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Kylie O'Toole - what a career! From her years working on feature film to directing 2021's Melbourne Fashion week, you don't want to miss a minute.
Description
This week: getting personal with Kylie O’Toole - mua whose work includes ‘dead’ bodies, intimate boob scenes and more.
Ever wondered the type of artistry that goes into making a body look ‘dead’ in the movies, on TV, etc. First you learn how they died, what that wound would like look, how the skin would look, etc. For Kylie, she found herself painting ‘dead’ bodies at the tender age of 19 – ‘mind you, this was before the age of the internet. So, our research was reading the autopsy report from the corner, looking at the photos in the files and trying to mimic that’. Crazy!
If you’re just starting out or have been in the industry for a long time, tune in now, check out the key takeaways and subscribe for future updates below.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
LEARN YOUR BOUNDARIES.
It’s hard when you’re a pleaser… but I’ve learned some pretty hardcore boundaries since then, says Kylie.
Boundaries are important to set early in your career. I hope if there’s younger artists out there listening now that they know it’s okay to say no. There’s so much talk about all of this right now in the media, especially if it’s a woman doing it to you, it can feel very different. It’s your right to say no, no matter the circumstances.
When the stakes are high on a job, it’s a lot more stressful. Often the thing that stresses you out, makes you feel so good after you do them. As you get older you learn that it will be okay, that if things don’t work out, it will still all work out.
“I was wondering why I had IBS… but it’s from all the stress. It’s like, OMG I’m not bloody saving lives, but you feel like you are, you feel like if you make a mistake, you might as well, run away and live on an island somewhere. (but) I learnt the importance of setting boundaries and saying no.”
PERSISTANCE PAYS OFF.
Be persistent. If all you take away from this podcast episode is one thing, it’s that persistence pays off!
When you’re just starting out, it’s hard to know where to draw professional lines in the sand. Sometimes you have to chase up a client, an account, a company. Sometimes the hours are long, very long. It can be intense and ‘feel like camp’ laughs Kylie. Everything is heightened (including your emotions), but being persistent, full of passion and being open to new opportunities is part of the fun.
Kylie understands that putting yourself out there is almost scarier than getting the work. Your first test shoot, your first paid shoot, the first time with a new client. It can be *bloody* scary, but they can often turn into the best experiences.
‘When I arrived in London, all I had was a phone number and (she) never answered… I just kept on trying, kept on calling. I was persistent. And then one day she finally answered the phone… She turned out to be the most awesome human in the world, Scottish tough with a heart of gold. She used to tell me to toughen up constantly, she’s so creative and clever – she’s actually the designer of GoT.’