About the program
Learn costume history, textiles, wardrobe management, and cutting and construction techniques.
hands-on
Gain hands-on experience working on-campus theatre productions and student film projects.
A Career-focused diploma
Our grads are well-qualified for entry-level positions in motion picture and theatre costuming departments.
Why Do Costumes Matter?
The story behind the costume
Have you ever watched a film, theatre, or dance production and been fascinated by the costumes? It may have been the intricate layers of a period piece that transported you back to the seventeenth century or the evolution of a costume from new to dirty and bloody that captured your attention. Costumes are part of the way we understand and relate to character and story. They establish time and place, show action and events, helping us to let go of our reality and sink into the performance.
Our unique 2-year diploma program is designed around core classes of the hands-on stitching, cutting, and building of costumes augmented by technical and creative skills including studying style and changes in costume evolution, interpreting designer’s sketches, drafting patterns, dyeing textiles, and aging costumes, setting up production costume shops, running crew for stage performances and learning onset film procedures including script breakdown and more.
Our classrooms are set up as professional workshops, located across the hall from the 8000 square foot sound stage in Capilano University’s newest Bosa building. The program is in a unique position to offer our students the opportunity to collaborate with emerging filmmakers and professional theatre artists. Through the course curriculum, students gain hands-on experience on up to 15 films and six main stage theater shows.
Watch your calendar for the BOSA Centre open house in the Fall and join us for the School of Motion Picture and Animation Arts Open House at Capilano University. Meet the faculty and students and tour our studios.
Foundation first year
Costuming for Stage and Screen
The first year focuses on building the foundation of knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for entry into the world of costuming for the entertainment industries from theatre to film to web-based projects.
All aspects of costuming are covered within the various courses such as costume history, pattern drafting, cutting and construction, ageing & breakdown all delivered in an experiential, hands on work environment allowing students to learn first-hand how costume departments work - inside and out.
Students collaborate and work on the stage shows produced by the Acting for Stage and Screen program and Musical Theatre program as well as many short films produced by the second and third-year film students. Real-world experiences in an environment designed to bring out the best in each student.
Students come from as far away as India and the United States or as close as North Vancouver. Faculty are veterans of both theatre and film worlds who love to teach what they know.
Second Year overview
Costuming for Stage and Screen
The second-year focuses on developing a critical eye for costume design and a degree of mastery in the technical aspects of costuming.
Advanced cutting and construction, design elements and principles, budgeting and planning, advanced textiles for costuming are just a few topics covered in the classroom. Specialty costuming skills offered each year could include corsetry, millinery, costuming for SPFX/VFX, textile enhancements, pattern draping, tailoring and accessories. These are delivered in two-week intensives allowing students to drill down into more advanced techniques. The pressure’s on.
Second year students also work on higher levels of responsibility on both the stage productions and film projects. Team building skills are stressed and leadership qualities are fostered, encouraged and assessed throughout every production.
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