Hannah Beachler had a humble start, steadily working her way up from the art department to set decoration to production design. That’s the back story, but here are the results: a music video that turned into a mini-movie—Beyonce’s “Lemonade”—and a $200 million gross for the movie, “Creed.”
That’s why it’s shocking to hear her talk about insecurity.
Hannah was a film student before switching to fashion design. That unusual blend gave her a unique understanding: Sets must do more than look incredible—they have to function. So, she drew inspiration for the movie “Creed” by spending hours watching boxers train and viewing prior “Rocky” films. The result was a gym that gave director Ryan Coogler the ability to film at a complete 360-degree angle.
You’d think that kind of accomplishment would make her feel bulletproof. But Beachler explains, “Everyone goes through moments of struggle and depression [of] ‘this is so hard I’m not going to be able to make it and do it.’”
Hannah was thrilled when Ryan Coogler offered another collaboration. Her attention to detail would be critical for production to go smoothly—she had to hire a new staff of several hundred people and manage a $30 million art budget.
Whenever Hannah felt pressured by too many voices and opinions, she would quiet self-doubt by remembering the advice Coogler gave her many years before: “Just be honest and truthful and be you. If you’re not yourself, this is never going to work.”
The long days and nights making her dreams a reality paid off. Beachler described the first viewing of the completed set for “Black Panther” this way: “I walked to the middle of that set and I just fell to my knees and cried. I never thought that I would have that opportunity to do something on that scale.”
Academy voters agreed. Hannah Beachler was the first African-American to win an Oscar for Best Production Design.
Just between us, do you ever feel so frustrated by the slow progress on your passion project that you’re tempted to imitate someone else’s results? Back up before you fall into that trap! Because that’s allowing your fears to be the boss of you.
The March series, Passion is About…, is profiling how inspirational people use soft skills to pursue their passion. Hannah Beachler’s story shows the importance of staying an original instead of becoming a copycat. When you’re authentic, applauding your strengths and showing love to your weaknesses, you’re using the soft skill of healthy self-confidence.
You can increase your self-confidence in three simple ways:
Your authentic self is your best self. Don’t pursue your passion without it.