Episode Details

“If you get to a point where you’re not happy doing what you’re doing, you need to find something different. We all should be doing what we love to do.”

- Jerilynn Stephens

Jerilynn Stephens and Kimi Messina are both award-winning Hollywood hair stylists with over 60 years experience between the two of them. Jerilynn’s recent credits include Legendary, The Voice, and Shark Tank. And Kimi has worked on films such as Almost Famous, Pirates of the Caribbean, Master and Commander, and The Last Samurai. She’s also been the key hairstylist on Dancing with the Stars for 27 seasons and Legendary Seasons 2 and 3.

Building a fulfilling career path in the entertainment industry is no easy feat (and often requires constant sacrifices). If you truly want to excel in a career you ENJOY (while also‌ having quality time & energy to enjoy your life outside of work), these two women demystify how to make this your reality. In this candid conversation Jerilynn and Kimi share their personal experiences of climbing the ladder in Hollywood and talk openly about how they have learned to place healthy boundaries around their work so that they can continue to love their jobs without sacrificing their lives in the process. We also discuss the importance of saying yes vs saying no to the right opportunities, and most importantly how the quality of your life is dictated by the quality of the problems you get to solve every single day.

This conversation continues our Hollywood On the Record series where I speak to other guild members to learn what they do in various departments & crafts, understand the challenges they face, and how they’ve achieved high levels of success despite the exploitative nature of the entertainment industry. If you love what you do but you don’t want your career to destroy you, Jerilynn and Kimi can definitely guide you in the right direction!

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Here's What You'll Learn:

• Jerilyn and Kimi’s two different pathways into becoming award winning Hollywood hairstylists
• KEY TAKEAWAY: Loving your job comes down to knowing when to say yes and when to say no
• KEY TAKEAWAY: You know you’ve found the right job when you enjoy the problems you are required to solve every day
• The hidden job requirements of a hair stylist HINT: people skills are not optional
• Who really sets the mood for the day on film and tv sets
• How to do the job while still having energy for life outside of work
• A day in the life of a hair and make up stylist
• The vast differences in hours and expectations between working in hair and makeup for Scripted and Unscripted shows
• How IATSE’s latest contract has not improved the hours on set and the workarounds studios have
• Why staying physically fit will make you better at your job
• KEY TAKEAWAY: Hard work is always behind every success story
• Advice from Kimi and Jerilynn to up-and-coming hair stylists that is good advice for anyone in trying to find a fulfilling career
• The one thing you can’t ever stop doing no matter how long you’ve been at your job
• The key element people miss when hearing about manifesting your dreams

Useful Resources Mentioned:

Album - Wikipedia