For our fifth special people article, we introduce you to Hannah Gray (@hannahogray), an assistant director and one of our favourite people who has supported us from the very beginning. She has always been passionate about film and photography, and has always wanted a career in an industry that is notoriously difficult to break into. But she has a lot of talent, and just as much courage and motivation to go for it. Her amazing sense of style and refreshing honesty have made her an accidental influencer on Instagram.
Our Special People inspire us with their style, their journey, their way of living their life, or their relationship to perfume. Sillages Paris is a Haute Parfumerie company that wants to celebrate originality and singularity: both in the perfume, and in the people who wear it. Indeed, we believe that each of us is special, so each fragrance should be special. Sometimes we meet people that truly inspire us, and it’s their stories that we want to share with you. These special people can be people we run into, or our own customers we love to meet. For each of them, we have created the perfect Sillage.
A brief intro
As you follow her, she will not only be sharing her styles, but also her diary from her early professional life, photos of her road trips, the struggles she had with her anxiety, her ambivalent relationship with social networks, and her quest for creative fulfillment. Hannah is a girl you want to follow because her ideas are smart and authentic. And between inspiring photos of her very British liberated style and her adventures as a budding filmmaker, we see someone who is on a special path; someone who refuses to compromise her dreams, even if it means putting her Insta on hold. We share our interview with her. Love you, Hannah!
Hello Hannah Gray, can you tell us about your work?
I’m currently working on the Call the Midwife series as an Assistant Producer on the Assistant Directors team. I take care of the actors, keep the crews quiet during the shooting, and relay important information. It’s very exciting, but the days are very long. In this business, it’s important to prove yourself, and it’s all about work. The next step for me will be to become an assistant director. I’ve been working on the show for 13 weeks now, and I’m still working on it for 7 more! It’s my first long-term job, so it’s very exciting. Working in film and TV to make movies has always been a dream. Since I was a kid, I’ve dreamed of being on a film set, so being part of a team today is crazy.
What makes you so passionate about your work?
I love feeling like I’m part of a big family on the set. We spend so much time together as a crew that friendships are made. It’s great to be able to work closely with very talented people, from actors to directors to cameramen. We’re all here to do the same job, which is to stick together until the end and do something great.
How and when did you decide you wanted to make films?
I never wanted to do anything else, I think. Also because I don’t think I can do anything else! I love images and the film and television industry. The creative industries, in general, have always fascinated me. If I wasn’t working in film, I think I would be working in something that’s still related to creation, like photography or social media, etc. I’ve always been fascinated by the creative industries in general. Creating images, creating content, is something I have always done and hope to continue to do alongside my work in film. But for now I’m enjoying what I’ve done. I got the job in September, and it took months of waiting/applications/jobs to get where I am now.
How and where do you find your inspiration?
I’m constantly inspired by everything around me: people, nature, movies, magazines, etc. I’m always inspired by what I see around me. I think most of my inspiration comes from beautiful films and photographers that I like, which makes me want to create similar things. Then, whenever I’m in nice places doing interesting things, it makes me want to make videos! But at the moment I work too much, so I don’t have time to create as much for myself as I would like… I hope to start making videos again soon.
What is your first olfactory memory?
The strongest olfactory memories I have are all related to nature. I like being outside; I like the smell of fresh rain, the smell of summer air… Those kinds of smells for me are liberating. There is nothing like the feeling of being outside in nature and being completely present to everything around you. I’ve suffered from anxiety for a long time, and being outside has always helped to calm me down. So I have a very special relationship with the smells of nature. My mother’s and father’s fragrances are also smells that have a deep resonance for me.
Hannah Gray, what is your relationship to perfume?
A perfume can tell you a lot about the person wearing it! It’s probably one of the first things people notice when they kiss you. So it’s very important to find one that suits you and reflects your personality. My Sillage does it perfectly.
For me, fragrances give you a feeling of freshness, a feeling of being clean and primed. And then to be complimented on your perfume is always pleasant. In fact, it’s when I wear my Sillage that I get the most compliments!
What I like is that it is special because I have carefully chosen scents that I love, and that reflects my personality. My perfume is not too floral or feminine: it has a boyish, tomboyish feel to it (I used to be really boyish when I was younger).
Hannah’s Sillage: a fruit liqueur and rum top note, crunchy and delicious heart, and a warm vanilla base, caressed with white musks and amber.
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