Today we’d like to introduce you to Bobbie Weiner.
Hi Bobbie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been rich and I have been poor. “RICH IS BETTER”
I started my business after I had gone to makeup school in Los Angeles, CA I was happily married (I thought) and after my husband and I came back from a great vacation skiing for a week in Colorado we came home to an empty house. My step son had a party and charged $15.00 a head to get into our house and at the end of the night they walked out with a good amount of clothes, furniture, Rugs, Art, etc….The next morning my husband announced, I love you and you are my best friend but I want a divorce. That was that!! He just left and I was left to sell everything and start my life over. I was 46 years old. It took me a year to sell and give away my life. I was getting my hair cut and everyone knew my story in our small community. I mentioned to the hairdresser I had to find a job and do something to support my self. The hairdresser next to us heard our conversation and suggested out of the blue, “You should go to Makeup School!” I looked at him like he was out of his mind. I said, Why would I go to Makeup School? He said with your personality you would be great in the film industry doing makeup. I said you have to be kidding!! Well I asked him where I should go? He said there are 3 good schools. One is in Canada, the other is in Paris and there is a good one in Hollywood. I said what is the name of the school in Hollywood? In 1 minute flat I was on the pay phone and called the school.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I started going to makeup school the following week. I had no struggles. I was super excited to start my life over and loved learning how to do makeup. I was the oldest student and was having a great time. The class was very small and I showed up every day. I was determined to become a Makeup Artist no matter what I had to do.
The head of the school came into the class the first friday I was there and asked if anyone was available to help out that weekend doing makeup for a small film. I was the only one who raised a hand for the job. The pay was $25.00 a day plus $25.00 for my kit fee. A kit fee is when you use our own makeup. I showed up at 5:30 am for the job and we finished about 10 o’clock that evening. I had the best time of my life. Worked again Sunday and got paid for the first time doing makeup. I did not look at my new venture as a bumpy road. It was all a learning experience. Took my mind off of everything else that happened to me in the last year before I took on this endeavor. I needed this new life I was cutting out for myself more than I even knew. It was never a struggle. Maybe it was my age and different experiences that were new to me and exciting to learn.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I manufacture and create F/X Makeup for Halloween. I also make the Camouflage Face Paint for the United States Military including Army, Navy, Marines, ROTC and Special Forces. I also supply 15-20 other countries. I am totally known for both lines of makeup. I am most proud of The Camouflage Face Paint business I created 30 years ago after finishing the makeup for James Cameron doing the dead frozen floating bodies in the famous “Titanic” film.
What sets me apart from others is that I started this business in a garage in San Diego by myself. Sold my Jeep, Lived with people for 5 years to develop Bobbie Weiner Enterprises. I was nicknamed “Bloody Mary” whan I did my first film 3 days out of Makeup School. After I dressed a Doll House they were going to blow up for the film “Pumpkin Head 2. I was so covered in fake stage blood as I was leaving the set some one yelled out “Here comes Bloody Mary”. The name stuck with me so I named my Halloween Line of face paint “Bloody Mary.” Most people know me as Bloody Mary and have no idea who Bobbie Weiner is, but that is Ok with me. “Bloody Mary” is much catchier than being known as “Bobbie Weiner.”
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
When I told my Dad I will need a car since I was turning 16 in 6 months. He said to me, Bobbie, you will need a job. I cried locked myself in my bedroom. My mother made a call to her best friend and they found me a job working in a Thrift Shop after school. I worked there for 3 years every day after school and Saturdays. I went to Temple University after I graduated highschool and got a 2 year Associates Degree. By then the thrift shop had closed and I opened up my own 2nd Hand Store with my Mom helping me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dearbloodymary.com and www.camofacepaint.com
- Instagram: @bloodymarymakeup
- Facebook: @bloodymarymakeup
- Twitter: bloodymary1
- Youtube: bloodymary1
