A Day in the Life of a Wardrobe Assistant
A day in the life of a Wardrobe Assistant.
A rude awakening as the alarm rings in my ears me. Bleary eyed I stagger out of bed and into the bathroom to get ready for the day ahead. Up at the crack of dawn as usual and after a quick wash and brush up its the road for me off to join the rest of the wardrobe team and the days work ahead.
The journey to work can sometimes take hours and is usually done in the dark but getting to work on time is pretty essential because no matter what the call time is, the artists have to be dressed made up and ready to step before the camera on time.The wardrobe team usually line costumes up the night before, pressed and ready to go, there may be a few items we've had to wash and dry overnight but we do, try to avoid that if we can. The first job is getting costumes set out in either trailers or dressing rooms depending on where the shoot is. Then it's off to catering for breakfast if we have the time, this can vary from a full breakfast with cereal fruit toast to a bacon roll. The wardrobe room is usually manned at all times just in case there are any last minute hitches, these having been solved the artists are now dressed and made up ready to go.
The journey to set could be little more than a walk down the corridor to the sound - stage or a trip on a mini bus to some outside location. Location work is the hardest. Everything that could possibly be needed for the day has to be brought with us so coats to keep the artists warm, hand warmers, hot water bottles, umbrellas and any costume changes are all packed into large checked laundry bags and have to be carried along with the set box which carries any kit that may be needed e.g.: brushes double sided tape breakdown kit tools like pliers for fixing jewellery and hole punches for belts these kits can be quite large too.
So if you see some poor woman with bulging checked laundry bags on both shoulders and pulling a tool box especially if she's wearing the most unflattering wet weather clothing and boots both of which are covered in mud, no it's not a bag lady it's a wardrobe assistant travelling to set what a glamorous job.
We have now arrived on set, the first job is to check that the artists are warm enough, and find out where any changes are taking place so that any costumes can be hung up as soon as possible, and then find a place behind camera to set up camp where bags can be left and easily accessed if needed. That's when the waiting starts cameras and lights are being set up the director is ensconced somewhere with the artists discussing the scene to be shot. They are inside somewhere warm and dry whilst we are all outside whatever the weather we aren't usually allowed the share a room with artists. One of the most important pieces of kit for any film crew member is good waterproof clothing and a pair of good strong waterproof boots.
The crew is now, ready the stage set and the artists are brought out to rehearse their scene, if the weather is bad they keep umbrellas and coats with them for rehearsal but when they go for a take the wardrobe crew remove the weather gear check the costumes are correct and usually have to stand holding the umbrella over the artist until the cameras are rolling. The artist is kept dry whilst you stand with rain dripping down your neck. The call of "brollies out" at which time we have to dart at speed out of shot and eye line so you have to find out where you're going to run before you step onto set. It's a bit of a cardinal sin to be caught on camera although inevitably it does happen. This goes on all day with a break for lunch although one can usually guarantee that a costume change is called for during lunch so the wardrobe team is still working and has to manage to grab a bite in between. At the end of the day the journey of the morning is reversed wardrobe is usually one of the last to leave the set because a check has to be done to make sure that any items of costume, coats or umbrellas haven't been left behind. Costume pieces getting lost or damaged is the worst nightmare of the wardrobe team it can cause no end of problems especially if there isn't a double of it and if it's needed again someone is going to be up all night making another one to match.
At the end of the day wardrobe is usually the last to leave because we have to wait for artists to change and vacate their trailers or dressing rooms, then we can go in and usually have to hang up the costume check it's all there take it back to the truck or wardrobe room. We then have to wash what needs to be washed and set up for the following morning so wardrobe can be slogging away at least half an hour longer than anyone else. After all that we are then faced with the journey home again usually, also, in the dark. You then crawl into bed and hopefully get a few ours sleep then it's up and at'em again the following morning and this can go on for weeks and months depending on the length of the shoot and this routine is the same whether it be a TV programme or a big block buster Hollywood movie. Ok so it's long unsociable hours, hard work and occasionally, it can also be very difficult working with particularly demanding artists, some artists loose site of the fact that making a movie or television show is, quite definitely, a team job even though they would be considered the front man these artists can make life very difficult for all around them.
Despite the long hours and being out in all weathers it's still a great job but it's a job you've just got to love.
