C is for costume designer. I used to be a costume designer in the independent film industry. I studied costume design in college, and graduated with a degree in it! I worked hard to get jobs, make connections, work my way up in the industry here in Utah (yes, there’s a small film industry in Utah) and I even did an internship with a big famous costume designer in LA. It was a great job when I was single. I got to travel, and work with fun people, but when you’re on a film, you’re working 6 days a week, at least 12 hours a day. For me, it was more like 15 hours a day. The industry here isn’t consistent, but I made it work the best I could. When I was shooting, nothing else in my life existed. It was 100% filming. After I got married the things that were a little annoying as a member of a film crew, only got worse. When I was on a film, I couldn’t see Josh as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t do normal things like make dinner, go on dates, attend family functions together. Plus I felt like all the films here in Utah were either low budget, low quality, and they really just worked me ragged and I was very unhappy when I was working on the films.
So, I finally made the hard decision to stop pursuing film work. I knew there were better things for me to do and that I could be happier in other design arenas. And I was right. But turning down those first couple films was very tough! There’s a saying that goes: The coolest thing about being in the film industry is saying you’re in the film industry. And its so true. It was REALLY cool to SAY I was a costume designer, but I wasn’t happy. Just goes to show ya that sometimes the dream that you think you want and are working for turns out to be totally different than you thought!
The photo above is a costume from a movie called “Moving McAllister” that came out earlier this year. We filmed the movie a LONG time ago, but it just recently came out. Anyway – its one of the many fun costumes/characters I got to create for that movie.
Anyway, even though I don’t do it professionally anymore, costume design is a part of me, and always will be! And now y’all know it! 🙂
Remember how you met Steve Carell? I am so jealous!
You are SO GOOD at it too!!!!!! I hated being in Fashion Merchandising with you… I thought I had cool ideas and then I would look at yours and would be like… oh mine look lame now! HAHA It was such a fun class though!
Life is full of change. That’s what you can always depend on. You can’t go wrong if you do what your heart tells you is right! Good job!