Experience

Capilano University

• Canada
• Higher Education
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Indigenous Costuming for Film and Television

  • Jan 2023 - Present

  A 4-day Intensive discussing Indigenous Costuming for Film and Television A 4-day Intensive discussing Indigenous Costuming for Film and Television



Freelance

• Costume Designer

  • May 2004 - Present

  Designing and creating costumes for various Costume Designers and Stylists for film and television, most notably, American Idol, Teen & Kids Choice Award Show, So You Think You Can Dance, I survived a Japanese Game Show & Macy’s Celebrity Catwalk Challenge. Recreating costumes, most iconic, Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’, ‘Remember the Time’ and his sequin socks for the BET Awards host, Jamie Foxx and Elton John’s costume, in ‘Tommy’ for host Rainn Wilson during the VH1 Rock Honors - The Who. I have the ability to recreate almost any sketch into reality, can fix sewing machines, and always had the actor and director in mind when working on any task. In 2009, Actor and entertainer Jamie Foxx ordered a custom designed leather jacket to open his “Blame it Tour” in several colors. I have extensive knowledge of several indigenous peoples in North and South America, particularly with adornments and costume pre-contact. I work as a cultural liaison between production and Indigenous peoples, respecting their cultural heritage in terms of film production and costume. Show less



TlaKwa Designs

• Designer, Writer, Producer

  • Jan 2006 - Present

  Currently writing the screenplay for the true story of Arthur Ivan Thompson and his experience in the Alberni Indian Residential School and the subsequent Supreme Court Case which he won against the Queen of England and the United Church of Canada. I am also writing a documentary on the Canadian Governments implementation of the Indian Residential School System, the Indian Hospitals and the Treaties and Bills that were/are created to completely irradiate our people and our rights, as well as the intergenerational effects it has on not only Native people but Canadians. Also wrote the treatment for a feature thriller about serial killers and recently completed the tv pilot, Swing·er. Show less

• Owner and founder

  • Jan 1997 - Present

  Developing and creating graphics for small businesses and clients, for their web, business media and corporate gifts. Designing websites and implementing Search Engine Optimization. Designing and editing graphics for film/television.



Indigenomics Institute

• Creative Director

  • May 2018 - 2022



Reel One Entertainment

• Canada
• Movies, Videos, and Sound
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Costume Designer

  • Jan 2021 - Feb 2021

  Christmas On Your Toes!!! So much fun!!! Loved making the tutu's! I had so much fun on this one, the script was good, the cast were brilliant. Making movies in covid is tough but we pull it off!! Not one person on our set got covid, Covid Safety Teams are thebombdotcom! Masks are a tough one, as we all know. Using the 95 masks gets me all clausterphobic but, testing and @staysafe! I can't wait to see how this one turns out. Christmas On Your Toes!!! So much fun!!! Loved making the tutu's! I had so much fun on this one, the script was good, the cast were brilliant. Making movies in covid is tough but we pull it off!! Not one person on our set got covid, Covid Safety Teams are thebombdotcom! Masks are a tough one, as we all know. Using the 95 masks gets me all clausterphobic but, testing and @staysafe! I can't wait to see how this one turns out.



Castlereigh Theatre Project

• Victoria, BC, Canada

• Costume Designer

  • Oct 2018 - Feb 2020

  A good friend of mine, Jimbo Insell recommended me for this one. Once the initial phone calls and emails happened and I read the script, I knew I sort of had to do this one. It is important. It is a story to tell, it was unraveling as we were creating! It has a pulse. Once the initial costumes were created, I then went into builds mode. I had Trickster to build. He is magical and spectacular, so I made to match point. He was a great challenge. I had to make him look spectacular behind paper. And he did. And then comes 2019 God's Lake, two different actors, a little adjustment here and there. And a workshop! The first rendition of the shadow costume didn't quite hit the mark, and I believe part of it is because I wasn't connected with the character and cultural background. In 2018, when the name Trickster came up, I think Raven because of my culture. And in 2019 when I got to work with Kevin Burton I was able to hear who this Trickster was. And first fitting of this new character was amazing. He connected to the story powerfully. I learnt a few things on this project. One, totally define the cultural background of any costume build. And two, demand a Costume Run Thru, as I did not get one for the 2019 version. Show less



Netflix

• United States
• Entertainment Providers
• 700 & Above Employee

• Julie and the Phantoms

  • Sep 2019 - Oct 2019

  I had the distinct pleasure of joining the costume build team for Julie and the Phantoms. Was brilliant to work for Kenny Ortega, watching not only the costumes being built, we also got to see the stages, the construction builds! Wow. What a show! Excited to see this one! Go Team! I had the distinct pleasure of joining the costume build team for Julie and the Phantoms. Was brilliant to work for Kenny Ortega, watching not only the costumes being built, we also got to see the stages, the construction builds! Wow. What a show! Excited to see this one! Go Team!



Pacific Opera Victoria

• Victoria, BC

• Missing

  • Sep 2017 - Oct 2019

  Well, it is quite the honour to return to this production. It's strength and voice is powerful, alive. Well, it is quite the honour to return to this production. It's strength and voice is powerful, alive.



Reel One Entertainment

• Canada
• Movies, Videos, and Sound
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Costume Designer

  • Jan 2019 - Feb 2019

  When I got the offer for this one, I had to say yes! Sketch, create, film wedding dresses! Yes please! I watched a few silly rom-coms, the weddings, the dresses, I sketched and paid homage to the twirl dress, ala, Carrie Bradshaw, Sex in the City, I thought of James Dean and Marilyn Munroe when I sketched the opening dress. There was a pin that I came from for each dress. And then the Production Designer's creative space!! Brilliance! My team was brilliant. Mary Olsen was recommended by her partner in crime, Tyler Olsen, whom I met on 1941. And I HAD to get Jason Pillay, stylist of stylists and a true human. Love Jason, he knows that. And then game on! Casting Brendon Zub! Yes! We worked together on The Christmas Calendar, so I called him!! I am blessed to be working with Ken Shapkin, he is an amazing Designer and has a brilliant costume kit to pull from. Because of this, I am able to costume most of the movie from the kit. Leaving a large portion of the budget to the builds. And build we did! It was fun, we made a movie in 12 days! Show less



Monkey Beach, Sparrow & Crow Films Inc

• Vancouver, BC & Kitimaat, BC

• Costume Designer

  • Sep 2018 - Oct 2018

  I was honoured to be asked to join the creative team as Costume Designer for the feature film Monkey Beach. I knew it was the start of something magical. Immediately I went into creative mode. Aug 23rd I started, sketching, building, creating. It was more than anything I have done as a designer, an artist, a film maker, an Indigenous Woman...and it is something I hold with absolute and complete pride with and for Monkey Beach. https://www.monkeybeachmovie.com/ I was honoured to be asked to join the creative team as Costume Designer for the feature film Monkey Beach. I knew it was the start of something magical. Immediately I went into creative mode. Aug 23rd I started, sketching, building, creating. It was more than anything I have done as a designer, an artist, a film maker, an Indigenous Woman...and it is something I hold with absolute and complete pride with and for Monkey Beach. https://www.monkeybeachmovie.com/



Fox Television Stations

• United States
• Media Production
• 700 & Above Employee

• Costume Effects Builder - X-Files

  • Dec 2017 - Dec 2017

  X-files Costume Effects Builder & Breakdown Artist. Not a bad gig to wrap up the year with! Thank you Ken Shapkin for the referral, much appreciated. The job required a very specific skill set and thankfully I had some experience. I came in to the job after the first quarter of the performance. Foam foam foam foam!! It was an epic costume build surrounded by laughter I tell ya! I was able to assist in the major reconstruction of a proto-type that was built days before. X-files Costume Effects Builder & Breakdown Artist. Not a bad gig to wrap up the year with! Thank you Ken Shapkin for the referral, much appreciated. The job required a very specific skill set and thankfully I had some experience. I came in to the job after the first quarter of the performance. Foam foam foam foam!! It was an epic costume build surrounded by laughter I tell ya! I was able to assist in the major reconstruction of a proto-type that was built days before.



Air Bud Entertainment

• United States
• Movies, Videos, and Sound
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Pup Star 2

  • Nov 2016 - Dec 2016

  I had the distinct pleasure of working on this film in the Costume Department. I worked with the team building costumes for "Tiny" and "Scrappy" and then moved into the Background Team. It was a great challenge building costumes for dogs and improving on the previous Pup Stars costumes. Great team and fantastic film! I had the distinct pleasure of working on this film in the Costume Department. I worked with the team building costumes for "Tiny" and "Scrappy" and then moved into the Background Team. It was a great challenge building costumes for dogs and improving on the previous Pup Stars costumes. Great team and fantastic film!



Front Street Pictures

• A Fixer Upper Mystery - Assistant Costume Designer

  • Sep 2016 - Oct 2016

  Fixer Upper was a nice film to work on, excited to see the final product. Working with Jewel was fabulous, love her singing. Great team, I learnt from the Costume Designer Ken Shapkin and very thankful for a strong team and film crew.

• A Rose Parade New Year - Assistant Costume Designer

  • Aug 2016 - Sep 2016

  A Rose Parade New Year was a great film to work on, a nice challenge to film Christmas in September. Great Costume Designer, Ken Shapkin and great actors and crew.



Rufus 2 Productions Inc.

• Vancouver

• Truck Supervisor for Rufus 2

  • Jun 2016 - Jul 2016

  Truck Supervisor on Rufus 2, Nickelodeon film with lots of slime and explosions! Having fun making it and cleaning it up! ;) Truck Supervisor on Rufus 2, Nickelodeon film with lots of slime and explosions! Having fun making it and cleaning it up! ;)



Father Xmas Films, Inc

• Greater Vancouver

• Truck Supervisor

  • Jun 2016 - Jun 2016

  Working with Costume Designer Ken Shapkin on Finding Father Christmas. Working with Costume Designer Ken Shapkin on Finding Father Christmas.



Nickelodeon Studios

• United States
• Computer Games
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Costume Builder for Legends Of the Hidden Temple

  • Jan 2016 - Mar 2016

  I am building custom Mayan regalia, armour and adornments for a Nickelodeon feature film. I was hired on this project because of my historical research I did on pre-contact Mayan for 1491: The Untold Story of the Americas Before Columbus. I am working for Ken Shapkin, who is a talented and extremely nice person, I am honoured he is trusting me with these builds and happy to be forging a new professional relationship. I am building custom Mayan regalia, armour and adornments for a Nickelodeon feature film. I was hired on this project because of my historical research I did on pre-contact Mayan for 1491: The Untold Story of the Americas Before Columbus. I am working for Ken Shapkin, who is a talented and extremely nice person, I am honoured he is trusting me with these builds and happy to be forging a new professional relationship.



Aarrow Productions

• North and South America

• Costume Designer

  • Dec 2014 - Oct 2015

  I have the distinct pleasure of joining Aarrow Productions to work on "1491: The Untold Story of the Americas Before Columbus" The costume design is extensive and I am looking forward to this production. This quite possibly may be one of the biggest productions I have taken on, one of the most powerful and a fantastic look into the past. We just got nominated for the prestigious Canadian Screen Award: Best History Documentary Series or Program I have the distinct pleasure of joining Aarrow Productions to work on "1491: The Untold Story of the Americas Before Columbus" The costume design is extensive and I am looking forward to this production. This quite possibly may be one of the biggest productions I have taken on, one of the most powerful and a fantastic look into the past. We just got nominated for the prestigious Canadian Screen Award: Best History Documentary Series or Program



Believe Entertainment

• Movies, Videos, and Sound
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Costume Designer on the award winning feature film, "Rolling"

  • 2005 - 2005

  Worked with the director, Billy Saleebey, on creating an asthetic color palette for his movie. Very tight budget, and very tight time-frame to prep with actors before they went on camera. For more information on the movie, go to: www.rollingmovie.com Worked with the director, Billy Saleebey, on creating an asthetic color palette for his movie. Very tight budget, and very tight time-frame to prep with actors before they went on camera. For more information on the movie, go to: www.rollingmovie.com