Episodios
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In part 2 of my interview with Jodi, we talked a lot about the struggles of balancing motherhood and family life while working in production: finding what works for your family, being present for your kids when you get the chance, but also how to take time for yourself without feeling guilty and knowing that it’s ok to just do nothing. Jodi also talks about what it’s like working on SNL and watching the cast members grow, her favorite Kristen Wiig story, and her thoughts on the world of social media today.
Did you miss part 1? Check it out here!
ABOUT JODI:
Jodi Mancuso is the Hair Designer on SNL, but you can also catch some of her work in Portlandia, among other things. Jodie grew up in the Bronx, and as a child, she was always watching her mother do hair. Jodi’s mom’s passion for hair was validated when her childhood friend (who was one of the top hair designers on Broadway) encouraged her to pursue hair, and so in her 40s, she went to hair school. Her mother then got started in production and worked her way up from the bottom. Jodi dropped out at 16 to get her GED and started working with her mom off-broadway.Jodi eventually got married and her husband’s dream was to open a pizzeria, so they did, but she hated it, and really yearned for a creative outlet, and found her way to SNL.
CONNECT WITH JODI:
Instagram
FOLLOW JESSICA:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
WEBSITE:
TheProductAgent.com
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Music: Bewitched Jeannie
LynneMusic
NeoSounds.com - Royalty Free Music, Stock Music library.
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Jodi Mancuso is the Hair Designer on SNL, but you can also catch some of her work in Portlandia, among other things. Jodi grew up in the Bronx, and as a child, she was always watching her mother do hair. Jodi’s mom’s passion for hair was validated when her childhood friend (who was one of the top hair designers on Broadway) encouraged her to pursue hair, and so in her 40s, she went to hair school. Her mother then got started in production and worked her way up from the bottom. Jodi dropped out at 16 to get her GED and started working with her mom off-broadway.
Jodi eventually got married and her husband’s dream was to open a pizzeria, so they did, but she hated it, and really yearned for a creative outlet, and found her way to SNL.
This interview is another one in two parts, but in Part 1, Jodi and I discuss working moms, and how her mom taking her to work helped shape and influence her when she became a mother herself. Jodi also tells me all about what a typical week is like working on SNL, the fast-paced nature of SNL, wigs, wigs, and more wigs, and more!
CONNECT WITH JODI:
Instagram
FOLLOW JESSICA:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
WEBSITE:
TheProductAgent.com
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Music: Bewitched Jeannie
LynneMusic
NeoSounds.com - Royalty Free Music, Stock Music library.
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¿Faltan episodios?
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Lou Eyrich works for Ryan Murphy Productions, and has been the Costume Designer on American Horror Story, Pose, Nip Tuck, Glee, and more! Lee grew up in Minnesota in a creative household. Her father was a painter, photographer, and musician, and she and her 7 brothers and sisters were required to take piano lessons and play in the band. Lou grew up loving music so much that she thought she’d grow up to be a musician. Her “family art nights” were a frequent occurrence in her household and fostered an early love of creativity and art. As a teen, she fell in love with vintage clothing. She started collecting vintage clothes from church sales and the like thinking she would one day open up her own shop. When Lou went to college, she worked part time at a vintage shop, and learned that she was good at merchandising and displays. She then got a job as a stylist assistant, touring with musicians like the Manhattan Transfer, Prince, and Bette Midler which enabled her to travel all over the world, before one day finding herself working for the legendary Ryan Murphy.
In this episode, Lou talks about her upbringing and education and the importance of following your passions, what it’s like working for Ryan Murphy and an average day-in-the life on set, conquering imposter syndrome, how she stays sane with daily meditation and spirituality, her favorite products, and how being a cancer survivor changed her outlook on life.
CONNECT WITH LOU:
Instagram
FOLLOW JESSICA:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
WEBSITE:
TheProductAgent.com
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Music: Bewitched Jeannie
LynneMusic
NeoSounds.com - Royalty Free Music, Stock Music library.
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Heba Thorisdottir grew up in Reykjavík, Iceland. She grew up playing with her mother’s makeup and creating characters for herself. It wasn’t just about beauty for her, it was about creating and turning herself into a character with the use of makeup. She worked her way up from the bottom from craft service until she was hired for jobs as a makeup artist.
In Part 2 of my interview with Heba, we talk about the challenges of working on set during Suicide Squad, her makeup bag must-have products, working with brands, maintaining a good reputation in Hollywood, and how Leo DiCaprio’s generosity and grace helped her feel comfortable on the set of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
CONNECT WITH HEBA:
Instagram
FOLLOW JESSICA:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
WEBSITE:
TheProductAgent.com
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Music: Bewitched Jeannie
LynneMusic
NeoSounds.com - Royalty Free Music, Stock Music library.
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Heba Thorisdottir grew up in Reykjavík, Iceland. She grew up playing with her mother’s makeup and creating characters for herself. It wasn’t just about beauty for her, it was about creating and turning herself into a character with the use of makeup. She worked her way up from the bottom from craft service until she was hired for jobs as a makeup artist.
In Part 1 of my interview with Heba, we talk about how she literally worked her way up from the very bottom, the difference between Iceland and the United States (particularly with family leave and valuing parents), the process of how she finds a look, and the differences between being a personal makeup artist and working on a production set.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of this interview in 2 weeks!
CONNECT WITH HEBA:
Instagram
FOLLOW JESSICA:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
WEBSITE:
TheProductAgent.com
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Music: Bewitched Jeannie
LynneMusic
NeoSounds.com - Royalty Free Music, Stock Music library.
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My guest this week is Costume Designer, Mitchell Travers, who has worked on Hustlers, Late Night, In the Heights, and more!! As a child, Mitchell had an insatiable appetite for creativity. With the encouragement and support of his mother, he enrolled in as many arts programs as possible, created his own halloween costumes, and more. His mother took him to see theater performances and he would beg her to sit as close as possible so he could see all the details and soak in every aspect of the production and design. Since he wasn’t allowed to use the sewing machine, he would stable the fabrics together in a way that mimicked how his mom would sew. Mitchell went on to college (earning a degree in puppetry… imagine that?) and climbed the production ladder rung by rung, working his way up from the very bottom to costume designer.
In this episode, Mitchell talks about his career in production and the transition from assistant to designer, the importance of putting together a solid team, his fittings processes, jewelry, social media, and more!
CONNECT WITH MITCHELL:
Instagram
FOLLOW JESSICA:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
WEBSITE:
TheProductAgent.com
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Music: Bewitched Jeannie
LynneMusic
NeoSounds.com - Royalty Free Music, Stock Music library.
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Sherri Laurence grew up loving makeup and hair and always wanted to be in front of the camera, but she realized in college while studying film and television that she actually liked to be behind the camera. As she fell more and more in love with production, she resisted doing hair and makeup because it was something she had always done, and she wanted something different, but after trying every department in production, she realized she wanted to be a makeup artist. She has worked on Pose, Fosse Verdun, the Politician and more!
I talked so much with Sherri and her life in production that we needed two episodes to air it!
In Part 2, Sherri and I talk about how she looks at the script, her experience working with Ryan Murphy, her favorite cruelty-free makeup and skincare products, and the must-have products and tools for her makeup bag.
CONNECT WITH Sherri:
Instagram
FOLLOW JESSICA:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
WEBSITE:
TheProductAgent.com
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Music: Bewitched Jeannie
LynneMusic
NeoSounds.com - Royalty Free Music, Stock Music library.
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Sherri Laurence grew up loving makeup and hair and always wanted to be in front of the camera, but she realized in college while studying film and television that she actually liked to be behind the camera. As she fell more and more in love with production, she resisted doing hair and makeup because it was something she had always done, and she wanted something different, but after trying every department in production, she realized she wanted to be a makeup artist. She has worked on Pose, Fosse/Verdon, the Politician and more!
I talked so much with Sherri and her life in production that we needed two episodes to air it!
In Part 1, Sherri dives into the intimacy of being a makeup artist and being able to read people to see their individual needs, her transformative, life-changing experience of working on Pose with black trans women and how it forced her to examine her white privilege and advocate for the inclusion of people of color in the industry, and the mom guilt and feelings of failure that come with the overwhelming schedule and lack of work-life balance in the production industry.
Check back in 2 weeks for part 2 of this amazing interview!
CONNECT WITH Sherri:
Instagram
FOLLOW JESSICA:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
WEBSITE:
TheProductAgent.com
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Music: Bewitched Jeannie
LynneMusic
NeoSounds.com - Royalty Free Music, Stock Music library.
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Regina Graves is an Oscar nominated New York-based set director whose credits include The Irishman, the Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Step Up 3D, and War of the Worlds! Growing up, Regina didn’t even know what a set decorator was. When she was working at Pier 1 in New Jersey, she made the acquaintance of a set decorator who came in to shop at the store, and that was the very first time she even heard about what it was. She was an aspiring architect and went to school for Interior Design, but she struggled with finding a job in her field. Her journey into set decorating started by answering an ad for a job opening for a salesperson at a prop house, and she found her way into set decorating from there. Regina was able to find a way to use her interior design training to decorate a fantasy world through production, rather than actual people’s real-life, permanent homes.
In this episode, Regina talks about the process a set decorator goes through from being hired for a job, to breaking down the script, characters, and time period, to meetings with the production designer, building a team, working with a budget, and more!
What you can learn in the episode:
The job of a set decorator and all it entailsExpectations vs. Reality of working in productionThe importance and necessity of a good notebookCONNECT WITH REGINA:
Instagram
FOLLOW JESSICA:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
WEBSITE:
TheProductAgent.com
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Music: Bewitched Jeannie
LynneMusic
NeoSounds.com - Royalty Free Music, Stock Music library.
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Nicki Ledermann is a German-born makeup artist who has spent the last 30 years living in the United States doing makeup for television and film. She has worked on 80 projects, and her credits include Sex & the City, Vinyl, Boardwalk Empire, the Devil Wears Prada, Enchanted, the Greatest Showman, and the Joker. What a career!
Nicki was always fascinated by film, and after watching the Exorcist as an adolescent, she became transfixed. She knew one day she would end up in New York. She went to a performing arts high school where she actually studied music. Nicki came to the United States in the late 1980s to live the American Dream, and learned the art of makeup, and was lucky enough to build connections and find work right away on smaller, low-budget projects.
In this episode, Nicki talks about the difference between low budget projects and big budget projects, the family nature of production, how being an independent woman raised by a feminist father shaper her career, and her experience working on the Greatest Showman and the Joker.
Key interview takeaways:
Don’t be ashamed to ask for helpThe difference between a key makeup artist and a department headWhy you need to manifest your visionThe importance of all the departments coming together to ensure they complement one anotherCONNECT WITH NICKI:
Instagram
FOLLOW JESSICA:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
WEBSITE:
TheProductAgent.com
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Music: Bewitched Jeannie
LynneMusic
NeoSounds.com - Royalty Free Music, Stock Music library.
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My guest this week is the amazing Ellen Mirojnick! Ellen is a costume designer whose credits include Bridgerton, Fatal Attraction, Wall Street, the Greatest Showman, Maleficent 2, and so so so much more! Ellen’s resume truly blows me away. She’s even worked on the pilot of How to Get Away with Murder, Speed, and Showgirl!
Ellen never actually studied costume design and found her way in the industry by complete accident. She studied art and found out that she loved designing clothing and had a penchant for it. She was a fashion designer for about 8 years before she worked her way into the world of production, and the rest is history!
This episode is a little bit different than the others. Today, Ellen shares the details of her remarkable career, her incredible stories of how her career has taken her all over the world, what it’s like being a working, single mom, and why she still gets butterflies in her stomach with each new project.
CONNECT WITH ELLEN:
Instagram
FOLLOW JESSICA:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
WEBSITE:
TheProductAgent.com
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Keri Lederman is a NYC-based set decorator whose credits include The Undoing, Marry Me, The Night Of, Sneaky Pete and The Looming Tower. Her mother was an antique dealer, so Keri grew up in her mother’s store seeing decorators and collectors come in. She ended up majoring in English and through a few internships, she found herself on low-budget film sets and working as a PA in production offices. She then became a prop person before she transitioned to set decorator.
What is a set decorator? The set decorator is the person who fills in and decorates the sets. For example, if the set involved a kitchen, the set decorator would be responsible for the flooring (tile, vinyl, linoleum), the appliances, the cabinets, and outfitting the kitchen so it looks like a real kitchen or whatever the scene calls for. The role of the set decorator is to tell the story of a character through their belongings and surroundings.
In this episode we talk about:
+ Knowing the ropes: Everyone, no matter what department they’re in, should do at least one year in the production office. This experiences helps someone understand the production in its entirety, rather than focusing on one department.+ Why Props? Props are crucial in making the character come to life, and Keri enjoys the “things” in the set that help tell the story of the characters.
+ Camaraderie: the camaraderie in the production world is unlike any other industry, because everyone is working together to achieve a common purpose and to create a story. Even though departments are vastly different, the shared experiences are what truly strengthens bonds among the crew.
+ The character journey: in this episode, Keri shares with her the process of developing a character from reading the script to finding the perfect pieces to create the visual language to bring the character to life.
CONNECT WITH KERI:Instagram
FOLLOW JESSICA:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
WEBSITE:
TheProductAgent.com
_________________________Music: Bewitched Jeannie
LynneMusic
NeoSounds.com - Royalty Free Music, Stock Music library.
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Meghan Kasperlik’s credits include Watchmen, 99 Homes, Fahrenheit 451, Noah, and many more, but she didn’t always want to be in production. In fact, she originally wanted to go into the medical field, but when she was in high school, she started to broaden her horizons and develop an interest in fashion. A retail job developed into a fashion magazine internship, which then led to a job offer in the fashion PR field. After that, she worked under Patty Field as a PA and worked her way up, and the rest is history. Meghan’s background in PR has given her a unique, well-rounded perspective as a costume designer.
In this episode, Meghan talks about her biggest challenges in her production career, the moments where she just made it work, the ins and outs of costume design and character development, and more! This episode is a long one, but you’re going to love it!
Tune in to learn more about:
Character Development: Who are the characters? What is their background? How much research goes into costume design?Working your way up: For all the PAs or aspiring PAs out there: just jump in and do anything that is asked of you. Always be willing to help, because that shows willingness to learn.The challenges of working in production: how to “turn it off,” and why you should remain calm instead of freaking out!The differences between TV and film: from pacing, to the advancement of technology, to conceptualizing it as an 8 hour movie vs. a 2 hour movie, and more.CONNECT WITH MEGHAN:
Instagram
FOLLOW JESSICA:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
WEBSITE:
TheProductAgent.com
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Music: Bewitched Jeannie
LynneMusic
NeoSounds.com - Royalty Free Music, Stock Music library.
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Pam Chilton has been the costume designer for the last 6 seasons of Modern Family, but she did not always want to be a costume designer. Originally from the small town of Galveston, Texas, she struggled when she was in college as a film major with finding her niche and knowing who she was. While she was taking a semester off from school to figure herself out, a movie film crew came into town, and she volunteered to intern in the costume department. They liked her so much, they invited her to stay on, and 30 or so jobs later, Pam became a costume designer.
In this episode, Pam is going to talk about her experiences on Modern Family, the ups and downs of production, costume design, self care, and what Pam wants to do after Modern Family.
Tune in to learn more about:
The familial aspect of production: working long hours with people toward a single goal and to tell a story, and why communication, respect, and attitude are crucial.Self care: you can’t come to work as your best self if you do not practice self care. Pam tries to have family dinner every night, enjoys walks with her dog, listening to podcasts, and meditation.The last minute nature of production: how Pam organizes, plans, and prioritizes, even when things are always changing and the job presents challenges.Budgets: the formulas, how to make the budgets work, restocking, how to cope with the changing sizes of actors (especially kids), and how to keep the characters relatable.FOLLOW JESSICA:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
WEBSITE:
TheProductAgent.com
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My guest this week is Julia Caston, who has been a costume designer for movies and television for almost 25 years. Her credits include Bad Moms, the Middle, Celeste & Jesse Forever, and Great News.
Julia’s career started when she studied theater, and learned costume design as part of her theater study. Costume design was never really her intended path until she realized that she had an aptitude for it. She began as a PA for another designer who gave her a lot of challenging and thankless tasks, but she worked her way up to a Costume Supervisor, and eventually to a Costume Designer
In this episode, Julia and I talk about the process of character building through costume design, and how the little things are truly what tell the audience about the character, which is Julia’s favorite part of the job.
Tune in to learn more about:
Julia’s step-by-step costume design processThe differences between working on movies and televisionShoes! How and why shoes affect the actors and charactersWorking on a budget and why the generosity of brands is so crucialCONNECT WITH JULIA:
Instagram | Website
FOLLOW JESSICA:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
WEBSITE:
TheProductAgent.com
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Karen Patch’s illustrious career as a costume designer includes the Royal Tenenbaums, Team America: World Police, School of Rock, and many, many more classic works.
When Karen moved to Malibu with her family, she quickly realized that all her new neighbors worked in the film industry. With her background as an art student and family members who hand made clothes, modeled, and knew the fashion industry, Karen naturally gravitated toward fashion and art. Now living in Malibu, the film & television industry seemed like a perfect fit. Despite not knowing much about the industry, she had an interest in getting started and was able to get her foot in the door through a friend. The rest, as they say, is history.In this episode, Karen talks about the job and roles as a costume designer, her experiences in some of her most beloved films, and so much more!
Here are some of the things we can learn from Karen in this episode:
What is the role and job of a costume designer? What does a typical day look like?Budgets, and how time and money determines what must be built or bought.How to create costumes that become iconic, timeless, and have lasting quality How Karen designed costumes for the puppets in Team America.FOLLOW JESSICA:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
WEBSITE:
TheProductAgent.com
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My guest is costume designer Meredith Markworth-Pollack. Meredith’s credits include Dynasty, Reign, and Hart of Dixie.
Meredith didn’t even know what costume design was until she was studying film at UC Santa Barbara, and had a revelation about how characters in television and film are dressed. Even though she was passionate about fashion, it wasn’t something she wanted to have a career in necessarily, but costume design was a way she could incorporate her passions for both fashion and film, so she packed up and moved to New York City and worked her way up, starting as an intern for the film, the Notorious Bettie Page. That internship helped her get her foot in the door and was crucial to the development of her career.
In this episode, Meredith and I talk about how important internships are in the production industry, finding balance between your career and your family, and the unique ways that social media fan accounts have influenced Meredith’s job.
Tune in to learn more about:
+ Internships: how they shaped Meredith’s career, and how important they are in production
+ Being a mom in production: what the challenges are, and how production as an industry can be more family friendly
+ How do you differentiate between characters who look alike?
+ Social media: interacting with your followers, and the dedication of fan accountsCONNECT WITH MEREDITH:
Instagram | Website
FOLLOW JESSICA:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
WEBSITE:
TheProductAgent.com
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My guest this week is the wonderful Diana Oh, Department Head of Makeup at the Late Late Show with James Corden. Diana has been with the show since day 1, and is now in the fifth season.
Diana was inspired to do makeup after visiting a makeup counter at Macy’s to have her makeup done for her homecoming dance in high school. From then on, she knew she wanted to do makeup. While in makeup school, she was able to work on AFI student films and that’s where she learned set etiquette, and where she made mistakes and learned from them. From there, she worked as a receptionist at a salon while freelancing until she got her first big break at NBC Universal at a small video game network where she learned a lot about sketch comedy.
In this episode, Diana and I talk about relationships, family life, and her experiences on the Late Late Show.
Here’s a few takeaways from the episode:
+ All of your jobs build on each other. What you learn on one you take to the other, and so on and so forth. You gain experience, perspective, and skills with each job you have.+ There is no such thing as a typical day in production.
+ How to balance motherhood with working in production, and what it’s like being married to someone who is also in the industry
+ Diana’s favorite products and makeup bag must-haves
Mentioned in the episode:
Clown Fight Sketch
FOLLOW Diana:
Instagram
FOLLOW JESSICA:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
WEBSITE:
TheProductAgent.com
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My guest this week is Eugenia Weston, celebrity makeup artist, and founder & creative director of Senna Cosmetics. Her clients include Bette Midler and Paula Abdul. Eugenia was raised in a family of creatives and artists. She soon developed an obsession with faces and studying them, and she started doing makeup at age 11. In those days, there weren’t any classes or makeup schools, so she taught herself everything. As she got older and developed into a bona fide makeup artist, there weren’t many makeup artists in LA so she never had a shortage of work. Eugenia started her makeup line in 1976 and now owns 5 studios.
Eugenia never wanted to be in the film industry. She only happened to get into the industry after longtime client, Bette Midler, insisted on having Eugenia do her makeup. That’s where she learned a lot about cinematography, and met a lot of people.
This episode is a little bit different from others, as Eugenia and I delve more into makeup, business, and relationships.
Here’s what you can learn about in this episode:
+ Retail vs. production, and the challenges of owning a business and the importance of work ethic and relationship building
+ Eugenia’s comprehensive makeup artist training program: from color theory, to facial structure and anatomy, to mature makeup, to period makeup, to the importance of having an artistic mind and gift.
+ Mom guilt: how to balance being a mom while working grueling hours
+ Eugenia’s makeup artist essential skills: confidence, communication, and artistic talentFOLLOW EUGENIA:
Instagram | Twitter | Senna Cosmetics
FOLLOW JESSICA:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
WEBSITE:
TheProductAgent.com
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My guest this week is Tinisha Meeks, Department Head of Hair on Grownish. Tinisha’s credits also include Scandal and Blackish.
As a kid, Tinisha had Cabbage Patch dolls, and she used to braid their hair. In fact, a local doll maker even paid her to braid doll hair! From then on, Tinisha decided that she wanted to do hair. She went to cosmetology school while going to high school, and she graduated from both at the same time! She trained at a couple popular salons before transitioning to film & television.
In this episode, Tinisha and I talk about how shows like Blackish and Grownish have revolutionized television by showcasing African-American hair, product sourcing, character building, and the one thing she can’t live without!
Tune in to learn more about:
+ Making the script come to life, even with budget and time restrictions
+ Product placement and sales that happen on set
+ How social media has changed the industry
+ How to push yourself out of your beauty and style comfort zones
FOLLOW TINISHA:Instagram | Twitter
FOLLOW JESSICA:
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
WEBSITE:
TheProductAgent.com
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