About
"As a costume designer, you are a visual storyteller. You’re using psychology and sociology and anthropology and history and art and fabrics, and all these things you have to combine into creating a character."
In his one-hour interview, Tom Broecker talks about his early years studying dance and how he became interested in costume design. He discusses his first stint at Saturday Night Live, after graduating from college, and attending graduate school at the Yale School of Drama. He then describes his return to Saturday Night Live, first as assistant costume designer and then as costume designer. He goes into detail about working at Saturday Night Live, including collaborating with hosts, the cast, and Lorne Michaels, the process of working with his costume design team, and his creative process. Broecker lays out his weekly production schedule on the show, how costumes play a role in the order of sketches, and how quick changes work during the live broadcast. He touches on costumes for specific sketches, including “Mom Jeans” and “The Californians” and costuming Alec Baldwin as Donald J. Trump. He concludes by reflecting on his long tenure at Saturday Night Live and sharing advice for aspiring costume designers. Adrienne Faillace conducted the interview on March 27, 2019 in New York, NY.
Highlights
Tom Broecker on his weekly production schedule for costume design at Saturday Night Live
Tom Broecker on how costume changes on Saturday Night Live can affect the order of the show, and on the quick change booths in studio 8H
Tom Broecker on hosts' and performers' input into costumes on Saturday Night Live, and on Lorne Michaels' input
Tom Broecker on advice for aspiring costume designers
Tom Broecker on designing costumes for specific Saturday Night Live sketches, including "More Cowbell," "Mom Jeans," and "The Californians"
Tom Broecker on the shopping he does for costumes on Saturday Night Live, and on what happens after he gathers the clothes and costumes for a week's show
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on when and how he became interested in costume design; on his career path after graduating from college
On his first experience at Saturday Night Live, before graduate school; on attending the Yale School of Drama, and on taking a job back at Saturday Night Live after graduation
On transitioning from assistant costume designer to costume designer at Saturday Night Live; on the costume design team at Saturday Night Live
On his weekly production schedule at Saturday Night Live
On hosts', performers', and Lorne Michaels' input into costumes on Saturday Night Live; on the quick costume changes on Saturday Night Live; on what happens to the costumes after an episode is over
On how technological advances have affected the process of costume design on Saturday Night Live, and on the costumes for specific sketches; on costuming Alec Baldwin as Donald J. Trump
On his long tenure at Saturday Night Live, and on the pace of the show; on getting into producing; on advice to aspiring costume designers, and on his influences
Shows
Saturday Night Live
Tom Broecker on his first experience at Saturday Night Live before he attended graduate school
Tom Broecker on memorable characters and sketches on Saturday Night Live from his first stint there, in the late 1980s, and on how the costume design department operated at that time
Tom Broecker on how he came to work at Saturday Night Live full time after graduating from the Yale School of Drama
Tom Broecker on transitioning from Saturday Night Live assistant costume designer to costume designer
Tom Broecker on the costume design team at Saturday Night Live
Tom Broecker on his weekly production schedule for costume design at Saturday Night Live
Tom Broecker on the shopping he does for costumes on Saturday Night Live, and on what happens after he gathers the clothes and costumes for a week's show
Tom Broecker on hosts' and performers' input into costumes on Saturday Night Live, and on Lorne Michaels' input
Tom Broecker on how he manages the quick costume changes on Saturday Night Live
Tom Broecker on how costume changes on Saturday Night Live can affect the order of the show, and on the quick change booths in studio 8H
Tom Broecker on what happens to the costumes on Saturday Night Live after an episode is over
Tom Broecker on how technological advances have changed the costume design process on Saturday Night Live
Tom Broecker on designing costumes for specific sketches on Saturday Night Live, including "More Cowbell," "Mom Jeans," and "The Californians"
Tom Broecker on costuming Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live
Tom Broecker on his long tenure at Saturday Night Live, and on the pace of working on the show versus episodic television
Topics
Advice
Tom Broecker on advice to aspiring costume designers
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Tom Broecker on the various elements that go into costume design, and how studying dance in his youth made him realize he'd prefer to be behind-the-scenes than in front of an audience
Pivotal Career Moments
Tom Broecker on the various elements that go into costume design, and how studying dance in his youth made him realize he'd prefer to be behind-the-scenes than in front of an audience
Tom Broecker on how he came to work at Saturday Night Live full time after graduating from the Yale School of Drama
Pop Culture
Tom Broecker on designing costumes for specific Saturday Night Live sketches, including "More Cowbell," "Mom Jeans," and "The Californians"
Professions
Costume Designer
Tom Broecker on the transition from being the assistant costume designer to costume designer at Saturday Night Live, and on the process of learning how to be a boss
Tom Broecker on the costume design team at Saturday Night Live
Tom Broecker on how technological advances have changed the costume design process on Saturday Night Live
Tom Broecker on advice to aspiring costume designers
Designers
Tom Broecker on the transition from being the assistant costume designer to costume designer at Saturday Night Live, and on the process of learning how to be a boss
Tom Broecker on the costume design team at Saturday Night Live
Tom Broecker on how technological advances have changed the costume design process on Saturday Night Live
Tom Broecker on advice to aspiring costume designers
Genres
Late Night
Tom Broecker on costume designing for Saturday Night Live
People
Alec Baldwin
Tom Broecker on costuming Alec Baldwin as Donald J. Trump on Saturday Night Live
Donald J. Trump
Tom Broecker on costuming Alec Baldwin as Donald J. Trump on Saturday Night Live