Designing Hollywood Podcast Show

Alice Brooks, ASC, is a cinematographer who has photographed award-winning feature films, television shows, and commercials. Her latest feature project is Universal’s WICKED (November 2024) and WICKED: FOR GOOD (November 2025), directed by Jon M. Chu and produced by Marc Platt. Currently, Brooks is working on the highly anticipated conclusion to the Spider-Verse saga, SPIDER-MAN: BEYOND THE SPIDER-VERSE, directed by Bob Persichetti and Justin K. Thompson and produced by Sony Pictures Animation and Columbia Studios, scheduled for release in June 2027. Brooks previously shot tick, tick…BOOM! for Netflix and Imagine Entertainment, directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda and produced by Ron Howard. Other work includes Miranda’s IN THE HEIGHTS for Warner Bros., which was directed by her frequent collaborator, Jon M. Chu. Both films’ cinematography received widespread critical acclaim.Brooks is known for her powerfully designed camera movement, dynamic lighting, and her ability to capture emotionally resonant moments with a keen eye for detail.   Her journey into filmmaking began at a young age, inspired by her childhood experiences as an actor on commercial film sets in New York City. Her fascination with camera work led her to the USC School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles, where she honed her craft. Drawing inspiration from art, music, dance, and the cinematography of the greats, Brooks has developed a distinctive style that sets her apart in the industry. As a filmmaker, Brooks continues to push the boundaries of visual storytelling, bringing her unique perspective and expertise to every project she undertakes.Brooks is a member of the prestigious American Society of Cinematographers and serves on the ASC Board of Governors. She is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where she sits on the Academy Branch Executive Committee. Brooks is also on the USC School of Cinematic Arts Dean’s Alumni Leadership Council. In 2022, she received the Hollywood Critics Association’s Artisan on the Rise award. In 2025, Brooks received numerous award nominations for WICKED, including Best Cinematography in the Theatrical Feature Film category at the ASC Awards.

Dan Laustsen, ASC, DFF (born 15 June 1954) is a Danish cinematographer.His career spans four decades, and is known for collaborations with directors like Søren Kragh-Jacobsen, Ole Bornedal, Guillermo del Toro and Chad Stahelski.Laustsen is also known for his work on the films like Silent Hill and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.He is a member of the Danish Society of Cinematographers and theAmerican Society of Cinematographers.

Kate Hawley's creative force and her multidisciplinary practice, brought to life with a team of world-class collaborators and artisans, uses storytelling through design. While Kate continues to design for major films, her studio now extends its practice beyond the screen, bringing the same level of storytelling, scale, and craft to a broader creative landscape. Kate Hawley Studios has been launched to invite new collaborators beyond the film world.www.katehawleystudios.com

Donald James Mowat is a makeup artist known for his work on motion picture and television projects. Born in Montreal, Canada to British parents. He has earned international acclaim and numerous honors, including a Primetime Emmy Award, three Saturn Awards, Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers for his educational outreach work for BAFTA Los Angeles. He’s an Oscar and three-time BAFTA nominee for his hair, make up and prosthetics designs. He is a two-time Make-up Artists & Hairstylists Guild Award winner and has received ten nominations. His notable film credits include Dune, Blade Runner 2049, Nightcrawler, 8 Mile, Nocturnal Animals, The Fighter, Skyfall, Sicario, Prisoners, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. TV credits include, Marvel’s Moon Knight, Apple TV’s Presumed Innocent. Upcoming releases include Disney’s feature motion picture Tron: Ares. Mowat is a senior member of IATSE Local 798 NY, 706 LA, and Canadian locals, serving on the boards of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television and the Actors’ Fund of Canada. He played a key role in establishing makeup award categories for the Canadian Screen Awards. A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (invited 1999), he served on its Executive Makeup Branch Committee for 12 years, the maximum term limit. In 2022, he was appointed as a member of the Order of Canada. He was the first Make-up designer invited to speak at Pixar Studios, and has been a panelist at Middleburg Film Festival, Denver Film Festival, Savannah Film Festival, and guest speaker at Falmouth University, College of Makeup Art and Design, North Hampton University and continues to serve on student film award panels for AMPAS and BAFTA. Recently he joined the Board for Art Craft NYC.

Designing Hollywood is proud to welcome Aaron Dennis, FX Animator at Disney Animation, in an exciting conversation with our host & producer - Concept Artist Phillip Boutté Jr. 🎬⚡️Aaron’s incredible body of work includes:🌀 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse⚡ X-Men: Days of Future Past🤖 Ghost in the Shell🛡️ Zack Snyder’s Justice LeagueFrom creating jaw-dropping superpowers to pushing the boundaries of stylized FX, Aaron brings unmatched artistry to the screen. Phillip will be diving deep into Aaron’s creative process, career journey, and the future of visual effects in animation.🎧 Subscribe & stay tuned!📺 Watch on YouTube | 🎙 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts👥 Guest: Aaron Dennis (@ad_zerker )🎤 Host/Producer/Concept Artist: Phillip Boutté Jr. (@phil_boutte )Editor Credits: Melissa Pastrana and Oliver RickettsBrought to you by @designinghollywoodproductions @producermartikaibarra @phil_boutte @johncampea 

Virginia Bristol Johnson is a Filipina-American costume designer living in Greater Boston. Prior to moving to Greater Boston 20+ years ago, Virginia (or V) traveled all over the United States working as a costume designer for regional and summer-stock theatres. V was born in Luzon, Philippines and raised by a flock of aunties who taught her how to stitch. A Navy brat, V lived in dozens of cities and towns for most of her childhood and often served as the family's translator. With each move, V learned resilience and how to adapt to new schools, new climates, and new communities. To this day, V cannot fully explain what her father did on the various nuclear-powered aircraft carriers he worked on over the span of 16 years but she became adept at articulating not having a parent around for 9-12 months at a time while he was in the Indian Ocean or Persian Gulf or making history on the first nuclear-powered carrier to transit the Suez Canal.  Wherever they happened to live (for 3-6 months or a a few years) V spent her days playing classical piano, learning traditional Filipino dance, shaving seconds off her mile, developing an everlasting love of reading and public libraries, and competing in various academic competitions.In 1989, V's family would relocate to a small town in Eastern Iowa (population 7,000) so her parents could help provide care for ailing family. As the only non-white student in a 400 student high school, V went from having a deep AAPI+ community to suddenly explaining what language they spoke at home, why they went to Chicago or Des Moines every few months to go grocery shopping, and calling out the prejudices of her peers. She often describes this period as one of the greatest challenges of her life but also when she found her authentic voice. V would remain in Iowa for college to be close to her family, accepting a work study job in the Drake University costume shop which changed the course of her life.For almost two decades V has designed an array of costumes for television, documentaries, and feature films. She learned the ropes of the costume department by serving as a costume supervisor on such acclaimed productions as The Social Network, Spotlight, Black Mass, and Joy.Her earliest opportunities as a motion picture costume designer were found in the arena of non-fiction storytelling, wherein she created period costumes for the examinations of various historical figures in the PBS productions, The War That Made America (five part mini-series), Nova, and American Experience (various mini-series).V considers herself "genre agnostic" - most interested in telling character stories through how they dress. Sometimes choosing a project because it might appeal to the young people in her life while other times wanting to spend time exploring worlds and people that she wouldn't naturally gravitate to. Having earned her MFA in Costume Design & Fashion History from West Virginia University in the heart of Appalachia, V was elated when chosen by director Ron Howard to design the costumes for Oscar-nominated screenwriter, Vanessa Taylors adaptation of the best-selling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy.When the novel coronavirus pandemic incapacitated the motion picture industry in March 2020, V put her skills to good use by making thousands of masks for healthcare workers, hospitals, and other organizations in the Boston area and nationwide.When not designing costumes, V explores the intersection of feminism and craft. V opened a fabric and fibers studio in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2011 where people can learn to sew, knit, crochet, embroider, and quilt. The studio is a tribute to the many women who have taken up a needle, providing for their families and creating art that is overlooked. You can read about V's relationship to craft in Jen Hewett's 2021 book, This Long Thread: Women of Color on Craft, Community and Connection. Virginia Bristol Johnson is represented by Sandra Marsh and Associates. 

The Designing Hollywood Show proudly presents an exclusive new episode featuring acclaimed concept artist Darrel Warner in conversation with host, fellow concept artist & producer Phillip Boutté Jr.!@darrelljwarner @phil_boutteWith a career that spans some of the most visually stunning films of our time, Darrel Warner’s portfolio includes:✨ Captain America: The First Avenger✨ Cinderella (Disney)✨ Doctor Strange✨ The Mummy✨ Fantastic Beasts series✨ Avengers: Age of Ultron✨ Thor: The Dark World✨ World War Z✨ The Lion King (2019)✨ Guardians of the Galaxy… and many more!From character exploration to costume and keyframe art, Darrel’s visionary storytelling has helped bring beloved cinematic worlds to life.🎙️ Tune in for a behind-the-scenes deep dive into Darrel’s artistic process, industry journey, and the power of visual development in modern filmmaking.🗓️ Episode drops Monday!📺 Follow @designinghollywoodpodcast and subscribe on YouTube and all podcast platforms!Subscribe To The John Campea Show Podcast

Over a long and celebrated career, Toronto based costume designer Linda Muir has collaborated on plays, feature films, short films, television MOWs and series projects, embracing contemporary, period and fantastical scripts.From 1975 to 1991, Linda designed costumes and sets for the theatre, including The Theatre Second Floor under the direction of Paul Bettis, Tarragon, Theatre Passe Muraille, TWP, Toronto Free, Richard Rose’s Necessary Angel, the Royal Alexandra, Manitoba Theatre Centre and Manhattan’s Mabou Mines. She received Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Outstanding Costume Design for Daniel MacIver’s Jump and John Krizanc’s innovative first production of Tamara.Muir transitioned to film and television, where she has successfully utilized her skill with fabric, colour and texture, an eye for detail and a real talent for capturing character in clothing.Linda’s hallmark is extensive research and voracious reading: solid footings for her imaginative designs for productions that have received numerous nominations and awards, including Robert Eggers’ The Witch, and The Lighthouse, Atom Egoyan’s Exotica, Patricia Rozema’s When Night Is Falling, Lilies by John Greyson and Thirty-Two Short Films About Glenn Gould by François Girard.

Today we sit down with Alex Bovaird, the costume designer from HBO's White Lotus, Jordan Peele's Nope and more!

Julian Day is a highly acclaimed costume designer known for his work on films like Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman, and Catherine Called Birdy. He has a knack for capturing the essence of iconic figures and translating it into visually stunning and historically accurate costumes. Day's work has been recognized with nominations and awards, including a nomination from the Costume Designers Guild for Bohemian Rhapsody.

Liam is a reporter and host. The self-proclaimed content machine has been applying his broadcast skillset to the world of entertainment media for over five years, having led interview coverage for The Direct and ComicBook before taking his talents to Screen Rant. THR, Variety, Deadline, and dozens of others have picked up Liam's interviews in the past.Prior to working in the industry, Liam was a proud fan of entertainment media itself throughout his childhood. He used to rush off the school bus in the 2010s to watch Collider Movie Talk and Chris Van Vliet's junket interviews. That adolescent passion pushed Liam to pursue a degree in Broadcast & Digital Journalism, which he attained at Syracuse University, and the rest is history.

Deborah Nadoolman is the costume designer from such classics as Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Blues Brothers, Coming to America and more. She's also designed for music videos like the iconic "Thriller" video from Michael Jackson.

Mike Pecci is an award-winning director, editor, and cinematographer based in Los Angeles, California. He's known for his gritty, raunchy, and edgy style. Pecci's work includes directing over 30 music videos for artists like Killswitch Engage, Lucius, and the Wu Tang Clan. He also co-directs with Ian McFarland as part of the directing duo McFarland & Pecci Films.

New Episode Now Live and it’s a must-watch! @Designing Hollywood Show is thrilled to welcome back Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter for an exclusive interview diving deep into her powerful work on the new film Sinners, hitting theaters this weekend.In Sinners, Ruth steps into a gritty, raw world of survival and redemption — crafting costumes that speak volumes. Every thread, texture, and silhouette reveals the soul of each character, blending street realism with subtle spiritual undertones.She doesn’t just design looks. She reveals identities.Tune in as Ruth breaks down her creative process and shares the behind-the-scenes magic that brought Sinners to life.Sponsored by @universalcostumehouse @universalstudioslotFollow & Subscribe now on YouTube and Spotify to catch the full episode!#DesigningHollywood #RuthCarter #SinnersMovie #CostumeDesign #HollywoodPodcast #BehindTheScenes #NewEpisode #FilmCostume #OscarWinner #filmmaking #cinema #designinghollywood #movie #film #costumedesigner #costumedesign #

Mitchell Travers is an American Costume Designer who has cultivated a character-heavy portfolio of work for multiple titles. His breakout work on Bo Burnham’s A24 indie hit Eighth Grade, which earned him a spot on Variety’s Artisan’s Impact Report.He was tasked to transform Emma Thompson into a chic pantsuit-sporting Late Night TV host in Mindy Kaling’s Late Night, directed by Nisha Ganatra. His striking work on Lorene Scafaria’s critically acclaimed Hustlers earned him a nomination for the Costume Designer’s Guild Awards that year.Mitchell’s more recent projects include Home Before Dark, directed by Jon Chu for Apple TV+, Lin Manuel Miranda’s upcoming musical In The Heights and The Eyes of Tammy Faye starring Jessica Chastain and directed by Michael Showalter.Before beginning his own work, Travers spent ten years as Associate Costume Designer on projects including Oceans 8, Saturday Night Live, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, The Bourne Legacy, Joy, The Blacklist & 30 Rock. Travers was educated at the University of Connecticut receiving dual BFA degrees in Costume Design and Puppetry. He splits his time between New York and Los Angeles.

Her designs have premiered at acclaimed film festivals- Sundance, TIFF, VFF, and SXSW. She has designed films for Warner Brothers Pictures/New Line Cinema, Legendary Pictures, and Amazon Studios. Vanessa has designed original series for Sony, Disney+, NETFLIX, and UCP/Peacock. Several of Vanessa’s projects have 2025 releases. GOOSEBUMPS: THE VANISHING began streaming on Disney+/Hulu in January. COMPANION, a horror/comedy film from the producers of BARBARIAN, had a wide theatrical release in January as well. Macon Blair’s reimagining of the Troma cult classic, THE TOXIC AVENGER, will have a wide release in August through Cineverse. Vanessa has designed projects in a wide spectrum of genres. The designs have spanned numerous time periods and character types. Vanessa takes a grounded approach to all her work, even the more stylized projects. Her designs are rooted in nuanced character development, probing research, and thoughtful collaboration. Vanessa has lead costume departments both nationally and internationally. She loves the challenge of working in unfamiliar environments and connecting with creative collaborators everywhere the industry takes her.

Costume designer Antoinette Messam discusses her work on The Book of Clarence, her career, and her love of fashion with Producer/Host Phillip Boutté Jr Antoinette is an immensely talented costume designer; able to take the script and interpret the characters collaboratively with the director. Antoinette's experience as a fashion designer and stylist brings her costume design work in film & television to the next level.Sponsored by Western Costume

Today we sit down with Mandy Walker, the seasoned cinematographer behind Elvis, Snow White, Mulan and more. #elvis#snowwhite#cinematographer#mandywalker

Wicked Costume Designer Paul Tazewell & Producer Host Phillip Boutté Jr. In ‘Wicked,’ the Fashion Is a Big Piece of the Magic Costume designer Paul Tazewell spared no detail in bringing Elphaba and Glinda to life through their clothing. Although Tazewell has more than three decades of experience designing costumes for Broadway (he earned his first Tony nomination for Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk in 1996), “my love of detail is so much more apparent with film than it is necessarily with theater,” he says. (It’ll probably come as no surprise to learn that Tazewell is a Virgo.) For Tazewell, it wasn’t about recreation, nor was it about reinventing the wheel: Success lies in identifying those key looks, then being able to “digest how I experience them and see them through my lens and how I might reimagine what that same energy and life force looks like.” Sponsored By: Universal Costume Department Editor Credit: Oliver Ricketts  Tags:  #wicked #paultazewell #costumedesign #filmmaking #movie #cynthiaerivo #arianagrande #designinghollywood #wickedmovie

In this episode Netflix Griselda two special guests starting with Safowa Bright Bitzelberger a TV and Film costume designer. Most recently, she earned an Emmy nomination for her work as a costume designer on Netflix’s Griselda, starring Sofia Vergara. As a multidisciplinary creative, and throughout her career in the industry, Safowa has worn several hats as a costume designer, wardrobe stylist, and costume supervisor. Beyond her work on Griselda, Safowa also worked on many acclaimed films, like Ava DuVernay’s Origin, and TV shows, including Ballers, starring Dwayne Johnson, and DMZ, starring Rosario Dawson. Knut Loewe is a film and TV production designer and most recently, his outstanding work has been featured in Netflix’s hit miniseries Griselda, starring Sofia Vergara. He just completed another miniseries titled Murder on the Inca Trail and has worked on a biopic about one of the most successful German entertainers Hans Rosenthal. He previously worked on many critically acclaimed TV series, like Starz’s Counterpart, created by Justin Marks; Survive, starring Sophie Turner; and BAFTA TV Awards-nominated BBC drama Sinking of Laconia,starring Brian Cox. He won four German TV Awards with two additional nominations and was nominated twice at the German Television Academy Awards. Knut’s credits in film range across various genres, including comedy The Pharmacist, and period drama Cold Is the Breath of Evening. Phillip Boutté Jr moderator/producer Sponsored by Western Costume Company @westerncostumecompany