Getting Your First Job in Costume for Film and Television

This workshop offers clear, practical guidance on how people actually secure their first job in film and television costume, focusing on the realities of entry rather than idealised pathways.

The session explores how people are hired in practice, including the role of recommendations, timing, availability, and trust, and why traditional application routes often don’t tell the full story. It looks at common first roles within costume departments and what is typically expected of people stepping onto set for the first time.

The workshop also addresses unpaid work, shadowing, and work experience, offering guidance on how to navigate these situations thoughtfully and safely. It encourages participants to think strategically about pacing, boundaries, and sustainability, and to recognise the difference between valuable experience and work that offers little progression.

When: Friday March 13th at 7:00pm
Where: Online Zoom Video Call
Who: MFJF PRO Members Only
Cost: Free for MFJF PRO Members!

Content

Entry routes into film and TV
- How people typically get started and where first opportunities come from.

First roles and responsibilities
- What early jobs in costume departments actually involve.

How hiring really works
- Informal systems, word of mouth, and reputation.

Unpaid work and shadowing
- Understanding what is useful and what should be approached with caution.

Building experience sustainably
- Avoiding burnout and exploitation in the early stages of a career.

Starting out with confidence
- Professionalism, judgement, and long-term thinking.

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.