MembershipClassifications - MPC IATSE Local 705

Finished Costumers

Finished Costumers own the glamorous territory of the set, office, shops, and costume houses where they perform “on and off production” responsibilities and work with the finished costumes on shows, commercials, films and new media projects. That might involve cinching celebrity waistlines, camouflaging flaws, or accentuating curves. Finished Costumers are known for their last-minute creativity and MacGyverish ingenuity. Their main job is to acquire and maintain costumes worn by principal and background artists. Depending on the production’s needs, finished costumers may set or coordinate the look. They also collaborate with the costume designer to facilitate production needs. Other duties include management, pulling, shopping, and organizing, handling and general operation of the costume department.

Responsible for working with completed costumes

Women's Finished Costumes
Men's Finished Costumes

Costume Department Supervisors

men’s or women’s costumes

Manage, supervise and handle the general operation of the costume department. Responsibilities include organizing the Costume Department, making sure that it functions properly and avoiding production delays. The Costume Department Supervisor hires costumers, breaks down scripts and acquires research materials. They fit and handle men’s or women’s costumes – and they may also costume actors or actresses for shooting tests. Supervisors shop for, purchase or rent the necessary costumes, find costumes and supervise the manufacture of costumes.

Costume Department Foreperson

Manages, supervises and handles the general operation of either the men’s or women’s costume department under the supervision of the Department Head. Except in emergencies, the Foreperson should not act as a Costumer Keyperson or a Costumer. They are responsible for making sure that the department functions properly and assist Costume Supervisors in avoiding production delays.

Costume Department Keyperson

Their duties include breaking down the script, costuming for shooting tests, acquiring research material, and fitting and handling of wardrobe.

Costumer (also known as Journeyperson) or Costumer Entry Level

Assists the Costume Department Supervisor or Costumer Keyperson with their regular duties. They may be assigned to several production units at the same time, as long as the units have a Costume Department Supervisor and/or Costumer Keyperson assigned. A Costumer or Costumer Entry Level assuming charge of a second production unit shall receive not less than the minimum rate for a Costumer Keyperson for the day or days on such assignment. When primarily assigned to the maintenance, care and continuity of costume stock, accessories and equipment, a Costumer or Costumer Entry Level may deliver costumes to and from sets, but may not relieve Costumers of higher classifications. They may also be assigned to fit principles, day or background players.

Checker

Checks the personal clothes of actors or crews on sets. They may not work in the costume department, nor issue or check costumes used in production and they only work as a checker when on set.

Stock Clerk

Sorts and maintains stock and equipment. They may assemble, fit and handle individual orders under the supervision of the Department Head and/or costumer.

Custom-made Costumers

Custom-Made members were born with a silver thimble on their thumb, a feel for fabric in every cell and the ability to create a character out of whole cloth. They are the costume makers and managers who supervise the manufacturing department, make and cut patterns, and provide men’s and women’s tailoring. Custom-Made craftspeople also trim, stitch, alter and finish the costumes before they go in front of the camera. Other artisans in their group include milliners, textile artists, ager/dyers and leather artisans.

Responsible for the manufacture and alteration of costumes

Women's Custom-Made
Men's Custom-Made

Costume Maker Class 1

Manufacturing Foreperson

Supervises either the entire women’s garment manufacturing department or a section of it, or the men’s tailoring department and/or alteration department or a section of it, under the direction of the department head and/or studio designers.

Costume Maker Class 2

Pattern Maker and Fitter

Makes patterns, cuts, fits costumes from specific designs or sketches, assists in selecting materials and/or supervises this kind of work.

Men’s Tailor Cutter and/or Gang Boss

Drafts patterns, cuts materials and fits tailored suits and other costumes to actors from specified designs or sketches. The Tailor Cutter/Gang Boss also selects or assists in the selection of materials to be used, working under the direction of a Manufacturing Foreperson and/or Department Head. The Men’s Tailor Cutter or Gang Boss supervises the work of Fitters, other Tailors and Tailor’s Helpers.

Special Costume Keyperson

Supervises the making and construction of clothing using foam, wire, plastic, cloth, leather and other materials, for creature-type costumes to be worn by performers. These costumes can be versions of animals, plant life, and futuristic or “Star Wars”-types or creatures. The duties outlined here are not meant to expand or diminish the jurisdiction of any Local Union.

Costume Maker Class 3

Women’s Garment Tailor

Cuts, fits and makes tailored suits, robes and coats from specified designs or sketches, and may also make patterns, assist in selecting materials and/or supervise such work.

Milliner

Designs, makes and develops models of hats, creates flowers and other ornaments for hats, and makes patterns for them. Milliners also style, re-style, re-model or fit hats as needed. They designate or assist in selecting materials and/or supervise selection.

Table Person

Supervises the work of a group of finishers assigned to his or her table. A Table Person cuts material from patterns, and pins or bastes gowns and costumes in preparation for finishers. They assign work when it falls under their supervision and may also supervise a group of workers in any specialty department such as alteration fitting, beading, dyeing, cleaning and pressing, shirt making (may make patterns), manufacture of special items (ties, epaulets, stocks, jabots), art work, figure making or any other type of special work. A Table Person can be a Head Dyer or Head Figure Maker.

Figure Maker

Takes required measurements and develops commercial dress forms from such measurements; makes muslin patterns to fit dress forms; and fits muslin patterns to artists.

Head Dyer

Oversees the staff Dyers and is responsible for dyes and tints. Also bleaches or strips materials on completed gowns and costumes. Is subject to the discretion of the department head, supervisor, and/or costume designer.

Alteration Fitter

Fits and makes alterations on stock costumes.

Men’s Tailor Fitter

Fits and marks for alteration, and alters new or stock items.

Coat, Pant and Vest Maker

Tailors custom coats, pants and vests under the direction of the Tailor Cutter and/or Manufacturing Foreperson.

Wardrobe Specialty Manufacturer

Creates, repairs, alters and revamps special wardrobe items and accessories such as hats, military caps, badges, shoes, belts, leather pouches, other leather and suede items, and leather and canvas equipment.

Costume Maker Class 4

Draper or “Stitcher”

Drapes material on models and figures, and trims and finishes certain specially-assigned costumes. Drapers also baste and pin gowns and costumes in preparation for Finishers and/or supervise that work. They may also operate special machines.

Shirt Makers

Cut patterns for modern, period and foreign shirts of all types. They fit and finish shirts, or supervise the finishing.

Dyer

Dyes, tints, bleaches or strips materials, completed gowns and costumes.

Beaders

Sew or crochet beads and sequins on materials or costumes and embroider crests, monograms, insignias, etc. by hand or bonaz machine.

Special Operators

Do special work such as making masks, grotesque headpieces and other items of buckrum, fur, plastics and wire. They also execute special designing on materials with dyes and other applications as needed and create general art work under the supervision of a Cutter and/or Table Person.

Millinery-Makers

Copy or make hats under the supervision of the Milliner. They block, trim, sew, put in bands and linings, and apply ornaments or other millinery trimmings on hats.

Cleaner

Hand-cleans gowns or costumes by spotting or dipping; Cleaners also press by steampress or hand iron.

Finishers

Sew gowns and other costumes by hand or machine and applique lace or embroidery to them. They may hand press costumes and gowns in the process of completion, and gowns taken from stock or other items that have not been worn immediately prior.

Alteration Tailor

Presses by hand or machine, alters, sews, trims and performs other tailoring functions for men’s stock, suits and costumes under the direction of a Tailor Cutter, Tailor Fitter and/or Manufacturing Foreperson. The Alteration Tailor also makes miscellaneous men’s items under the direction of the Tailor Cutter.

Tailor’s Helper

May do finishing, trimming, binding, make button holes and sew on buttons, sew in linings, and do other special work on tailored items under the direction of a Tailor Cutter and/or a Tailor Fitter and/or Coat, Pant and Vest maker and/or a Utility Tailor.

Special Costume Manufacturer

Makes and constructs the clothing, using foam, wire, plastic, cloth, leather, etc., for creature-type costumes to be worn by performers, such as versions of animals, plant life, futuristic and ‘Star Wars”-type creatures. These duties are not meant to expand or diminish the jurisdiction of any Local Union.

Live Television Costumers

Live Television Costumers are true quick-change artists working in the fast-paced, challenging worlds of soap operas, talk shows and game shows. (Think surprise guests and multiple shows taped in a day.) These daytime superheroes create or set the look and are responsible for the costumes designed, constructed and procured. Other responsibilities cover the general operation and assignment of specific costume-related duties, including script breakdown, budgeting, purchasing, manufacturing/alterations and costume continuity.

Responsible for costumes used under the Live Television Contracts.

Supervising Costumers

Are employees who are in charge of the costume and wardrobe aspects of a production; who are responsible for or perform the duties of breaking down scripts and making budgets and the designing, renting, purchasing, buying or causing to be made, costumes to be used on the production; who handle and remodel costumes; who are given the responsibility of avoiding production delays or mistakes; and/or who are in charge of wardrobe men and women assigned to the production.

Wardrobe Master and Mistress

Is an employee who is in charge of workroom and/or assists department heads and supervising costumers; who does fitting and marking for alterations; who handles, makes, alters, remodels and repairs, who checks in and out costumes from the production and buys or rents same from rental companies; and who has charge of wardrobe department men and women assigned to his or her department.

Wardrobe Men and Women

Are employees who assist supervising costumers, the designer and wardrobe master or mistress in the performance of their duties; who do fitting, handling, remodeling, making and dressing work; who stand by on productions; who may assist in selection of costumes for production; who check in and out costumes; and who do repairs and alterations.

Junior Grade Wardrobe Men and Women

Are employees who do dressing, stock-handling, and inventory work. Such employees shall not be assigned to do fittings, sewing, checking in and out of costumes, or making rentals or purchases.

Seamstress

Is an employee who does alterations and repair work. Such employee’s duties do not include the making of costumes or major alterations, remodeling, stock room work or dressing.

Costume House Employees

Costume House Employees are Jacks and Jills of all trades who work in Costume Houses, which rent and manufacture costumes and sell costume-related supplies and equipment. Many of them are costume history buffs that are knowledgeable about different period and ethnic costumes. Costume house members facilitate costume rentals and made-to-order services for productions and studios that come to them to supply the special needs of their own costume departments.

Responsible for renting and manufacturing costumes.

Our art, Our skills.

Membership Classifications