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Chit Chat is your chance to mix 'n mingle– virtually– with movers and shakers in the Fashion Design, Interior Design, Graphic Design, and Entertainment industries.

FIDM Grad Giovanna Melton is the Costume Designer for the People’s Choice Award for Favorite New TV Comedy, NBC’s My Name Is Earl. Giovanna’s come along way from her first job as an Assistant Costumer for the low-budget horror flick Macabre (aka The Hand) where she was paid $250 a week. Lack of structure was what terrified her then, but now it’s what she loves most about her job. “Every show presents new stories and characters,” Giovanna explains. That was also true for her work on the television show Providence, which opened with a dream sequence each week. Over the ninety-plus episodes she designed everything from an Edwardian garden party to a Depression-era soup line. For more on Giovanna’s thrilling career, check out the Q&A below. You can watch NBC’s My Name Is Earl, Thursday nights at 9/8c.


 
1. What was your first industry job?
 
 

GIOVANNA: It was the summer following my graduation from FIDM. I was 19 years old and not prepared for the attitude, hours, work instability, and lack of structure. The name of the film was The Macabre (aka The Hand). As the name implies, it was a very low-budget horror film. I earned $250.00 a week as an assistant costumer.

  
 
 
2. What do you love most about your job?
 
 

GIOVANNA: The lack of structure! What scared me as a 19-year old enticed me later on. Every show presents new stories and new characters.

  
 
 
3. What inspires you?
 
 

GIOVANNA: I enjoy people watching. Researching different cultures and eras of time.

  
 
 
4. What is a typical work week like?
 
 

GIOVANNA: We are a half-hour episodic comedy, not a sitcom. Our show runs on a Monday thru Friday schedule. We shoot all five days on locations and on stage (like a mini-film). While we are shooting a current show, we are also prepping the following show simultaneously.

In a perfect world: Monday morning, 6:30am check in on the set. It's the first day of a new episode. Make sure the set costumers have everything for the day and actors are happy. After the first shot is off, I head back to the office and read the script for the next episode. The department heads have a group concept/pre-production meeting between 9:00-10:00 am to answer priority questions.  After my meeting, I will finish up the fittings for the episode currently shooting. Most of the time casting comes in late . So we are still "prepping" the episode shooting. If I need to get specific/custom costumes for the leads for the new episode I will get out and start researching/shopping/pulling/designing. I always eat lunch at my desk, or on the run. I finish the day around 7:30 pm.

Tuesday: 7:00 am--Check in on the set answer questions and go to the office. Go over budget, which is due at noon, with Nancy the Wardrobe Supervisor. Pull outfit ideas for the from the character's closet. The character Earl alone generally has 12+ changes an episode. He has had as many as 27 changes in an episode. Make piles of costumes that need ageing, dyeing, and/or alterations. In the afternoon, I have a director meeting to show ideas and refine any specific costume designs. Shop in the afternoon. Finish the day around 7:00 pm.

Wednesday:  8:00 am--Go over the plan for the day with Nancy figure out what the main cast still needs for the upcoming episode.  Fit the principle cast with new outfits throughout the day, depending on their schedule. Casting calls in with one maybe two of the many guest cast for the next episode.  We wait for the guest actors to call back with their sizes. This is shortest day of the week generally ends around 6:30 pm.

Thursday: 8:00 am--Shopping and fitting for the day as we get more guest cast. Begin tagging  principle cast costumes. Production Meeting in the late afternoon. Finish the day around 7:00pm.

Friday: 8:00 am--More of the same from Thursday's schedule. Fittings all day.  Roll out the mostly finished show rack out to the trailer.  We will continue fitting guest actors on Monday if not yet cast today. The day ends around 8:00-8:30 pm.

  
 
 
5. What has been your favorite previous project and why?
 
 

GIOVANNA: My favorite project would be Providence. Besides the normal challanges of an hour long episodic, every week the script teaser opened with a period/fantasy dream sequence. I designed everything from an Edwardian garden party, WWI European street scene, last night on the Titanic, and a Depression-era soup line, to Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella at the ball, Romeo and Juliet, and Alice in Wonderland, just to name some of the 90+ dreams. It was a career highlight for me to win an Emmy for that show.

 
 
 
6. Is there a particular approach to your job that you feel is uniquely yours?
 
 

GIOVANNA: I'm a very happy person.  I approach each day with a handful of vitamins and a smile.

  
 
 
7. What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
 
 

GIOVANNA: Balancing work, marriage and family.  Keeping problematic actors happy on a limited budget is on par with pampering spoiled child with a dollar. Not easy.

  
 
 
8. What do you think is the most important skill?
 
 

GIOVANNA: Child psychology (it works on adults too)--understanding that your design is not only for a character, but also that the actor must feel good in the costume. An ability to be flexible in your designing, from quirky to conservative.

  
 
 

9. What did you learn at FIDM that helped you in your current work?

 
 

GIOVANNA: Every aspect of what I learned at FIDM has come into play at one time or another. Mostly a strong knowledge in construction/patternmaking helps my ability to communicate my designs to my cutter/ fitter. When I need to sketch out a costume I already understand where seams and darts need to be.

  
 
YOUR DREAM JOB:
When you watch a film, play, or TV show, do you notice what the characters are wearing? Maybe you always have the best or most creative costume on Halloween. Costume Designers create the designs that actors and actresses wear in film, TV, and theatre. The designs must work with the character and the script, whether it's set in the 1800s or 2050. Find out more about this major at FIDM.edu.
 
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