The Reality of Your Life in Costume for Film and Television

This workshop explores the lived reality of working in costume for film and television, looking beyond job titles and creativity to examine how the work shapes everyday life both on and off set. It focuses on the emotional, physical, and practical impact of the job, offering an honest picture of what working in the industry actually feels like over time.

The session addresses the pressures of set life, including long hours, early starts, fast decision-making, and the emotional dynamics of working closely with others in high-stress environments. It looks at how pressure moves through a production, how costume teams absorb and manage it, and how challenges arise unexpectedly during filming. Real examples are used to explore how problems are solved on set, how teams work together under pressure, and how judgement and calmness are developed through experience.

Alongside these challenges, the workshop also talks openly about the perks of the industry and why so many people stay. This includes opportunities to travel and work on location, earning potential over time, and the privilege of collaborating with talented, creative people. Particular emphasis is placed on camaraderie and the strong professional relationships that often form through shared experiences. By presenting both the highs and lows honestly, the session encourages reflection on motivation, resilience, and priorities.

When: Wednesday March 11th at 7:00pm
Where: Online Zoom Video Call
Who: MFJF PRO Members Only
Cost: Free for MFJF PRO Members!

Content

Expectations versus reality
- Exploring common assumptions about the job and how they compare to real experience.

Pressure, problem-solving, and teamwork
- How challenges arise on set and how people work together to resolve them.

Freelance life and long hours
- Understanding availability, instability, and personal impact.

The perks of the industry
- Travel, locations, per diems, earning potential, and unique experiences.

People and camaraderie
- Building strong working relationships through shared challenges.

Making informed career choices
- Balancing rewards and pressures when thinking long term.

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.