Three Seconds

Three Seconds is a short film that explores five intersectional perspectives on how makeup impacts identity and self-expression. It touches on themes of femininity, motherhood, queer identity, performance and art. it created a space for those featured to reflect upon their relationship with makeup, how it does or does not inform their sense of self and the role it has played over the course of their life.

The film came about as a passion project between myself and a group of Toronto creatives, primarily working in advertising who wanted to do something more artful. Originally, Natalie Mathers (the creative director and illustrator) had approached me with the idea of making a film centred around lipstick, which intrigued me as someone who typically doesn’t wear any. I was interested in learning more about other people’s experiences with makeup — how publicly expressive, yet intimate and individualized it could be at the same time.

Wanting to follow a stream of consciousness about the experience of makeup, we decided not to feature any physical products. Instead, the acrylic panels (created by Natalie) were used to represent makeup as a layer of identity, and paralleled the physical notions of makeup as shield, mirror and mask. They were really great to shoot through, both in the the photography and filming.

Project Stills

About the Artist

Dominique van Olm is a Canadian filmmaker and photographer. She strives to push non-fiction into new directions while maintaining a focus on character-driven portraits, exploring the human condition against the backdrop of the natural world. As an extension of her filmmaking, Dominique likes to photograph people and their relationship to space, whether in presence or absence.

More of Dominique’s work can be seen on her Website and on Instagram


Film Credits

Sheldon McIntosh @tynomibanks

Mel Eshagbeigi @offbrand_but_stillcute

Madison van Rijn: @mvralldayeveryday

Lulu Wei: @llcoolwei

Viktor Peters: @victorpeters

Director: Dominique van Olm @deviio

Creative Director: Natalie Mathers @_notnothing_

Producer: Kelsey Lynn Corradetti @kelseyltc

DP: Julia Hendrickson @juliajuliajuliajulia_

Location Sound: Darren Snowden @darrensnowdensound

Make Up Artist: Kelly Davidson @kellyd.makeup

Stylist: Lauren Walker @Lauren_lwl

Editing House: Saints Editorial @saintseditorial

Editor: Julie Simmons @eilujsimmons

Post Colour / Online House: Darling VFX @darling_vfx

Colourist: Roslyn Di Sisto @havin_fan

VFX: Lauren Rempel @laurmcr

Post Audio House: Grayson Matthews @graysonmatthewscollective

Composer / Sound design: Annelise Noronha @annelise_noronha

Animation: Emily Switzer @hardgrindhard

Short FilmsRyan Berg