I also have been interviewed by Gigi Hooghkirk for the FIDM 's blog. ( realisation by Mark Jaress)

 

Or you can read it.

​

(Gigi) Tell us about the scholarship you earned in France:

 

(Me) The scholarship is about vocation. Every year the foundation "Marcel
Bleustein-Blanchet " organizes a contest with the purpose of helping the most passionate to pursue their vocation.
My love for my job has apparently made the difference. One of the organizers wrote me even before the official announcement by mail to announce me the good news, saying that my passion had touched them and that was why I had been chosen among thousands of candidatures.

 

In what are of study is your undergrad degree? Where did you go?

I have an atypical path. I always wanted to become a costume designer so I organized my life for that purpose. I began to specialize in arts in high school with a baccalaureate arts but I continued with a degree in psychology because I wanted to be able to transcribe the psychology of the character in the costume. Then I made two postgrado in costume design and historical pattern. I have moved a lot these last few years, I lived in France Barcelona London Orlando and now the best place Los Angeles.

 

How did you hear about FIDM?

I discovered this school 7 years ago now. After my high school I wanted to apply for the best school to train me to be the best costume designer, I then search on internet, read testimonials, and I discovered this school But I did not have the level in English so I waited before applying to go to learn English in London and work in Disney in Florida to have the opportunity to have an interview with an advisor at FIDM. I also did not have the financial situation, so I had to wait 7 years since the discovery of this school to save enough.

 

What made you choose FIDM?

When I came to do the interview, I knew that it would be the school that would help me to evolve in order to become the best costume designer. I sincerely believe that FIDM is an exceptional school that helps to achieve our dreams. There is all the equipment available, the best library ever, exceptional teachers, support in everything ... it's more than just a school, it's a family. And I knew that a lot of alumni had amazing career after FIDM, and contacts to start working for movies.

 

Why Costume Design?

 

It is love that I feel for this job. You know when you have this butterfly in your belly because you are in love and so happy, that’s what I feel every time I am working as costume designer.

For me the costumes are a form of communication that can be understood by all, regardless of differences without speaking the same language. I admire that a simple costume can cause you to dream, to make you travel, to transport you to another world by the power of the visual language, to transcribe all the psychology of the personage. What I prefer is to be able to create, and give people during the time of a show, the illusion that the world of dreams exists.  I love everything from the analysis of the character, drawing, to the design and realization.

 

I worked for a costume designer in Barcelona, and I have never been as happy. For me it is a guarantee of happiness. This job is my cocoon of well being, my refuge when life becomes too hard outside.

 

Is there a certain costume designer you admire? What about their work do you love?

Edith head is just the best costume designer of all time! Just look at her career, 35 Academy Awards nominations for the best costume design, 8 Oscars won, this is the record for a woman. She has been hired at barely 26 years by the paramount as a costume designer. For me she was visionary, she understood exactly every character, it's like she had a connection with actor or actress. I even watched movies just to see her creations like the one with Audrey Hepburn “Roman holiday”. Her sketches were just beautiful with so many emotions. I am a big fan, she knew how to sublime every character she dressed. She had a dream career and I hope of having the same.

 

Which movie would you like to see win for best costume design at the Oscars this year? Why?

I hope that it will be Colleen Atwood with fantastic beats, I adore her, she is my favorite costume of our time, she is so talented, I had loved the costumes of the memory of a geisha and Alice wonderland. Again this time with this new movie she did a great job. We are really transported between a real and magical world. Her design of the costumes amplifies the character traits, it’s easy to guess the personalities of each one. She works in detail, for example she said she had to create the blue coat with the idea that the coat is the friend of Scamander who accompanied him everywhere with secret pockets etc ... It's this kind of details that I find fascinating. She knew how to put a touch of mystery, she is a genius.

​

Where do you see yourself in your career in the future? Who do you want to work for?

​

I can’t imagine doing something else than Costume Designer, and I came here in Los Angeles to work here so I see myself here. But I can travel if it’s necessary, I would go anywhere to be a costume designer.
I want to work for the Warner Bros, this love that I have for my job is also thanks to the films that I loved. And let's face it the Warner Bros has produced a lot of the best movies.

 

I went to visit the studios last year and I cannot stop imagining that the next time I will be in the studios it will be as an employee and not a visitor. I know it will be difficult but I will struggle to get there.

 

Anything else you’d like to share?

A little anecdote, it's probably stupid but every Friday night I try to go into the filming series. I am more captivated by the functioning of the team than by the actors. It's stupid but it makes me feel closer to my dream. Another thing I often do is sitting on a bench like I did when I was a kid with my grandmother and invented a life for passersby with the way they are dressed. I try to make sketches to have ideas of personalities.

 I would end by what Schopenhauer said: “Despite the reason, despite the absurdity of existence, a force urges us to live, is the will." The force that drives us to live is fueled by passion.
My passion, my obsession, my happiness, is to be a costume designer.