In the first part of our 3-part series on The Holiday, we discussed the genre and story, basically setting up what the story would be about. 

The Actors

I’m not an actor, my creative process is different to what an actor would bring to the project. When I work with an actor, before a performance, I give them space to prepare. What you need to do and what works for you changes in every scenario. 

The lead actors for this film brought their own energy and interpretation to this project. They all contributed the humour and energy The Holiday needed. These are well-seasoned, experienced actors. If you own a studio, a production company, or you are currently working on a film, there is a lot of information out there via interviews or their own performances, including what their fans are saying, to help take the guesswork out of what a particular vision is for a film.

As a viewer, I would use the word “energy” to describe the delivery of the humour and storyline. It also kept the story moving, while the energy gives the urgency younger people might feel to find companionship and meaning in relationships.

It is worth noting that after the Snow White disaster of an actor making a potential billion-dollar film a flop by using a project for their own platform and agenda, the backlash is in full force. Hollywood committees now view any project as part of a community of creative people, and the age of EGO is over. At the 2026 Emmys, it was noted that this will not be tolerated either.

What does that mean? As an actor, you are hired as part of a team of professionals, with equal experience, to work on a project as a collaboration. It is worth mentioning here that when Aaron Spelling, one of TV’s richest ever, died, he took a lot of knowledge with him.

We are no longer using that model. we want to mine all the knowledge we can, get better, work as a community and pass on that knowledge. After decades in this business, that is the goal of this business model. We wish to support those in The Arts and their intellectual property. 

Costume and Hair/Makeup

The hair had movement, with curl and body. The styling they used was on trend for that era. The makeup look was natural, which was common in the 70s and 80s, with Aaron Spelling creating a lasting polished look for his shows. This created a polished look that wasn’t overdone but instead met the exact requirement.  Whether it was Alexis Colby from Dynasty as a villain or a young glamorous look, the look was polished and balanced.

The Holiday had a similar outcome, the look was an expensive, polished Californian look. It is worth noting here that they used Chanel makeup on the two lead female roles. Since it was filmed in California, this leaned into background palettes and natural lighting. 

The brand Chanel was used along with fun, trendy seasonal party looks as required. The costumes and makeup moved with the story, strengthening the visual narrative; this connected well with the target audience’s age and demographic. 

Designing the Set

Far be it from me to reinvent the wheel, it is refreshing to watch this video by Jon Hutman; his passion for creating unforgettable sets comes through, and there is a lot to learn from him, as his expertise is clear. 

Breaking Down the Basics 

By briefly going over the skills that went into building this film, we can see it comes down to your experience. Asking basic questions about the genre, lighting (which we cover in part 3), colour palette , and story builds a foundation for what the project’s outcome needs to look like. 

As a working professional, keep your skills sharp and watch for certified short courses or weekend master classes to stay marketable. Taking time out once a year to stay sharp with a qualified group looks great on LinkedIn and your resume, while also giving you a piece of paper that says, “Yep, this year this is something I’ve worked on.”

Knowing your demographic also helps the costume, hair, and makeup department know what kind of look you want to achieve. 

We do have an in-depth look at colour palettes coming up for film and TV projects, so keep an eye out for that.