Firstly I believe Aotearoa offered excellent training opportunities; some areas of the world do not offer the same standards, so I feel that gave me a great start not only with skill but professionalism. I also believe the “Kiwi way” has helped me, the no worries, let’s figure it out and get the job done approach is definitely welcome in the film industry.
Oh, thank you! Yeah, it is all very exciting and such wonderful experiences to have in life, I couldn’t say if they have impacted my career, I mean it probably doesn’t hurt, right?
Funnily enough, it was never my plan, but I am certainly stoked with the direction my career has taken. I would say, do everything you can to keep learning your craft, you will never know it all, be kind, be respectful, always be a great team member even when you are the boss and keep your ego in check. It is an industry that requires persistence in the beginning and dedication, you have to love it and have passion for the work, otherwise, it is not the industry for you. The hours are long and intense, and the work can be incredibly demanding but if you love it, it is amazingly rewarding!
Oh gosh, that is tricky! There are always styles you love and others you really don’t, because my job is to facilitate what others want to see, be it the cast, director or the studio, sometimes you have no control over what the final product is, so I think that can be difficult and a lesson in letting go. I think for me those can be the biggest challenges and also those projects where you simply try to do the best you can with the time and budget you have. As for a favourite, I think I am always happiest when a wig is fooling people into believing it’s a real head of hair or a style people talk about because they can’t figure out how you have achieved it.
When I have time off, I love spending time with my 2 dogs, catching up on gardening, and spending time with friends I haven’t seen while working on set. I also love road trips and travelling, like most Kiwis. I also have a podcast called The Last Looks Podcast, which is a hobby that takes up a bit of my time throughout the year. I interview Hairstylists and Makeup Artists who work in film internationally, it’s a great listen for anyone interested in how it all works. Also as part of the podcast, I organise a mentorship program each year, which has been really rewarding to be able to create connections between artists around the world.
I do, my pounamu. I wear it all day, every day. It was gifted to me by a friend and living away from Aotearoa means I can have a piece of home with me always. Being Pakeha and having no real culture, it is a continued gift to have been raised in a country where Maori are so giving and sharing with their powerful culture, to be able to borrow and share in that is everything. I am incredibly grateful and proud to be a Kiwi.
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