Wardrobe Supervision
Wardrobe Supervision is a key role in film, theater, and television production that involves managing all aspects of costumes and clothing for a production. This person acts like a project manager for costumes, keeping track of what actors wear in each scene, maintaining clothing items, coordinating with costume designers, and managing the wardrobe team. They ensure continuity (making sure clothing looks the same across different filming days), handle budgets for clothing maintenance, and organize the costume storage and dressing areas. Think of them as the practical organizer who turns the costume designer's creative vision into reality.
Examples in Resumes
Managed a team of 5 dressers as Wardrobe Supervisor for major Broadway production
Wardrobe Supervision for 3-season television series, maintaining continuity across 36 episodes
Lead Wardrobe Supervisor for regional theater company, overseeing costume maintenance for 12 productions annually
Provided Wardrobe Supervision and costume tracking for national touring production
Typical job title: "Wardrobe Supervisors"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Wardrobe Supervisors
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Networking
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you handle a last-minute costume emergency during a live performance?
Expected Answer: Should discuss having emergency repair kits, backup costumes, quick-change procedures, and team coordination plans. Should mention past experiences managing similar situations.
Q: How do you manage costume budgets for large productions?
Expected Answer: Should explain tracking expenses, negotiating with vendors, planning for maintenance costs, and creating contingency budgets. Should mention experience with budget software and reporting.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you maintain costume continuity across multiple filming days?
Expected Answer: Should discuss photo documentation, detailed notes, organization systems, and collaboration with script supervisors and the camera department.
Q: Describe your experience managing a wardrobe team.
Expected Answer: Should explain scheduling, training procedures, delegation of tasks, and communication methods with both team members and other departments.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What systems do you use to organize and track costumes?
Expected Answer: Should mention basic inventory methods, labeling systems, and digital tracking tools. Should understand how to organize costumes by character and scene.
Q: How do you prepare costumes for quick changes?
Expected Answer: Should explain basic quick-change techniques, preparation steps, and how to assist performers efficiently while maintaining their comfort and privacy.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic costume maintenance and repairs
- Inventory management
- Dressing assistance
- Understanding of quick changes
Mid (2-5 years)
- Team coordination
- Continuity management
- Budget tracking
- Production scheduling
Senior (5+ years)
- Department management
- Budget oversight
- Production planning
- Emergency problem-solving
Red Flags to Watch For
- No experience with costume maintenance or basic repairs
- Poor organizational skills or attention to detail
- Lack of experience with continuity tracking
- No understanding of quick-change procedures
- Poor communication skills or team coordination experience
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