Costume Design & Technology Certificate of Achievement

Students completing this certificate acquire the applicable design and technical skills to pursue entry-level positions in entertainment costuming, including: theatre, dance, theme park, live performance, corporate events, film, television, commercials, and new media. Students complete a portfolio encompassing work from each course in preparation for employment in the entertainment industry.

Our courses are offered on a two-year rotation. In that time frame, an estimated 270 students are enrolled in the proposed certificate’s courses. Number of estimated program completers per year at the end of second year: 5 students Number of estimated program completers per year at the end of fifth year: 8 students. The growth from year to year cannot grow dramatically since many of the courses in the proposed certificate have an enrollment of 21. The costume shop practicum and sewing courses can only serve 21 students with the size of the costume shop and the number of sewing machines

The goal of the Costume Design and Technology Certificate of Achievement is for students to gain the diverse and necessary skills to acquire entry-level positions in entertainment costuming. Study in costume design and technology develops multiple skill sets. Students gain these skills in the lab and lecture courses and apply those skills in practicum courses. The following list describes those skills: Costume Design: Collaboration, research, costume history, historical fashion terminology, script analysis, presentations, life drawing, rendering (drawing and painting), color theory, design elements, leadership, management, interpersonal relations, portfolio and professional development. Costume Production: Knowledge in fabric, dye, fabric modification, fabric printing, construction, patternmaking, fittings, alterations, millinery, jewelry making, accessories, specialty crafts, hair, wigs, makeup, safety procedures and common shop processes. Costume Management: Budgets, procurement, professional relationships with fellow shops, designers and vendors, time management and scheduling, and communication. The following are occupations in the entertainment industry share the required skills achieved in the Costume Design and Technology Certificate of Achievement: Costume Designer Assistant Costume Designer Costume Buyer Costume Illustrator or Fine Artist Costume Shop Manager Cutter/Draper Sewing Machine Operator Sewer, Hand Tailor, Dressmaker and Custom Sewer Craftsperson or Crafts Artist Dye Technician Wardrobe Textile Designer Digital Textile Printing Technician On-Set Dresser Film, Television, Film and Entertainment Costume Attendant, Live Entertainment and Theme Park In the past six years, the Costume Program has developed from one course to eight. The program was created with a philosophy of learning specialty skills in the classroom and applying them to practical live performances. Each of the eight costume courses address the core skill sets needed for employment in the entertainment industry. After curriculum development, the costume program added three Skills Certificates in Costume Design and Application, Costume Construction Skills and Wardrobe Skills. The next step for the costume program is to create the Certificate of Achievement that combines all of the courses and the Skills Certificates. ELAC’s Technical Theatre Department is different than many theater programs (two and four-year) because of the focus on employment skills and career preparation. ELAC Technical Theatre created the district course TECTHTR 305 Orientation to Technical Careers in Entertainment. This class exemplifies this commitment to career preparation and students create a portfolio, online website, resume, cover letter, and business cards. Over the course of the past five years, ELAC has been working together with Center Theatre Group (CTG), the largest theatre in the Western states averaging a $50 million annual budget. In January 2018, CTG asked ELAC Theatre Arts Department to be their official education partner. This partnership is creating internships, apprenticeships, and specialty courses for our students. This proposed Certificate of Achievement is supported by CTG as the next step in developing the disciplines within Technical Theater. ELAC has been working with the film and entertainment industry as well. Local 705 Motion Picture Costumers has created a pilot apprenticeship program and selected ELAC as the education partner for this project. Apprentice’s will serve as a Costume Department PA on a television series for nine to twelve months. They will acquire the necessary hours to apply to Local 705 at the conclusion of the apprenticeship and develop invaluable contacts in a network based industry. These industry connections certify that the Costume Design and Technology Certificate of Achievement prepares students for employment and internship opportunities. The entertainment industry is based in Los Angeles. Entertainment costuming employment is growing as trends in new media gain popularity and join the already booming film and television industry The following occupations covered in Local 705 Motion Picture Costumers: Costume Department Supervisor Costume Department Foreperson Costumer Keyperson Costume Checker Manufacturing Foreperson (Women’s Garments) Pattern Maker and Fitter Hand Beader Women’s Garment Tailor Milliner Table Person Alteration Fitter Draper Figure Maker Shirt Maker Dyer Tailor’s Helper Special Operator: masks, headpieces, special materials Millinery Maker Cleaner Finisher Tailor Cutter Tailor Fitter Coat, Pant and Vest Maker Alteration Tailor Wardrobe Specialty Manufacturer Special Costume Keyperson Special Costume Manufacturer The following occupations are covered in Local 892 Costume Designers Guild: Costume Designer Assistant Costume Designer Costume Illustrator

Total Required Units: 20 Total Elective Units: 3 Total Units: 23 The courses below can be taken in any order since there are no prerequisite courses and can be completed in 2 years. It is recommended, but not required, to take TECTHTR 305 Orientation to Technical Careers in Entertainment at the end of a student’s studies to have maximum material for their portfolio and website Number of sections of core courses to be offered annually One section of the following courses are offered in a 2 year cycle: TECTHTR 360( 3 units) TECTHTR 363( 3 units) TECTHTR 364( 3 units) TECTHTR 365( 3 units) TECTHTR 366( 3 units) TECTHTR 367( 3 units) TECTHTR 305( 3 units) Two sections of TECTHTR 361( 2 units) are offered each year. Four sections of TECTHTR 342( 2 units) are offered each year. Six sections of TECTHTR 345( 2 units) are offered each year.

Theatre Arts

The only college in the district offering a Costume Design Skill Certificate and Vocational Certificate is Los Angeles City College. The 2018 CTE Advisory Committee Meeting was combined with the ELAC Theatre Department and the LACC Theatre Department and this proposed certificate was discussed and can be found in the meeting minutes. Differentiating features of our certificate are: • It is half the size at 23 units instead of 57 units. • Our certificate is achievable in two years. • Our certificate is open to everyone whereas the program at Los Angeles City College is by audition and is considered a conservatory program. • Our college is one of the largest in the country, which suggests there is sufficient student demand for education in our area. Given the differences between the LACC certificates and the proposed ELAC certificate, are the specific industry partners that have collaborated on curriculum, skill certificates, and exclusive internship/apprenticeship opportunities. The results of CTE Advisory Committee meetings continue to prove the need for trained costumers for employment and have identified a need. There is a need for a costume design and technology certificate that does not require a separate application or interview process for greater access to students. The proposed program also offers technology acquired through Perkins grants, including: a fabric sublimation system, digital patternmaking software, and film/television industry costume management software. Pasadena City College has certificates with a focus in Theater Technology. Note that the theater technology certificate is broad-based and does not focus on costuming for theater but rather includes scenery, lighting and other theater technology skills. Differentiating features of our certificate are: • It is specific to costumes in the area of entertainment or example live theater, Motion pictures and television. • It serves our large population of students in our immediate area since Pasadena City College is 9 miles from East Los Angeles College and requires a lengthy commute. • Our proposed certificate of achievement requires students to apply costuming skills in theatrical productions presented to the public which mirror professional employment experience. Pasadena City College certificates do not have this training. • Our program requires students to be team leaders (designers and assistants) in production positions found in the theater, motion picture and television industry. The Pasadena City College certificate does not have this training. This proposed certificate has been discussed with faculty at UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton, and Cal State Los Angeles for transfer students to their theatre programs.

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