I love duct tape or as I have always called it “Gaffer’s tape”. I grew up in the film industry so we always had silver rolls of duct tape around the house that we used to close, hold or fix just about anything. I didn’t even know that it was called ‘duct tape’ until I went to buy some after I moved away from home. Continue reading
Tag Archives: film
“Let’s talk about sex, baby, Let’s talk about you and me, Let’s talk about all the good things, And the bad things that may be, Let’s talk about sex….”
~ SALT ‘N’ PEPA
We costumers are some of the ‘lucky’ few that get to be on set during a sex scene. Yep right on set, really, really close. Some of you who have had the experience may know this already; it isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be! Continue reading
Sorry Excuse!!!
So 2 weekends ago, I was supposed to finish a fabulous article all about all the amazing things that we load on to our trucks to make our every day jobs that little bit easier! And then last weekend, same thing.:(
Logic is the beginning of wisdom…
“Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end. I am so looking forward to the next step.” Leonard Nimoy, Star Trek
Okay, I admit it; I love to watch Star Trek! I don’t watch as often as I used to… work gets in the way a little. I did go to the latest movie, “Into Darkness”, and called Michael Kaplan, the costume designer, and told him I loved it! I saw it in 3D and the fabrics used in the costumes just popped!
Aside from the imaginative costumes that great sci-fi movies show, I love to go to movies like “Star Trek” and see what the filmmakers have imagined for future technology and gadgets.
I remember watching the original series and loving all the gadgets that were developed as props for the show… that now we are actually using today. Like flip phones… oh those are so 20 years ago! Continue reading
Question #1: Attributes? Enthusiasm. Question #2: Experience? See Question #1
Me, I have four. Really I do! I have the one you can see here on the blog. I have a full one that has every bit of info listed for all the shows I have ever done, and my full education and skills history. (This one is for sending in with work permit or work visa requests for international shows that may require government cooperation.) I also have a one pager; it is like a calling card or a large business card with show names and a photo layout. And lastly, I have the good old standard two-pager. It gives a quick overview of what I have been working on lately and some key education and skill elements.
And yes, I do change them up regularly… Continue reading
Get a job, Sha na na na, sha na na na na! Get a job, Sha na na na, sha na na na na!
The Silhouettes
I am back home! I love to work on location. Shooting a movie wherever, whenever… it’s always a challenge and a lot of work and I really enjoy that! But, (I think) like everyone else, I also love returning back to my wonderful home.
Having said that, the end of a show means that it’s time to get another job.
As I said in my blog, “Fears are Paper Tigers”, one of the challenges of working in the film industry is the number of times we are laid of in a year… well not really laid off, I guess… each show is a contract, contract ends; job over.
So here I am out looking for the next fabulous, exciting and challenging job!
While I was packing up during the final days of my last show, some of the newer costumers were asking questions, like: How do you find another job? How do you know where to look for what’s happening? Do productions just call and offer you a job? Do you have to keep trying to find the next show yourself? Continue reading
Very Superstitious, Writing’s on the Wall!
Stevie Wonder
I thought I would continue my thoughts on working with actors… this time with some good old fashioned wives’ tales involved!
Am I superstitious, sure, aren’t we all in a little way. I always follow the rules of:
Don’t open an umbrella in the house (or the costume truck)! (by the way this isn’t a superstition in Korea!). Continue reading
SHIT FIRE AND SAVE THE MATCHES!
The other day on set, our actress yelled, ‘Shit fire and save the matches!’ in the middle of a scene. Nope, that wasn’t her line… she had fumbled her actual line a few times in a row and was getting frustrated with herself.
It was funny! I almost cracked up in my hiding place behind a lighting flag.
I was reminded of this yesterday after reading a blog by the Anonymous Production Assistant. Kendra wrote in and asked the Anonymous PA about how to talk to and deal with actors on set. Anonymous wrote a great response about how a production assistant could approach dealing with cast. Continue reading
FROM THE KNICKERS OUT
by guest blogger Michael Bruce Adams
Identify… Embellish… Transform… Transcend
Every decision we make, from the construct of the largest set piece to the addition of the tiniest of details, has a psychological impact on our audience. Every decision we make either brings our audience deeper into the story or pushes them away.
This means whether we are costumers, directors or writers… we are all storytellers. Storytellers connect human beings by creating universal experiences that we can all relate to… soul to soul.
Dawn Leigh Climie very graciously allowed me to be guest blogger this week, I suspect primarily because she is up to her armpits in mud and bug spray on her current show. But as a screenwriter, I hope to take up the challenge and do her proud. Continue reading
“There are three kinds of people; the ones that learn by reading, the few who learn by observation… and the rest of them that have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.”
Unknown Cowboy
This is our last weekend before camera and as always crazy busy! Fittings, alterations, breakdown, paper work, load the trucks… and many other things to get done before we roll early on Monday!
Forgive me informational blog this weekend and take a look at the email that production sent out to us a few days ago! Cowboy or no these are still words to work, live and laugh by! Continue reading