WORCESTER, Mass. – Megan Hay affectionately smiled at a giggling 11-year-old girl as she took a flat cotton pad to a makeup compact.

Hay, a native of Princeton, Massachusetts, was applying white ghostly makeup to the child actress’ cheeks in a brief 34-second behind-the-scenes look into the making of KINDEr, a new streaming series from Worcester filmmaker Adam Morey, owner of Realmass Studios.

While at the studio’s headquarters home along the banks of Lake Quinsigamond, Hay explained her love of cosplay, or dressing up like characters in popular culture, and how it led to her being a makeup artist and actress on a movie set.

“I just kind of started out as helping with whatever I can,” said Hay, 21, a student at Emmanuel College in Boston. “They were looking for extra people to help out with lighting and I just tried to help. It was just like that. I did whatever they needed.”

Morey said he was impressed that her lack of experience did not deter her ambition to be involved with film.

“She had an interest,” he said. “She got some experience working with light deflection and holding boom mics and things like that. She got involved right away.”

Hay’s interest eventually turned into makeup artistry. For the current production of KINDEr, Hay’s official title is Makeup Special Effects.

“I did a lot of makeup from doing cosplay,” Hay said. “I love doing makeup and dressing up. It’s such a wonderful creative outlet. I love to be able to do it on a movie set.”

Although happy with the work she was doing behind the camera, Morey wanted to challenge Hay in front of it.

“I forced her to be an actor,” he said, chuckling. Hay made her debut in the Realmass Studios film, Hickory Drive. She plays the role of Madison Smith in the romantic thriller, which is currently in pre-production. In KINDEr, she plays Sophia Baker. 

Hay and Morey. Photo by Kevin Saleeba.

Hay had to work hard to build her acting chops. Morey glanced in Hay’s direction and flashed a proud smile at his actor. “Remember Hickory Drive?” he asked her rhetorically. “Remember the 35 takes?”

Hay took the good-natured ribbing in stride.

“For me, I had to really listen to the critiques,” she said. “Sometimes I’d take a step back and watch, but Adam has really helped me figure things out and not to worry so much. I learned not to try so much and to just be myself.”

Morey interjected, saying, “no, she’s good…  We gave her the tools, the resources and she took advantage of the opportunity. [She] has been great. I hope she’s happy with what she has been able to do.”

Filming for KINDEr will continue throughout several Worcester County locations throughout the summer.

“It’s been fun,” Hay said.

For future updates on the production, visit Realmass Studios on Twitter at: @Real_Mass2018 or on Facebook at @realmassproductions.