Going Hollywood, How Brittany Cormack Thrives as a Costume Designer Amid the Madness of Show Biz

Brittany Cormack is a costume designer for film and television. Following her training in fashion and dance, Brittany arrived in Los Angeles without a clue how to work in the movie business, but has since found her groove. She works primarily on independent films, commercials, and music videos, but every day is an adventure. 

Work has taken her from frozen mountains to coastal swamps, and everywhere in between. In this conversation, we discover how movie sets work, what happens when everyone is freelance, and where to build habits even during crazy periods.

Catch up with Brittany on her IMDB page or Portfolio.

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Show Notes & Links

Gilmore Girls are back

Brittany and Prescott went to college together, danced together

Brittany is a costume designer for film & television

The difference between costume and fashion is that fashion is meant to sell; costume helps build a character

"Costume is the head-to-toe of a person" —Brittany Cormack

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Costume should be part of the conception, not merely production

Upstairs-downstairs, the term for important vs. non-important people

Above-the-line/Below-the-line, terms in film (also advertising) to describe the most visible and important duties

"Each set and each project has an energy of its own." —Brittany Cormack

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"Every first day of shooting is like the first day of school." —Brittany Cormack

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Caste System, even on a movie set

On the set of Planet of The Apes, people will sit together based on their costumes

Grips

The Gig Economy

"You have to be a little half-crazy to work in this industry." —Brittany Cormack

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Grey’s Anatomy, currently in season 13

Contracts for short films or commercials are usually under 2 months

"If you’re ever looking for work, just plan a vacation." —freelancers’ adage

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The Hollywood Model, where a team is built for purpose, then disbanded

Sandy Powell, costumer designer on Cinderella

"In LA or New York, you can get anything if you have the money." —Brittany Cormack

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Standard days of filming are 10-14 hours

"I only want to tell stories that I feel matter." —Brittany Cormack

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Aristotelian Logic (Logos, Ethos, Pathos)

Lexiconical Gap in English for “happiness” in the context of a career (in Danish we have arbejdsglaede)

People Magazine Investigates

Long Island Serial Killer, 2011

"If you want to be a true collaborator, you’ve gotta be willing to be a team player." —Brittany Cormack

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Scandal (a Union show)

Non-Union people can’t touch the clothes

Greensmen, Set Decorators, Painters — keep away from one another’s jobs!

"If there’s a hat, you’re gonna wear it!" —Brittany Cormack

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“Taking Meetings“, a common practice in Hollywood

"You’re only as good as your last job." —Hollywood adage

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Brittany uses Instagram strictly for work (no cats, no food!)

 Brittany Cormack’s portfolio

 Brittany Cormack on IMDB

 Brittany Cormack on Facebook

 Brittany Cormack on Instagram

Tools

Paper & Pencil

Techniques

Build a backstory for all your characters beyond what’s on the page

Keep track of everyone who owes you money

Call your “guy” when you’re in trouble

Stay around people, be inspired by them (as well as books)

Habits

Keep a positive, collaborative attitude above all

Use a billing software tool to track your invoices

Document your work on social media to stay current

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Get Hollywood Stories: Short, Entertaining Anecdotes about the Stars and Legends of the Movies by Stephen Schochet as a free audiobook 

 

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