 Last week I started work as the Assistant Paymaster on The Hobbit. Most people have their payslips emailed to them but some still like to get a hard copy. So one of my jobs is to go around handing them out on payday but because I'm extremely shy, this is the only part of my job I find really challenging. I've already made a fool of myself in front of Orlando Bloom!
As I was handing out payslips this week I noticed a corner way down the back of the costume department that looked like a library, but as well as the few books, the shelves were covered in crafty tools, needles and skeins of wool in various shades of Hobbit. As I got closer I saw a woman knitting amongst the pile of over-sized mittens and socks and witnessing her effortlessly manouvre four needles at once made me intrigued enough to barge through my shyness and talk to her. I found out that Beverly had a lot of talents but I was fascinated to learn that she got this role when The Hobbit contacted the knitters guild she was fortunate enough to belong to for a recommendation (I didn't know there was such a thing!) Later I lay in bed thinking about all the different departments and marveling at how lucky I was to have such a stimulating job. Suddenly I realised that a lot of these people were living the dream. Literally what they possibly might have dreamed of being or doing when they were young. There were the jewelers designing and creating intricate pieces to adorn the costumes and other props. The armour and weapons people making swords and shields. The seamstresses cutting out and sewing dwarves, elves and hobbit clothes. The calligrapher writing maps and books. The greens-people developing Hobbiton landscapes. There were metal-smiths, leather workers, mold makers, animal wranglers, prosthetic, hair and make-up artists, even boat builders. Not only is the list endless, but there were no gender stereotypes. There were male hair and make-up artists and female steel workers, painters and carpenters. And although not all of them were necessarily happy or felt they had 'made it', this revelation taught me that no matter how obscure the dream or passion, if you feel strongly enough about it, it's almost inevitable you'll find a way to do it for a living.
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