How To Get Into Set Design For Movies

One of the near mutual questions that Style Nine to Five's Founder, Christie Lohr, gets asked is how to get a job equally a wardrobe stylist for film and TV. After all, what could be more of a dream come up true than combining your love of fashion with the glamour and excitement of film product? Like whatever job in fashion, in that location's more than involved than you might think, only with the correct strategy, working in this coveted role tin be within your achieve.

Applying Christie's career advice, forth with tips from some of the Vancouver film industry's most sought-after stylists, let'due south explore the fundamental steps that are involved in working as a stylist in the wardrobe department and how you can become your pes in the door towards your dream chore.

Showtime at the Ground Level

No matter how high up on the ladder you are at your electric current role, chances are, y'all'll have to exist willing to start from the bottom when you lot're trying to interruption into a new industry. In flick, this could hateful starting as an intern or volunteering your time for free so you can get involved even when you don't accept a ton (or any) feel nether your chugalug. You might spend your days running errands or doing a lot of grunt work, but that's to be expected when you're working your way upwards.

Costumer, Jessica Redditt, got her start doing exactly that – volunteering on a few productions as a manner to come across costume designers and make contacts. It demonstrates that you really desire to be there and that y'all're enthusiastic about showing upwards and pitching in.

Some other possibility is getting an entry-level job in moving-picture show, fifty-fifty if it'south not in the costume section. Commercial Banana Director, Daniel Mallinson, recommends applying as a production assistant and working your way towards specific departments similar wardrobe. This will give you a solid foundation of noesis on how a set is run and understanding the large flick is of import in any task. Stylist, Leila Bani, agrees. "Assisting is a great way to learn," she says, with the reminder to exist patient. "Be consistent. Information technology doesn't happen overnight."

Networking is another important tool when you're getting started in the film industry. As with any sector, coming together people and making connections should be part of your career strategy.

"There are Facebook groups for costume networking that could help with a few start-up gigs if y'all don't have whatsoever contacts in the industry," Jessica recommends.

Create a Portfolio

Like many other jobs in way, your portfolio is one of your greatest assets when it comes to landing new film styling jobs. If you don't accept any film feel to include in your portfolio, it'due south time to make your own. "I started out doing shoots with friends until I somewhen congenital upwards a strong enough portfolio that people were willing to trust and hire me," Leila says.

Stylist, Riva Pollard, offers the aforementioned advice. "Set up a website," she says. "Go your friends involved or run into upwardly with other creatives in your surface area. Do shoots and create content that yous can prove to people who are considering hiring you." Be prepared to piece of work hard, and again, patience is key. Creating content that showcases your skills and talent tin can take a long time, simply it's essential for showing off your piece of work and setting yourself apart from others who are competing for the same jobs.

Do Your Homework

There'due south more to getting started in the costume department than but walking onto a picture or commercial shoot. At that place are unions to learn near, courses to take, and plenty of resources to read that will help point you in the right management.

Creative BC is a provincial government-created website defended to providing professional support to the commercial and movie industries. Their website is clogged of information on unions, pre-requisite data, application processes, and more. It's well worth your time to pour a loving cup of coffee, grab a notepad, and spend some fourth dimension online getting familiar with how the industry works.

Another dandy resources is the Spousal relationship of BC Performers website. "If you're looking for work in film and television, the best way to observe out which productions are currently running is to look on the wedlock'south website and find the product visitor names that will exist fastened to all electric current productions," Dan says.

Schools like Capilano Academy Continuing Studies offer i-twenty-four hour period courses that are often a mandatory requirement for getting started in film, like Motility Picture Industry Orientation. Motion Picture show Safety Awareness is another important pre-requisite to take. These courses are important in setting yourself upward to work in the industry and giving you an invaluable pedagogy in navigating on-set basics.

Proceed Your Expectations Realistic

In that location are some mutual myths about working in the fashion manufacture, and the world of wardrobe styling is no exception. Leila, Riva, and Jessica were all quick to mention that this job isn't as glamorous as you might recall. "Nosotros don't spend all day shopping," Riva says. Leila agrees, saying, "People don't realize how much paperwork, returns, and boring/unglamorous work is involved. "Information technology's and so far from glamorous," Jessica says. "The hours are actually long – sometimes x-12 hours on the route/in-studio – and there are lots of loftier-stress situations."

For Riva, the job involves determination and delivery. "In that location is lots of hard work required to make creating manner narratives look effortless when, in reality, in that location's a huge corporeality of effort that goes into this job," she says.

Show What You're Fabricated Of

In addition to plenty of hard piece of work, you can also expect to encounter difficult people and situations that seem incommunicable. At that place are problems to solve, tight timelines, and challenges that arise without notice. While working as a film wardrobe stylist may be a tough task, it'southward an platonic fit for people who have a stiff work ethic and a not bad attitude. Riva, Leila, and Jessica concur that there some key skills and qualities that will aid you succeed including:

• Beingness resourceful and solution-focused

• Being dependable and consequent in ever doing your best

• Understanding your audition

• Staying agile and flexible when issues come up or things don't go according to plan

• Being able to stay absurd under pressure and handle quick turnaround times

Getting started in any new industry is both heady and daunting. Don't let the realities of working every bit a stylist for film scare you away, as any job comes with challenges. Equally long as you're a hard worker, are humble enough to showtime at the bottom, and dear what yous do, a career in the wardrobe department could exist the perfect fit for y'all. Follow this insider advice from Vancouver's top film, television, and commercial stylists and take the fourth dimension to put the work in – fifty-fifty before yous've landed the job – and yous'll be well on your way to turning your dream into your day-to-24-hour interval.

Feature Image: Adobe Stock: Past Rawpixel.com

If you're in search of more professional expertise, Christie offers a Virtual Career Meeting where she can answer your important career questions and share her job-seeking wisdom. From reviewing your resume, oomphing up your LinkedIn profile, and learning tips on getting started in a new industry, this service is a must-have for giving you the confidence yous need to create a solid game plan for getting into the pic industry wardrobe styling world.

Past: Jeanine Gordon – Jeanine is a freelance writer and editor with a passion for creating stellar content for global brands and pocket-sized businesses alike – specializing in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle.

Source: https://styleninetofive.com/2020/07/07/the-insiders-guide-to-becoming-a-wardrobe-stylist-for-film/