Jennine Hollingshaus, an adjunct professor at BYU and head makeup artist for Studio C, bridges creativity, professionalism and education.
“I want my students to understand that they have power, that they can make decisions and that they can actually change the way things are done,” Hollingshaus said.
Hollingshaus has been with Studio C since its third season, crafting character looks for sketches that range from slapstick comedy to poignant storytelling. Dalton Johnson, a cast member, described the unique trust actors place in Hollingshaus.
“I’ve personally had good experiences with pretty much every makeup artist I’ve worked with,” Johnson said. “But Jennine is someone that is super professional that you’ll just trust every time that you won’t look bad, you know? Like she puts a lot of thought to every last thing.”
Her preparation makes a difference for the actors. “I’ve seen so many reference photos and things for every single look that I have,” Johnson added. “There are so many times that I was not totally sure what to do with the character, and then I saw the look that I have on my face, and I’m like, ‘Oh, gosh, this is this person.’”
Hollingshaus’s work isn’t confined to Studio C. Each year, she collaborates with BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe to design and execute his elaborate Halloween costumes. From Phantom of the Opera to Jafar, her artistry and dedication make his transformations unforgettable.
“Tom will shoot me some ideas. I’ll respond. Sometimes I’ll shoot him ideas,” Hollingshaus said. “When we did Phantom, that was over COVID. They had a performance of Phantom in London that they broadcast. It just so happened that Tom and I watched it the same weekend, and we were like, ‘Phantom.’”
The process often starts months in advance. “Typically, we need to know by June, but we’ve known as early as February or March,” Hollingshaus explained. “I just make it a rule: No, I don’t tell anyone. I don’t tell my family. I don’t tell my spouse. You tell one person, it’s gone.”
In the classroom, Hollingshaus’s teaching focuses on more than technique. She challenges students to think critically about their craft and its impact. Michaela Fordham, a former student and now a coworker, praised Hollingshaus’s dedication to character authenticity.
“One of the biggest things that she taught me is to really look at the character and look at who that person is and what you’re trying to communicate with their makeup down to the smallest detail,” Fordham said.
Fordham also highlighted the collaborative environment Hollingshaus creates. “Not just seeing her design process but influencing it and creating together and problem solving together has been so fun because she’s such a smart person,” Fordham said.
Hollingshaus’s teaching style is personal and inclusive. Aaron Rodriguez, her teaching assistant, noted her ability to connect with students individually. “She takes a really individual approach to teaching students,” Rodriguez said. “If you go and talk to her outside of class or email her, she’s so good at knowing what your learning language is and putting everything in that language.”
Rodriguez credited Hollingshaus with helping them develop confidence as an artist. “She’s just supported me in a way that I haven’t even gotten from my own family,” Rodriguez said. “She’s that little voice in my head that’s like, ‘You can do it. Trust in yourself.’”
Hollingshaus doesn’t shy away from addressing larger issues within the industry. “The usual way of doing things has really come under scrutiny,” she said. “We’re having conversations about this type of environment and behavior, and that’s something that I can talk to my students about.”
Her students notice her efforts to change the narrative. “She’s such an advocate for not only standing up for yourself but standing up for the craft,” Rodriguez said. “She taught me to say no but present alternative options instead. Saying no is a big one that I’ve really learned from her.”
Fordham also acknowledged Hollingshaus’s generosity in a competitive field. “There can be people in the film industry that don’t even want to share where they’re looking for information because you could come after their job,” Fordham said. “But she has no ego with that.”
Balancing her teaching, freelance work and family life isn’t easy, but Hollingshaus said her marriage makes it possible. “I could not do this without the support of a really good partner who is as invested in my career as I am in his,” she said, referencing her husband who also teach film classes at BYU.