Thriving in Chaos: Mastering Adaptability on Hollywood Sets

Adaptability is the key to thriving in Hollywood's unpredictable environments, particularly for hairstylists and makeup artists. The episode explores strategies for maintaining composure, the importance of a solution-oriented mindset, and personal anecdotes that emphasize adaptability as a vital skill on set.

• Understanding the unpredictable nature of film sets 
• Importance of mindset in high-pressure situations 
• Actionable strategies for practicing adaptability 
• Personal stories illustrating the challenges of adaptability 
• The role of positivity in stressful scenarios 
• Building a reputation based on reliability and adaptability 
• Final thoughts on adaptability as a superpower in Hollywood

Transcript

Speaker 0 0:00

Welcome back to Hollywood Unscripted with Natalie Driscoll. I'm Natalie, your host and mentor, and if this is your first time tuning in, welcome to the podcast where we pull back the curtain on the industry and share tips for thriving behind the scenes. Today's episode is one that every hairstylist and makeup artist looking to break into the biz or even level up needs to hear. We're talking about one of the most critical skills to have as a Hollywood professional, and that is adaptability. Here's the truth you won't hear in school or online forums. Hollywood sets are unpredictable by nature. From last minute schedule changes to technical issues to unexpected weather. The one constant is that things will go off plan all the time. Your ability to hit the ground running, stay flexible and keep your cool in these moments is what separates a novice from a rising star. If you've been wondering what it's really like to work on set or you're ready to step up your game, then keep listening, because this episode is packed with practical tips, personal stories and insider secrets to help you not only survive, but truly thrive in showbiz's high-stakes environment.

Speaker 0 1:23

All right, lights, camera, action. So here's the thing about life on set. It's not always as glamorous as it looks in behind the scenes, instagram photos. Yes, we're creating magic on screen, but in real life it's long hours, high pressure moments and often pure chaos. For example, I remember this one time on a major production where we were fully prepped to shoot an intricate scene outdoors. Everything was set, cast in costume, hair and makeup, lighting, perfect cameras ready. Then, out of nowhere, the weather turned on us, rain everywhere, equipment being shuffled inside and we had maybe 15 minutes to completely pivot. Suddenly, that intricate hairstyle that lead actor had it needed to align with an indoor setting in a totally different scene, in less time than it takes to make a coffee Probably a little longer than that, but you get my point. Moments like these are reality on set.

Speaker 0 2:31

Adaptability isn't just a good-to-have trait, it's absolutely vital Because, whether it's weather technology or just Murphy's Law, something will change. It's not a matter of if. It's a matter of when and depending on the production you work on. Some productions are more chaotic than others. Now how do you stay calm when things get chaotic? It all starts with your mindset. The key is to expect the unexpected. This doesn't mean you walk into work hoping things go wrong. It means mentally preparing yourself to roll with whatever happens. Staying flexible doesn't mean you're unprepared. It's quite the opposite. It means you're ready to pivot in the moment and find smart solutions.

Speaker 0 3:22

I always have this saying of let me see what I can pull out of my Mary Poppins bag. Here's something else to remember the professionals who thrive are the ones who stay cool under pressure. If you approach every day with openness and flexibility, not only will you reduce your stress, but you'll also stand out as someone directors and colleagues trust to keep things moving. Growing up, my dad instilled in us to stay calm, cool and collected in everything we did. He said that all the time make sure, no matter what we did whether it was playing the piano, playing sports, going to dance recital the last things he'd say stay calm, cool and collected. I'm so thankful for it, each and every single day, because now I see the power behind it. By the way, thanks, dad, I love you.

Speaker 0 4:26

Okay, so now that we've talked about mindset, you might be wondering how exactly to practice adaptability. I've got you covered with a few actionable strategies you can use to thrive on set. Number one stay present. Focus on the task at hand. When you're in the moment, you're more likely to notice minor changes and adapt without getting overwhelmed by the bigger picture. Step two be a solution finder. Things are going to go wrong, no question about it. Don't waste time stressing over the problem. Instead, think how can I fix this? Teams love solution-oriented artists who keep the energy positive Not only teams, but productions as well. Number three know when to step up and when to step back. Some days, you'll need to take initiative and find answers on your own. Other days, you just need to hold tight and support the team. A big part of adapting is reading the room and knowing when to act versus when to observe and take a step back.

Speaker 0 5:39

Alright, now I'm going to share a personal story. I once worked on a shoot where I was the department head. The lead actor had her own personal hairstylist and one day that hairstylist had to leave for a couple days and she had another hairstylist fill in. Okay, I hope you were able to understand that I was the department head. Our lead actress had her own personal hairstylist. She left for a couple of days and brought in another hairstylist to do that lead actress. Okay, the actress wore a wig in the show and it was a new hairstyle they were establishing for the first time, which was a pretty big deal. It was a period piece and it was a whole thing. The personal hairstylist had left detailed instructions on the wig wrap and had styled the hairstyle on the wig, so it should have been super easy for the lady that was filling in. But the personal hairstylist didn't take into consideration that the wig wrap needed to be changed underneath for the new hairstyle to work. So picture this Okay, morning of.

Speaker 0 6:56

We had a huge, huge day. It was a period shoot. We had tons of background. We were shooting a war scene on a beach with all kinds of different characters. We had several new lead characters that we were establishing that day and several of them were wearing wigs.

Speaker 0 7:14

All of a sudden, we were down to the wire, production was waiting on the actors to get to set and I could tell tensions were high and all of a sudden I heard my name Nattery, can you come down here please? I was like, oh my gosh. I remember walking and turning to face her and the issue was blaring at me, right in my face, as soon as she turned around. And, to give you some context, this actress and I have had many years together and she knew how to read my face because everything was on my face. As soon as she saw my face, she knew it was going to be an issue. But I also knew her really well and I immediately knew I needed to diffuse the situation. I said, no problem, no problem, we can fix this. Even though I was quickly trying to come up with a solution, I literally had seconds.

Speaker 0 8:06

Everything looked great, but the front hairline of the wig didn't have enough hair in it and there was a blonde streak on dark red hair. It looked completely see-through. I could see her own brown and bright blonde hairline through the wig. It was so obvious. The ADs were yelling from the other end of the trailer we need her. We need her. I said one moment, please.

Speaker 0 8:31

It was a little chaotic, but instead of losing my cool, I quickly stepped in to fix it without increasing stress for anyone else. I immediately grabbed the Rita Hazan root hairspray and created a root to match the rest of the wig. It was so funny while doing it because, for those that know and have used Rita Hazan and know it can splatter a lot, I was really nervous. On the inside I was protecting her face, the lace of the wig, and was barely pushing the nozzle to try to get it to be light, like just going back and forth trying to just barely push the nozzle, and she jokingly teased me because everyone was watching and she was like nothing's coming out. You know, she just was like, ok, are you going to spray or not? I'm like, stop it. And she also could see my hand shaking In that moment. I was nervous because, again, I only had seconds. If it went bad, I knew I wouldn't be able to fix it, but I was able to create some root and it not be see-through. It filled it in and it just flowed perfectly, Imaginically. It went smoothly and she was super impressed and happy and thanks to that calm, proactive approach, it all worked out beautifully. It all worked out beautifully and the actor was super impressed and later down the road she specifically requested to work with me again and flew me to Canada to fill in on a project for the same personal hairstylist.

Speaker 0 10:10

So staying calm, cool, collected okay, I know it can be tough to stay upbeat when everything's going sideways, but, trust me, maintaining a positive attitude can make all the difference. And here's the thing Hollywood is a small world and people remember how you handle yourself under pressure. Staying calm, staying kind and staying focused shows everyone on set that you're reliable, and that's what gets you invited back for the next project. Positivity isnositivity isn't about ignoring challenges. It's about facing them head on and knowing that there's always a way forward. Paired with adaptability, a can-do attitude helps build a reputation as someone people want by their side. When things get tough, all right, things get tough, all right.

Speaker 0 11:05

That's a wrap for today's episode. If there's one thing I hope you take away, it's that adaptability isn't just a skill, it's a superpower. By staying flexible, approaching challenges with solutions and maintaining a positive attitude, you'll not only thrive on set, but create a professional reputation that opens doors throughout your career. Thanks for tuning in. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast, leave a review and share with a friend who's dreaming of making it in Hollywood. Don't forget to check out the Hollywood Elite membership for exclusive resources and mentorship. You'll find everything you need to build your dream career in the biz. Visit nataliedriskellcom to learn more. Until next time, keep pushing forward, stay adaptable and remember you've got what it takes to thrive in Hollywood. Don't ever forget it.