From a Tattoo Studio to a Hollywood Set: Nathalie Legault's First Shoot

Breaking into film sometimes comes down to a single decision: saying yes before you even know where it will lead.

That's exactly what happened to Nathalie Legault, long before she became a well-known name in event makeup in Quebec. At the time, she was working in a very different world from film: tattooing. A precision craft, where every line matters, and one that would end up opening a door she never expected. Her very first American shoot was Brick Mansions, released in 2014 with Paul Walker and David Belle (in Quebec, the film is also known under the title Assaut Extrême).

Behind the scenes of a rooftop film shoot on a historic industrial building in Montreal, under a bright blue sky. A shirtless performer stands at the building's edge, surrounded by the crew and a rig of cables, harnesses and a safety basket — the hidden side of an action sequence, all preparation, coordination and safety. A look into the film world where Agence Thaly brings its craft.

An opportunity seized without any guarantee

For several years, Nathalie tried to break into the film industry, a tight-knit world where chances to prove yourself are rare for an independent makeup artist.

The opportunity came almost by accident. An experienced makeup artist she admired needed temporary tattoos in a very specific style, but didn't have the right equipment. Neither did Nathalie, at that point. Instead of turning it down, she drove two hours to buy the machine she needed: a $4,000 investment, with no guarantee it would lead to anything at all.

A few weeks later, that same makeup artist came back to her with a proposition: come with her the next day, to a film set.

Arriving on the set of Brick Mansions

Nathalie said yes without really knowing what she was getting into. When she got there, she found Paul Walker sitting in the makeup chair.

The film, as she'd only realize later, was no small production. Brick Mansions is an American remake of the French film Banlieue 13, directed by Camille Delamarre from a screenplay by Luc Besson, who also produced the film. The story follows an undercover cop, Damien Collier, forced to team up with a parkour expert, Lino, to stop a disaster in a sealed-off district of Detroit. The role of Lino went to David Belle, one of the founders of parkour itself, who performs all his own stunts.

The shoot, a EuropaCorp production, set up in Montreal in the spring of 2013 and ran for about forty days. That wasn't a coincidence: the city had already established itself as a sought-after filming location for American and European studios, thanks to its experienced crews and local talent capable of meeting the industry's highest standards.

Nathalie worked as part of a well-oiled team, under the direction of head makeup artist Joan Patricia Parris — her first real taste of the pace and demands of a major Hollywood production.

Gouchy Boy and Kwasi Songui's Tattoo and the challenge of continuity

Behind the scenes of Brick Mansions: actor Kwasi Songui poses alongside tattoo artist Alvaro Bleck, who created his striking Maori-style face tattoo (moko) in collaboration with Nathalie Legault, founder of Agence Thaly. Fists raised and gold grillz shining, the two men embody the raw energy of the character — a glimpse into Agence Thaly's expertise in artistic makeup and special effects for film.

Her specialty, temporary tattoos, quickly found its place on this shoot. Nathalie and Alvaro created the tattoo on the back of the head of Gouchy Boy, who plays the character K2 in the film, as well as on the face of Kwasi Songui, one of the actors featured in the credits alongside RZA, Catalina Denis, and Carlo Rota.

As with any production of this caliber, the tattoo had to be recreated identically from one shooting day to the next, sometimes weeks apart to maintain the character's continuity on screen. No reference photo can truly replace the eye and hand of the person who drew it the first time: the slightest variation in shape or color can be spotted in the edit. There was very little room for error, but that exact kind of precision is what sets film makeup apart from standard event makeup.

A defining experience

Brick Mansions came out in 2014. It would be one of the last films Paul Walker completed before his death, and the film is dedicated to him. Nathalie still considers this shoot one of the biggest accomplishments of her career, after years of trying to get there.

This first step into the American industry, born out of a risky personal investment and an unexpected encounter, laid the groundwork for the expertise Nathalie now brings to numerous film, television, and event productions. It's hard to imagine, in the moment, that a two-hour round trip to buy a tattoo machine would lead to a set alongside Paul Walker. But that's often how careers in this industry take shape: an opportunity seized, a risk taken.

Agence Thaly: airbrush tattoos and makeup for film, television, and events

With its expertise in airbrush temporary tattoos, beauty makeup, and special effects makeup, Agence Thaly regularly works on film productions, television shows, corporate events, and brand activations. The experience gained on demanding shoots like Brick Mansions, where precision and continuity leave no room for improvisation, carries through into every project the team takes on today.

Looking for artists specialized in temporary tattoos or makeup for film, television, or corporate events? Agence Thaly helps you create memorable visual experiences.