Mercedes Cook dinner is a famend costume designer initially from Philadelphia. Her in depth work consists of tasks in New York, Chicago, and Atlanta, with design credit spanning Common’s American Made, Netflix’s “Ozark” Season 1, FOX’s “Star” Seasons 2 and three, and Netflix’s Beats. Most just lately, she’s been a key inventive pressure behind the final three seasons of Showtime‘s “The Chi.”
Cook dinner sat down with rolling out to offer us an inside take a look at her inventive course of and provide recommendation for aspiring costume designers.
What does your inventive course of appear like?
By way of costume design, my inventive course of kicks off with analysis. It’s fascinating, truly—I’m sitting right here by my storyboard for an upcoming challenge on Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. What you see behind me showcases the preliminary levels of my course of. I derive inspiration from numerous sources like analysis, coloration palettes, and texture, all with the intention of respiration life into characters by way of their apparel. Every movie or TV present has its distinctive wants, nevertheless it all begins with analysis, inspiration, and tapping into an genuine really feel. Then comes the enjoyable half—buying! Every little thing culminates in fittings and shut collaboration with administrators, showrunners, and actors to make sure that the costumes really feel genuine when on display screen.
Any ideas for these taken with venturing into costume design?
Completely, I’ve three key ideas. First off, be humble. Though I lead a staff of 14, if I see my manufacturing assistants battling luggage, I’m all the time there to assist. Humility can go a great distance on this business. Second, be open to criticism. The folks round you’re typically there that can assist you develop, and constructive suggestions can solely make you higher. Lastly, pursue this profession since you genuinely like it, not as a result of it seems to be glamorous. Glamour could be present in any occupation, be it firefighting or nursing. Hunt down what feels authentically glamorous to you and pursue it wholeheartedly.
