We first met Joanna when she wrote into us about her profession, the work costume designers perform and provided insights into how we could provide more info for our readers. To us the best information source for movie clothes and film costume design is always the people that worked so hard to design and bring to life, via the movie costumes, our favorite and sometimes not so favorite movie character. We thought it would be great fun to interview Joanna and get her insights on movie costume design and more...
So, enjoy the first in our series of Insider's Interviews.....
She's worked with Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil, Ultraviolet), Ving Rhames (Pulp Fiction, Mission Impossible) and director Robert Townsend just to give you an idea of the talent she has worked with. Her work has been seen in the films .45 and Hank and Mike. She is one of the growing list of costume designers who's work we admire on the big screen and TV. Recently, we here at ISawItIn.com had a chance to catch up with her and talk about a few of her favorite subjects - costume design, fashion in general and her work. Keep reading to get behind the scenes insights from a founding member of the Canadian Alliance of Film & Television Costume Arts & Design (CAFTCAD) and fellow visitor and contributor to www.ISawItIn.com, Joanna Syrokomla.
ISawItIn: What was your background before you started in Film?
Joanna Syrokomla: I didn't really do much that wasn't connected to my profession before I entered it- other than the obligatory chemistry class (in which I actually would hem pants for the high school plays). I studied Costume at the Ryerson Theatre School in Toronto, Ontario. It was a great opportunity to learn to work with the different departments regarding a production, as well as learn to make doublets out of the teachers lounge's drapes.
ISawItIn: Describe for our readers your love affair with costume design. When did it start and what sparked it?
Joanna Syrokomla: There were a few factors that drew towards being a costume designer today. Of course I made clothes for my dolls, and dressed up the other kids during the plays we made up at school. My Mother would take me thrift shopping and I was told that I couldn't tell the other kids that I was wearing old clothes because they would laugh at me. Perhaps they would've, but I didn't want to share my sources as to where my allowance was buying '40's hats for 25 cents or glittery disco dresses for $1. I had the best dress up basement on the block! But the moment the penny dropped was in the library. I chanced upon the small historical fashion section and starting lugging the heavy books home and pouring over them. My Mother offered to Xerox the pages at work (on the brand new copier), which I think she may have regretted as she then was juggling those heavy books along with her briefcase every day. We've moved to Paris, France for my last 2 years of high school where I attended the American School of Paris. Heading up the Theatre program was Milty, an amazing man who was very supportive of students who wanted to do something other than be center stage. So I'd hole myself up in the basement there, sewing and dying and building with the amazing cast offs of the expatriate parents and the finds from the Paris flea markets with inspirations from the sketches I'd make of the old Paris Opera costume collection.
ISawItIn: What's in your closet?
Joanna Syrokomla: When I get dressed (for work) I have to be utmost comfortable and dress in layers. The work day can be up to 16 hours long, and the behind the scenes of a film set can be dirty, cold, (or extremely hot!), uncomfortable, but of course very glamorous. So I wear Sevens, Dana Buchman, Miss Sixty, Pink Tartan, Vintage, Bedo, Old Navy (surprisingly great stuff as they usually use natural fibres and great classic cuts).I live in Elita tights throughout the winter (which I wish came in brown!) and layer knit tunics, or vintage dresses, or tweed skirts and sweater with boots. In the summer it's linen pants, cotton cargos, silk or cotton tanks, or cotton sundresses from H&M, Zara, or Little India. When it's dress up time I've worn Marciano, Banana Republic, and Bebe. I am in love with Merell shoes though. They just fit my feet. If I didn't have such an fantastic husband, I'd track down the Merell heir and marry into that family. Or into a family of drycleaners.
ISawItIn: What is it like when you go shopping for the wardrobe pieces?
Joanna Syrokomla:It can be fun, hilarious, creative, tiresome, ridiculous. Sometimes you think you're getting paid just to deal with parking and stand in line. The worst is trying to prepare a show for the beginning of January. With the Christmas shopping and January returns...uggg. My assistant designer, Billie Blast, and I have done over 20 shows together and as we shop together, often the 'costume design' may consist of what is available in the stores that week, in the right size, in a colour the actress will wear. Sometimes Billie and I will yell at each other across the store without looking, slightly freaking out those who don't know we're together, and then show up holding the same dress in our hands as the other "Isn't this perfect?" We do everything we can to not take bags (because don't we really all have too many?) usually bring our own, or line little old lady plaid shopping carts with garbage bags, because when you have that much shopping, why not just have it on wheels?
Stay tuned for more Insider's information as we talk to Joanna about the design process, her thoughts on style and get some scoop on working with actors and directors in the film industry.
