Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1529398
MOTIONPICTUREC O S T U M E R S .O R G 47 direction: mystery writing. In the story of Final Cut, Key Costumer Joey Jessop becomes the key suspect in the murder of a fellow crew member while beginning principal photography on a big- budget film. "That wasn't my first instinct," McCown says of writing about the film industry and the complexities of Hollywood. "My literary agent, Ann Collette, was the person who suggested that I set my books smack in the middle of the film industry. She said, 'You have an insider's perspective in a profession that a lot of people are curious about. Why wouldn't you write about that?'" How does a Costumer solve a murder? The same way a Costumer becomes an author. "That's not as big a leap as you might imagine." McCown says. "Costuming is really about storytelling. That's what makes it different from fashion. Fashion is about catering to the tastes of the marketplace. But the goal of costuming, as everyone in our community knows very well, is about using clothing to help tell a story about a particular set of characters in a particular situation at a particular point in time." These skills are not only critical to McCown's transition into writing, but they are pivotal to Joey Jessop's ability to solve murders. The genre of murder mysteries holds great regard for those who notice the finer points. The best literary detectives are known not for their feats of action and derring-do, but for their attention to seemingly innocuous details that come together to tell the story of whodunnit. Every element of their interaction with the suspects and witnesses helps build a complete picture of the character and their motivations. To tell that story, the author also must process those nuggets of information and weave them together. This makes Key Costumer Joey Jessop uniquely capable of solving a murder. Costumers thrive on details "about color, fabric, and clothing style— it's always ultimately in service of a story." A Costumer knows that every choice we make in presenting ourselves tells some piece of the story. How many buttons are open on your shirt, how well does your purse match your jacket, where is that mustard stain? "We are responsible for some of the most significant elements of a film. If an actor is costumed in a way that enhances their character, that goes a long way toward bringing the audience into the story they're being told. Looking at it from that perspective, the crafts of costuming and writing novels have the same objective, just using a different set of tools. "Initially, I was hesitant because I knew I was taking on a big responsibility to represent our community authentically," McCown says of centering her stories around a Costumer. "I consider it a great privilege to be a member of the Hollywood costume community for so many years." McCown values her membership in Motion Picture Costumers IATSE Local 705 as part of a community of Costumers. "For me, membership in Local 705 is a badge of honor signifying a standard of professional excellence." This same standard of excellence is reflected in Joey Jessop's skill at her craft and in her resolve to clear her name and discover the true murderer. Drawing on McCown's own experience in the industry, Jessop weaves through Los Angeles with intimate knowledge of the city gained from her work finding the perfect costume pieces wherever they're hiding. McCown's Joey Jessop novels are available from Crooked Lane Books, wherever books are sold. You can learn more about Marjorie and her books at marjoriemccown.com. "I consider it a great privilege to be a member of the Hollywood costume community for so many years."