Avatar:
The
Way
of
Water.
Photo:
20th
Century
Studios
Deborah L. Scott's costume designs are more than movie
history—they are Americana. Twenty-six years ago,
Titanic became a global phenomenon and earned her an
ACADEMY AWARD
®
. At the time, it was the most expensive
movie ever made, became the highest grossing film of all
time, and the costumes have taken on a life of their own.
For Scott, it was just one of several times her work would
capture the zeitgeist of a decade. Having cut her teeth on
films like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which surpassed Star
Wars to become the highest grossing film of all time, she
followed up with Back to the Future, Legends of the Fall,
and Minority Report. She designed Avatar (with Mayes C.
Rubeo) proving lightning sometimes strikes three times.
This year, she has collaborated again with director James
Cameron to create the second film in the Avatar series,
Avatar: The Way of Water, with a third on its way. The
Costume Designers Guild is proud to recognize her with
the 2023 Career Achievement Award.
By Gary V. Foss
23
