Tales From A Costume Designer Whitney Anne Adams

This week’s episode features the imaginative and talented Costume Designer Vera Chow! We had so much fun talking about how we first met, the difference between working in NYC and then working outside of NYC, AAPI representation in filmed media, dealing with tough situations on set, and so much more! I really hope you enjoy this one. 
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Costume Designer Vera Chow
Credits include: The Brothers Sun | The Walking Dead | Boogie | Deadbeat
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Vera Chow is a costume designer currently most known for her work on Seasons 10 and 11 of AMC’s The Walking Dead and Netflix's action/dramedy The Brothers Sun, starring Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh.
 
Film, Art and Design, was young Vera's coping mechanism for bullying while growing up as a child in Hong Kong. Therefore, determined to move to the US, she knew she wanted to be a Costume Designer since she was 13.  Throughout the 15+ years of her career, Chow has worked on films and series worldwide, spanning from North America, South America, to as far as East Asia and Central Asia. She has covered genres from horror to scifi to romantic comedies, comfortably leaping back and forth from 1 million art films to 100 mill epics. 
 
Vera is known for her penchant to acquire anything from thrift store pieces to bedsheets, and taking everything apart and rebuilding them into entirely reimagined costume changes (to the chagrin of her tailors and agers). 
 
And as Vera's experience grew, she also became an outspoken advocate for AAPI representation for below the line film workers.
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Vera Chow Links:
Website: verachowdesigns.com
Instagram: @verachowdesigns
Twitter: @verachowdesigns
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TFACD Links:
Patreon: Tales From A Costume Designer
Instagram: @talesfromacostumedesigner
Twitter: @talesfromaCD
TikTok: @talesfromaCD
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Whitney Anne Adams Links:
Website: whitneyadams.com
Instagram: @WAACostumeDesign
Twitter: @WhitneyAAdams
TikTok: @waacostumedesign
Ko-Fi: @waacostumedesign
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Pay Equity Links:
Pay Equity Now IG: @payequitynow
Pay Equity Now TikTok: @payequitynow
Costume Designers Guild IG: @cdglocal892
Local USA 829 Pay Equity Task Force IG: @usa829payequity
United Scenic Artists Local 829 IG: @unitedscenicartists

I am so excited to welcome wonderful Production Designer Cheyenne Ford to the show today. We’ve worked together on multiple projects including Story Ave, The Caretaker, and The Eyes of My Mother. Cheyenne is also the founder and program director of Art Craft NYC, a program that provides knowledge and training to those interested in becoming entry level in the art department. Applications for the inaugural class are currently open until Saturday April 6th. Head over to their page to get more info! 
We had a great conversation that covered so much ground, from mentorship and education to her design process to how much we love the library! And so much more. 
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Production Designer Cheyenne Ford
Credits include: Shiva Baby | Story Ave | Miller’s Girl 
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Originally hailing from New Orleans, Cheyenne Ford is a New York City based Production Designer for film and advertising. Her eclectic art dept experience has influenced her process on indie favorites like Shiva Baby, the SXSW 2023 World Premiering Story Ave, and Lionsgate and Point Grey produced Miller's Girl starring Jenna Ortega and Martin Freeman. When she’s not on set, she’s often working with various organizations to educate and mentor newcomers interested in the art department. Most notably, she is set to launch Art Craft NYC, a month-long hands-on training program, with the inaugural class scheduled for Summer 2024. 
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Cheyenne Ford Links:
Cheyenne Ford Website: cheyennedesign.co
CF Instagram: @cheyenne_design
Art Craft NYC Website
Art Craft NYC Instagram: @artcraftnyc
IMDb: Cheyenne Ford
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TFACD Links:
Patreon: Tales From A Costume Designer
Instagram: @talesfromacostumedesigner
Twitter: @talesfromaCD
TikTok: @talesfromaCD
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Whitney Anne Adams Links:
Website: whitneyadams.com
Instagram: @WAACostumeDesign
Twitter: @WhitneyAAdams
TikTok: @waacostumedesign
Ko-Fi: @waacostumedesign
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Pay Equity Links:
Pay Equity Now IG: @payequitynow
Pay Equity Now TikTok: @payequitynow
Costume Designers Guild Instagram: @cdglocal892
Local USA 829 Pay Equity Task Force Instagram: @usa829payequity
Local USA 829 Pay Equity Task Force Twitter: @usa829payequity
United Scenic Artists Local 829 Instagram: @unitedscenicartists
United Scenic Artists Local 829 Twitter: @USA829IATSE

Today’s episode features a fantastic Costumer, Alesha D. Mitchell! Alesha and I met when she was my key/truck costumer on our film The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat. We had a great conversation of wide ranging topics from physically demanding days on set, taking care of ourselves in this industry, money smarts, the difference between and Costumer and a Costume Designer and so much more. We also talked about her YourTube channel: Behind the Scenes and Below the Line. Check out the links below to learn more. 
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If you want to support me and this podcast, feel free to buy me a coffee on ko-fi or subscribe to the Patreon and get the episodes two days earlier. These links and the link to the show on all your favorite podcast players is in our IG bio.
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Costumer Alesha D. Mitchell
Credits include: The Underground Railroad | Father of the Bride | Legacies | Collection | The Devil all the Time | The Fanatic
As well as the upcoming films Shirley | Gladiator 2 | The Life of Chuck | The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat
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Alesha Mitchell is just here to serve the people! Alesha is a union member with nearly a decade of experience in the film and television industry. 
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Alesha D. Mitchell Links:
YouTube Channel: Behind the Scenes and Below the Line (@AleshaDMitchell)
Instagram: @aleshadmitchell   
TikTok: @aleshadmitchell
Facebook: @alesha.mitchell.73
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TFACD Links:
Patreon: Tales From A Costume Designer
Instagram: @talesfromacostumedesigner
Twitter: @talesfromaCD
TikTok: @talesfromaCD
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Whitney Anne Adams Links:
Website: whitneyadams.com
Instagram: @WAACostumeDesign
Twitter: @WhitneyAAdams
TikTok: @waacostumedesign
Ko-Fi: @waacostumedesign
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Pay Equity Links:
Pay Equity Now IG: @payequitynow
Pay Equity Now TikTok: @payequitynow
Costume Designers Guild Instagram: @cdglocal892
Local USA 829 Pay Equity Task Force Instagram: @usa829payequity
Local USA 829 Pay Equity Task Force Twitter: @usa829payequity
United Scenic Artists Local 829 Instagram: @unitedscenicartists
United Scenic Artists Local 829 Twitter: @USA829IATSE

Today's episode features the brilliant and talented Costume Designer Trayce Gigi Field! We talk about so many wonderful things from her roots at Western Costume to the difference in process between television and film. Other great topics include the value of costume design, the #creditcostumedesigners campaign, working with and highlighting diverse brands, the importance of the collaborations with costume illustrators, actors and directors, and the danger of AI. Trayce is also the co-chair of the CDG Diversity Committee and serves with me in the CDG Pay Equity Committee and we got to dig into the importance and impact and the work of both.

 
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Costume Designer Trayce Gigi Field is known for her vibrant tastes in color and her quirky yet fun choices in style and texture. With over 30 credits to her name, her multicultural background helps her see the world from a broad perspective. | Currently, Trayce is costume designing Liz Feldman’s No Good Deed for Netflix. In addition to Rian Johnson’s POKER FACE for Peacock, her recent credits include BOOKIE on MAX, Amazon’s A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, Apple TV+’s THE AFTER PARTY and Netflix’s DEAD TO ME. In 2024, Trayce was a double nominee for the Costume Designers Guild Awards for POKER FACE and for Jack Harlow’s Super Bowl Doritos Commercial, in 2023, Trayce was nominated for a NAACP Image Award for A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN and in 2021, she was nominated for a Costume Designers Guild Award for LIONSGATE’S BARB AND STAR GO TO VISTA DEL MAR. She received acclaim early in her career for her iconic diner uniforms showcased on CBS’s 2 BROKE GIRLS.

A native of Los Angeles, Trayce graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM). CDG Diversity Committee Chairperson | NAACP Image Awards Nomination Committee Member | CDG Comic-Con Committee Member

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Trayce Gigi Field Links:

Website: traycegigifield.com

Instagram: @traycegigifield 

TikTok: @traycegigi

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TFACD Links:

Patreon: Tales From A Costume Designer

Instagram: @talesfromacostumedesigner

Twitter: @talesfromaCD

TikTok: @talesfromaCD

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Whitney Anne Adams Links:

Website: whitneyadams.com

Instagram: @WAACostumeDesign

Twitter: @WhitneyAAdams

TikTok: @waacostumedesign

Ko-Fi: @waacostumedesign

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Pay Equity Links:

Pay Equity Now IG: @payequitynow

Pay Equity Now TikTok: @payequitynow

Costume Designers Guild IG: @cdglocal892

Local USA 829 Pay Equity Task Force IG: @usa829payequity

United Scenic Artists Local 829 IG: @unitedscenicartists

I am so thrilled to have my friend, the fantastic Cinematographer Zachary Galler, on the show this week! Zack and I worked together on our film Piercing! We talk about the working relationship of a DP and a Costume Designer, his process on set with his team, working digitally vs working with film, post-production, our work in Piercing, his work on Lessons in Chemistry, the state of artistry in the industry and making sure to stretch before picking up any camera equipment! The link to the show on your favorite podcast player is in the IG bio. 
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Cinematographer Zachary Galler
Credits include: Lessons in Chemistry | Extrapolations | The Act | Piercing | Paper Girls | Manhunt: Unabomber | Briarpatch | Dr. Death
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Zachary Galler grew up on film and commercial sets where he would observe his director father at work. Galler’s passion for filmmaking led him to leave film school early in order to jumpstart his career. He cut his teeth as a lighting technician and quickly worked his way up to shooting various feature film and television projects. Notable projects include Hulu’s The Act, Piercing, and Apple's Extrapolations and Lessons in Chemistry.
 
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Zachary Galler Links:
Website: zacharygaller.com
Instagram: @zachary_galler
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TFACD Links:
Patreon: Tales From A Costume Designer
Instagram: @talesfromacostumedesigner
Twitter: @talesfromaCD
TikTok: @talesfromaCD
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Whitney Anne Adams Links:
Website: whitneyadams.com
Instagram: @WAACostumeDesign
Twitter: @WhitneyAAdams
TikTok: @waacostumedesign
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Pay Equity Links:
Pay Equity Now IG: @payequitynow
Pay Equity Now TikTok: @payequitynow
Costume Designers Guild IG: @cdglocal892
Local USA 829 Pay Equity Task Force IG: @usa829payequity
United Scenic Artists Local 829 IG: @unitedscenicartists

This week, Whitney is so excited to be hosting one of her previous collaborators on the show, the talented Makeup Department Head Jenny Lin! We talk about transforming Jennifer Coolidge into the “West Bay Medium” for We Have A Ghost, her amazing times she’s spent working with Robert Rodriguez, creating a safe space in her trailer, working with the costume department, staying organized during filming and continuity work, protecting her time during “lasts looks”, as well as fabulous advice for those trying to break into the industry. 
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Makeup Department Head Jenny Lin
Credits include: We Have A Ghost | Tell Me Lies | Queen of the South | Alita: Battle Angel | Hypnotic | Spy Kids: Armageddon | Not Dead Yet
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Jenny is a science nerd who fell into makeup accidentally while in college at UT Austin. The very act of creating sparked something in herself to explore and led to working hands-on at a cosmetics company part time while pursuing her undergrad. Her first unexpected opportunity arose when Jenny was approached fill in super last minute makeup on her first short film, but the catch was that she’d have to basically work nonstop for five days straight… at the end of that very sleepless week, something ignited within her and Jenny has not looked back ever since.
 
Fast forward a decade, Jenny’s makeups have been seen on major motion pictures, television shows and national commercials. Beyond her video work, Jenny attained experience in makeup for commercial print ads and lifestyle shoots as well as a roster of faces for red carpet, special events and celebrity weddings and her clientele includes hometown Austin cult movie director Robert Rodriguez.
 
Jenny’s truest passion is in designing and executing imaginative makeups for her directors while collaborating with all the actor, and all creative departments to get the job done beautifully, efficiently and as cost efficient as possible. Skills range in special effect and trauma makeups, airbrushing, tattoo and facial hair work on top of corrective, beauty and character makeups.
 
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Jenny Lin Links:
Website: makeupbyjennylin.com
Instagram: @makeupbyjlin
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TFACD Links:
Patreon: Tales From A Costume Designer
Instagram: @talesfromacostumedesigner
Twitter: @talesfromaCD
TikTok: @talesfromaCD
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Whitney Anne Adams Links:
Website: whitneyadams.com
Instagram: @WAACostumeDesign
Twitter: @WhitneyAAdams
TikTok: @waacostumedesign
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Pay Equity Links:
Pay Equity Now IG: @payequitynow
Pay Equity Now TikTok: @payequitynow
Costume Designers Guild IG: @cdglocal892
Local USA 829 Pay Equity Task Force IG: @usa829payequity
United Scenic Artists Local 829 IG: @unitedscenicartists