President’s Letter Character Building
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Dear Friends,
s of today, Local 892 will publish four magazines and four newsletters each year, a dazzling accomplishment for a San Fernando Valley Guild with 650+ members. William Travilla’s pleated white silk halter dress for Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch (1955) graces this first-ever cover of The Costume Designer.Another stunning example of our contribution to world culture, this iconic image is emblematic of the Costume Designer’s art. Many of the arresting images in this issue, including the cover, are courtesy of our generous partners at the Kobal Picture Desk Photo Archive. Often anonymous and uncredited in the press, Costume Designers’ credits will not be overlooked here. Our title choice, The Costume Designer, was not an obvious one. Designers are perpetually confused with our colleagues—print stylists and costumers—both in industry and fashion publications. Local 892 deliberately seeks to delineate and define the role of the Costume Designer in motion pictures and television.We know what we do. Our political strategy is education. Educate the industry, the press and the public about costume design, and our status, prestige and salaries will be secure. If the press does recognize our work, it is usually as an extension of fashion, stuck in the style section of the newspaper … as if that’s our greatest contribution. Fashion writers grasp at trends and predictions—it’s part of their job. Motion picture and television costume design is part of that cultural equation. We do create the “look” of a show. But creating a “look” and influencing fashion is not why we do it, nor is it a measure of what designers consider a successful costume. But this is tough to explain to fashion journalists. Costume Designers help create characters—we are first and foremost, visual storytellers. Our work fits as properly in the fine art, business and book-review sections of the paper as it does in the entertainment and style section. Local 892 holds a glamorous class in Costume Design every year at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, this year on February 25, 2006. Our beautiful spokes-goddess Anjelica Huston will make our case passionately from the podium. The CDG will honor Designers of the Fifties: Renie, William Travilla, and Bill Thomas. Our Edith Head Hall of Fame inductee is Designer Anna Hill Johnstone.This winter we pay tribute to legendary designers Moss Mabry, Grady Hunt and Michael Woulfe while revitalizing a great union tradition, Local 892 Gold Cards. Colleen Atwood and Bob Blackman are receiving the first Spotlight Awards for Excellence. Courageous IATSE President Thomas C. Short will receive our President’s Award. Creativity and vision is not limited to designers. Under President Short’s progressive policies, the women and men of the IATSE have flourished. Our union continues to expand and strengthen in an otherwise hostile labor environment. Please join us at the 8th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards to honor President Short, Colleen, Bob and all our CDG Award nominees. It is your participation that makes our Local strong.
In solidarity, Deborah Landis president@costumedesignersguild.com
OUR MEMBERSHIP CONTINUES TO GROW New members: David Chick, Lisa Marie Harris, Aimee McCue, Lisa Davis, Laura Angotti, Tami Eldridge, President Deborah Landis, Roemehl Hawkins, Okera Banks, Stephanie Miller.
Fall 2005 The Costume Designer
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