Ask any actor; when they first put on their character’s wardrobe a transformative process begins. This is especially true in the outlandish, sometimes futuristic, and always bold costumes in genre television and feature films. Whether the refined period frocks in Frankie Drake Mysteries, or heightened looks in Possessor, a costume designer’s work must be precise, expressive, and above all, part of an actor’s arsenal when landing a top performance. Today’s engaging panel discussion will explore the relationship between costuming and performance, and this essential piece of the puzzle in creating a compelling character.

Moderator:

Joanna Syrokomla | Costume Designer

Joanna is the founder and producer of the Canadian Costume Design Awards with CAFTCAD- The Canadian Alliance for Film & TV Costume Arts & Design. Her recent film design credits include Escape from the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story, Little Italy, Love Jacked, and The Steps. TV design includes Murdoch Mysteries 12 & 13, Bitten & The L.A. Complex. Web series design has garnered Joanna a few awards including Mejor Vestuario Award at the Buenos Aires Web Fest for 1970’s web series Whatever, Linda, and IAWT and CAFTCAD Awards for the period Chateau Laurier.

 

Panelists:

Aline Gilmore | Costume Designer, Possessor

Aline Gilmore is a Costume Designer based out of Toronto and Montreal. Her recent credits include Brandon Cronenberg’s sci-fi horror, Possessor, which made Rolling Stone’s list of 10 Best Movies at Sundance 2020. Other credits include Mike Clattenburg’s comedy TV series, Crawford, and Stephen Campanelli’s feature film, Indian Horse, which garnered a 2019 CAFTCAD nomination for Best Costume Design in Period Film.

 

Kaniehtiio Horn  | Actress, Reeta, Possessor

Kaniehtiio ‘Tiio’ Horn is a Canadian actress from Kahnawake, the Mohawk reserve outside of Montreal. She stars as Mari in the highly anticipated National Geographic series BARKSKINS, based on the 2016 bestselling novel of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Proulx, and currently appears as Tanis in the critically acclaimed comedy series, LETTERKENNY, created by fellow Canadian Jacob Tierney. Additional television credits include the irreverent digital series GHOST BFF, DIGGSTOWN on CBC, Netflix’s NORTHERN RESCUE and WAYNE for Youtube Red. She has also recurred on the Amazon series MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE, DEFIANCE and ALPHAS for Syfy, and was a series regular on the Netflix/Gaumont series HEMLOCK GROVE. In 2017 Tiio starred in the action/thriller, MOHAWK, directed by Ted Geoghegan, for which she has received outstanding reviews. She holds supporting roles in IMMORTALS, ON THE ROAD, THE HUMMINGBIRD PROJECT and the soon-to-be released feature POSSESSOR, directed by Brandon Cronenberg. Tiio hosts the podcast COFFEE WITH MY MA, sharing the adventures and experiences of of her activist mother, Kahentinetha, and co-hosted the 2019 Indspire Awards. She also wrote, directed and starred in the short film, THE SHACK, which has collected awards on the short film circuit. This March Tiio will defend the Canadian novel Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson on CBC’s BATTLE OF THE BOOKS as part of Canada Reads 2020.

 

Noreen Landry | Costume Designer, Frankie Drake Mysteries 

Noreen studied fashion design at Ryerson University, but being from rural Nova Scotia where story telling is as common as the ocean breeze, she quickly realized that costume design was a perfect fit for her talent. Costumes are a very important part of developing a character and portraying a mood. Noreen has had the privileged of designing a western in Spain Dollar for the dead, A UN dramatic Series Zos in Bosnia, A feature In Germany, as well as many show in her hometown of Toronto, Lost Girl, Dark Matter, Uthopia Falls. Lately, she has developed a passion for designing Sci Fi shows.

 

Sharron Matthews | Actress/Writer/Producer, Flo Chakowitz, Frankie Drake Mysteries

Sharron is one of the stars of CBC’s hit period crime drama Frankie Drake Mysteries, which is now in it’s third season and airing all around the world. Last year she was nomindated for a CSA for playing the role of FLO CHAKOWITZ in Frankie. Also known for her portrayal of “Joan The Secretary” in Tina Fey’s iconic MEAN GIRLS, Sharron Matthews is an excitingly diverse, award-winning Canadian artist, actress, singer, comedienne, writer and producer. Sharron has worked on stage and screen with artists like John Travolta, Andrea Martin, and Ron Howard as well as toured her award-winning one-woman shows around the world from Africa to New York, Scotland and beyond.