environment was a real highlight in my career so far.
The Local Talents are South Tyrolean filmmakers and professionals selected by the IDM Film & Music Commission who have been active in the local film industry.In short interviews, they talk about what they love about their profession and film.