Costume on Set

This workshop offers a detailed, practical exploration of what a working day in the costume department actually looks like on a film or television production, focusing on the realities of film and TV set work rather than theory or assumption. It breaks down how costume functions within the wider production environment and how the department supports performance, continuity, and storytelling on screen.

Using real productions as reference points, the session walks through the rhythm of a shoot day, from call time and early preparation through filming, standby, and wrap. It explores how the costume department is structured, how responsibilities shift depending on the scale and budget of a production, and how decisions are made in a fast-moving and constantly changing environment. Particular attention is paid to communication: how costume works closely with hair and makeup, assistant directors, production, and actors, and how information is shared and prioritised throughout the day.

The workshop also examines how planning in prep translates to practical work on set, how continuity is managed across multiple shooting days, and how costume teams adapt to schedule changes and creative decisions in real time. By the end of the session, participants will have a clear, grounded understanding of how costume work fits into the wider production machine and what is expected of costume professionals working on set in film and television.

When: Tuesday March 10th at 7:00pm
Where: Online Zoom Video Call
Who: MFJF PRO Members Only
Cost: Free for MFJF PRO Members!

Content

The structure of a shoot day
- A step-by-step look at how a typical film or TV day runs from call time to wrap.

How costume departments operate
- Understanding hierarchy, roles, and responsibility in practice.

Prep, shoot, and wrap
- What happens at each stage of a production and how costume work shifts.

Working with other departments
- How costume collaborates with hair, makeup, production, and camera.

Communication on set
- How information is shared, managed, and prioritised during filming.

Professional conduct on set
- What builds trust, reputation, and ongoing work.

Course Leaders

Julia Drummond-Haig

Julia is a Costume Designer working across film, television, commercials, music promos and theatre. She trained at the acclaimed London College of Fashion and began her career in the Royal Shakespeare Company where she developed an in-depth knowledge of period and contemporary costumes. She has worked on such features as Aladdin, Tarzan, Murder on the Orient Express and Kingsmen. TV shows include The Last Kingdom, Bad Education and several ITV series.

Julia designed the award winning Notes on Blindness, the Netflix Original Father Christmas is Back and countless other films. She most recently designed Grace for ITV.

When she’s not on set she is a busy mum of two young children working out of her studio in the Cotswolds.

Tickets

This workshop is for MFJF Pro Members. To join and participate create your account on MFJF and then upgrade to become a PRO Member.

Eligibility

Any MFJF Pro Member can attend regardless of prior film industry experience or knowledge.

No experience is required, if you are simply curious about a career in film or are a recent film graduate we welcome you to join us.

Please look at our Career Stages Pathways to understand where your experience lies in the grand scheme of things, it will help you navigate and plan your next steps.