CA State Thespian Festival 2026

This workshop introduces students to exciting and creative career opportunities in Wardrobe Styling and Costuming within the entertainment industry.

The workshop begins by engaging students with interactive oral activities designed to broaden their interests and hobbies, helping them discover how these passions can translate into professional opportunities.

Discussion includes an overview of the entertainment wardrobe department. It clarifies the distinctions among the key roles of a wardrobe stylist, costume designer, assistant costume designer, set costumer, and costume supervisor.

Students will learn how each role contributes to building a character’s look, supporting the script, and collaborating with the costume team.

Wardrobe Styling involves selecting and returning garments and accessories from stores and costume houses. It may also include press events, music videos, mood board creation, organization, budgeting, and maintaining professional relationships.

Costuming for film and television involves fittings, specialty services such as aging/dyeing, and on-set tasks in a fast-paced production environment.

Students will learn about unions such as IATSE, discuss training options, and explore various entry-level roles, including costume production assistant positions and roles at costume houses.

By the end of the workshop, students will have a clear understanding of the variety of career options in styling and costuming, empowering them to begin exploring their own path into the entertainment industry.

The explanation of a Day Checker’s role provides a breakdown of the many positions that a Day Check Costumer may be asked to perform to confidentially jump on a show and fill in within the costume department wherever needed.

This PowerPoint presentation offers students visual insight into the responsibilities and key skills of professional Costume Day Checkers. The visual presentation stimulates discussion and questions from the students.

Participants will gain an understanding of the day-to-day operations within the costume department, focusing on how these roles contribute to the creative process in film and television.

As time allows, we will discuss:

What a Day Checker is
The pros and cons of Day Checking - advantages and disadvantages
Protocol and Attitude
What to ask when you are hired
What to do when you arrive at a show
Where to Sit or Stand
What to bring to the set
Working with Background artists
Possible responsibilities for prep, pulling, shopping, measuring, fittings, swatching, studio services, color coding, stock, trailer, setting rooms, assisting in miking talent, set, returns, and wrap
Principal stand-ins – color cover
How to read a call sheet- break down of the lexicon, highlighting scene D/N, sides
How to decipher a location map; location vs. crew parking; typical base camp location
trailer layout
Preparation before starting a show – preparing for your first day for efficiency;
distribution list
Questions to ask when getting a call to work- ex, call time, location, responsibilities, who to report to on the day, drive-on
What to bring with you when you day check (to the job and to set)- tools of the trade
Start paperwork- the importance of reading it thoroughly
Safety – vests, animals, sprays, tall equipment, cables, handrails, lift gates
Things to consider when dressing the background- ex, what are the principals wearing
Continuity photos – using Sync on Set; importance of lighting, and all costume
components visible
Monitor viewing – various apps
Background skins
Vision/Mood Boards – as reference for the look
Fitting Boards – reference showing how a costume is to be worn
Blue screen, green screen, reflective fabrics, greeking