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Costume Standby

Maintains costume continuity on set and dresses cast through the shooting day — UK Costume grade; confirm title on the call sheet and deal memo.

Duties

• Read the call sheet and sides before arriving
• Maintain radio/set etiquette and H&S
• Hand over notes/kit status at wrap
• On-set continuity
• Quick changes
• Care of costumes during takes

Reports to

Costume Supervisor / Designer

Works with

Script Supervisor, HMU, Camera, ADs, Cast

Career path

Costume Trainee → Standby → Supervisor

Day to day

Dress cast; photo continuity; track multiples; weather covers; quick changes; liaise Script Supervisor/HMU.

Call times

Fittings and truck prep often before unit call; standby tracks cast ready-times through wrap for continuity photos. Crowd days start very early.

What to wear

Blacks on set; clean presentable kit clothes; soft shoes around cast; weather layers for exteriors.

Tools & kit

Kit pouch (tape, safety pins, stain kit, steamer where allowed).

Tips

Confirm title, agreement, budget band, prep/wrap and kit fee on the deal memo before accepting. We never invent Bectu figures — check bectu.org.uk ratecards / your branch.

Software

• Scriptation / PDF sides
• Continuity photo folders
• Excel / Google Sheets continuity & cast lists
• PureRef boards (cleared refs)
• ChatGPT for period research summaries (Designer verifies)

Bectu rate cards for this role are in the app.

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Costume Designer

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