To Know If You're Thinking of Becoming a Costume Designer
Ever wanted to be a designer? Well how about becoming a costume designer for film, television and plays? Being a costume designer is a unique way to be involved in the film industry as well as expressing your creative self (within confines of the time period being produced of course).
Sharen Davis is costume designer who's had a very successful career in the movie industry, carving out a niche for herself in period films and include Dreamgirls, the Help, and Django. Davis has however done it all including the futuristic The Book of Eli, Looper, and Godzilla. Her amazing work as also earned her Academy Award nominations for the movies Ray, and Dreamgirls.
What I discovered while reading up on Davis here and here, I learned that this particular career requires quite a bit of flexibility, adaptability, and definitely being comfortable with working under pressure. Most people in this line of work have a background in either fashion design or the movie industry on some level. You can however also go to school for costume design specifically.
Davis herself, when asked what the one piece of advise she would give an aspiring costume designer is, answered:
"And for a new costume designer, I don’t know – I think they can give me some advice! It’s such a different world, in the last twenty years I really don’t even know what to say. You just really need to know everything – every technical aspect of filmmaking you should know. You should always have a discussion with the DP and what camera he’s using. If he’s using HD, what type of HD? And then do your research and see what it does to the clothes, see what it does to the make-up. You have to really be on your technical game nowadays."
This serves to prove that you need to be versatile and not only an expert in your craft of designing. Many entrepreneurs believe that they have to be the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker, and do it all. But it is important to source out the things that aren't your strength or things you simply don't have time for focusing on your core strength. Although Davis makes a point to understand and learn the technical aspect of how HD will affect the appearance of fabrics, she hires someone to do her sketches for review due to time constraints.
Image courtesy of Film Doctor.
So two lessons to be learned here, if all you want to do is design, then costume design isn't for you. If you on the other hand have a love or deep appreciation for the film industry and it's creation, then this could be a viable career. Secondly, delegate to be great. This applies to every solopreneur. You may want to do it all, but to get to the next level you can't.
Be blessed!