Callum had always dreamt of working in costume in film and TV since high school where he was making masks and thought, “this is really fun, I really love doing this! It was either going to be costume or geography but I’m glad I chose costume!”
Callum studied costume design at Edinburgh College of Art but struggled to find work after graduating. After a couple of knock backs, he did a two-day costume course at the National Film and Television School, which is where he started building a network.
He then went to Budapest to work on a Netflix production and stayed for four months, which he describes as “amazing for a first job. I knew I was lucky. I got onto that through a tutor who taught me at art college.”
Callum continued: “While I was over there, I knew that HETV Trainee Finder was happening, and I wanted to get on it as I knew it would be a great opportunity to network and grow. I worked on my application in the evenings while in Budapest and was ecstatic to be accepted onto it.”
After Budapest, Callum worked on Vigil and then the pandemic hit but the HETV Trainee Finder training started then which Callum explained “was great as every week we’d have a course from budgeting, networking to how to put a good CV together. The training was great, and I felt like I was getting loads of knowledge during that difficult time. I got to meet the other trainees on Zoom and I still talk to many of them now. It’s such a great thing to be part of.”
Callum’s first job as part of HETV Trainee Finder was Netflix’ A Castle for Christmas starring Brooke Shields, which was shot in Scotland. The experience was a little different to usual due to the pandemic.
Callum explained: “The designer called me and said this won’t be like a normal job for you as the costume makers are working from home due to the pandemic. I had to drive from our unit base in Livingston to the makers down in Selkirk and Hawick twice a week picking up fabric and going to the tartan weavers in Peebles. I learned how to log my mileage and a did a lot of admin and accounting while helping the buyers tie up loose ends. I did a couple of days on set too and it was very festive. I remember I was helping them do fittings in October and we had Christmas music on. People were trying on Christmas kilts and there was glittery fabric everywhere. It was so much fun; I’d do it all over again!”
On what he loves about working in costume, Callum said: “I like all aspects of the costume department. I’ve been doing on set standby most recently, which is different as you have to work with all departments. I like the leather craft room or even the breakdown room where you get messy and do lots of spraying and dyeing. I also like working on the costume truck where you iron the clothes and fix things. There are so many areas of costume that people don’t think about, but they all connect.”
Originally from Bathgate in Scotland, Callum is now based in Glasgow. Since A Castle for Christmas, Callum has worked on Shetland and is currently working Good Omens, both of which are based in Scotland and says: “Scotland is so busy at the moment. It’s dead exciting to be working in the screen industries here. It’s been great to get so much work in Scotland. You don’t have to go to London to find work anymore, you can stay in your hometown.”
On why he would recommend HETV Trainee Finder, Callum continued: “I feel like I haven’t stopped. Trainee Finder has been great with everyone at ScreenSkills supporting me all the way through. It’s all worked out amazingly and I’m really grateful for the experience.”
A Castle for Christmas is now streaming on Netflix.