Makeup in film is more than beauty; it builds worlds, emotions, and identity. Makeup artist Ada Bernaldo breaks down her process for the hit short film Water Sports.
When people watch films, they often admire the cinematography, acting, costumes, and editing—rarely noticing the quiet magic of makeup. But in reality, makeup is a vital storytelling tool. It helps set the tone, define the era, and ground the characters in the world the film is trying to build.
Makeup only tends to draw attention when there’s a dramatic transformation—like when a tall, blonde leading man is turned into a mythical beast. But its purpose goes far beyond shock value or horror aesthetics. In film, makeup is a visual language of its own. It adds texture to characters, subtly reflects their journeys, and completes the cinematic picture.
To delve deeper into the world of film makeup, Lifestyle Asia spoke with Ada Bernaldo, the makeup artist behind the short film Water Sports (directed by Whammy Alcazaren), on her process and the power of makeup as a visual medium for storytelling.
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Brush Strokes To Heat Stroke
Water Sports is set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by climate change and extreme global warming. Visually, the film called for skin marked by sun exposure—burnt, freckled, and weathered by heat. While that may sound simple, creating such realism requires more than a touch of blush. Like any other art form, film makeup involves a deliberate and deeply creative process.
Makeup artist Ada Bernaldo shares that the mood board was already defined from the start, with one of the primary inspirations being Chinese model Ye Hao’s GQ China “Heatstroke” editorial. But what works in a still photo doesn’t always translate seamlessly into motion. “To match it [the inspiration] with the film, we had to make it look more realistic. Dry lips, blemishes, and messy hair were the key elements of the look. It’s important to note that we had to do the entire body makeup on nine boys, for multiple shooting days,” she explains. Continuity became just as crucial as creativity. “No shifting tan lines allowed,” Ada adds.
“We did a first look test on (actors) Elijah Canlas and John Renz Javier using just liquid and powder blush,” Ada recalls. “But with the warm color grading washing everything out, we knew we needed something more realistic.” Head SFX artist Kat Quirimit then suggested “manual airbrushing” with red alcohol-based makeup to mimic real sunburnt skin. From there, the team had to do full-body makeup for the entire ensemble across multiple shoot days, making sure the tan lines stayed consistent despite the heat, dancing, and constant movement.
“Since films are naturally longer than the short-form content we scroll through online, we have more time to know and see the characters in films. We have more chances to see their expressions, emotions, and feelings. Makeup, especially SFX makeup, amplifies that,” she adds.
The Reality Of Filmmaking
Ada admits that working on Water Sports was no easy feat. “I think the whole team would agree the shoot was a challenge,” she laughs. The film portrays an intense heat wave, yet in reality, they were filming in an empty pool during a typhoon, in a season that was supposed to be dry. “We had to work through everything: the heavy rains, the heat from the lamps—it was a lot.”
Despite the makeup being rooted in realism, the film’s visuals leaned into stylization. “The setups for each scene were so meticulous and tedious,” she says, “but it really amplified the story.” The contrast between raw skin and artful composition made every frame striking. As Ada puts it, “It was a feast for the eyes.”
Beyond Makeup
As a makeup artist, Ada understands makeup on a deeper level. It’s about more than aesthetics—it can reveal, conceal, or sometimes do both at once.
“People usually think it (makeup) is merely a mask to cover up imperfections, but it can also be a mask to try and temporarily put on a different identity, even just for a while,” she explains. For Ada, makeup is a mirror—it reflects whatever a character is trying to communicate. In this film, that meant translating extreme heat and the brutal effects of global warming onto skin..
However, Ada, a Gen Z makeup artist, acknowledges that her view of beauty and makeup has also been shaped by her generation’s social media. “I think Gen Z makeup artists tend to just follow current makeup trends, which I sometimes find myself guilty of,” she admits.
Still, like other artists, she values the satisfaction of creating something from scratch and making it her own. “Of course, it’s fun to recreate the looks you see on screen, but there’s great value in trying to create a look out of something that isn’t necessarily already a trend—because there is no singular way to do makeup.”
Entering the film industry for the first time, Ada offers one piece of advice: don’t be afraid to speak to the veterans. She started as a commercial production assistant, with makeup only as a hobby, and spent her first few minutes on set mustering the courage to approach the makeup team. But that small moment of courage opened doors—first as an assistant, then to her own projects. “People in this industry are more generous than you think,” she says. “Listening, asking, and being open—that’s the best makeup tool you’ll ever have.”
All photos courtesy of Ada Bernaldo
