Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1531371
really bring someone in and sure, they could be a member of the team, but I can't take the time to show them and instruct them and download a lot of information. My kit includes laser cuers, foot presses, 3D printers, 3D scanners, all the fun stuff. On a big show, you get to work with all of them, so you don't really feel like you have a favorite. I think my favorite tool is probably my hands in general, sometimes you just goa put them to work." Javier wants to acknowledge that it's been a very trying past few years for the Costumer community with strikes and work shortages, but he encourages everyone to keep expanding their knowledge and skills in any way they can. "I want to tell everybody, regardless of whether you're busy or not busy, work on some skills that will help you in the long run. Now's not the time to waste it. Use any extra time you have right now. Go outside and stitch something that's really heavy duty leather-wise. Learn a new skill set. Read books or learn from YouTube videos." When he was unable to work on a production, he built a "vibranium" baton and Iron Man case for esteemed conductor Gustavo Dudamel (the principal conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony in Gothenburg, Sweden, and music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic) at the Infinity Saga Concert at the Hollywood Bowl. His contacts in the Marvel productions told Javier that they had him in mind for a project. "They said, 'We gave your contact information to somebody from Marvel, even though it's not on the costuming side. Marketing needs this item, and it was great.' Marvel Studios contacted me to make a baton and case for Gustavo Dudamel. They said, 'Could you paint it?' I approached it, I looked at the baton and a regular plain old baton case, and I thought, 'I could do beer.' So, I custom made a baton out of metal, sculpted the end, and painted it metal to look like a vibranium baton. I went to the marketing department and I took samples. I took a Captain America chest plate, and an Iron Man paint sample, and I went there with an idea. I researched Pelican cases, boxes, and a thought came to my mind—Iron Man. How can I marry the two? So, I sourced prior to going to the meeting with marketing. I sourced on Amazon: an Iron Man glow-in-the-dark heart, some paint samples, and I purchased the case, the fastest one I could get. What I had on hand was a cheap enough toolbox for me to modify, and once painted, it kind of looked like a Pelican case. I removed all the labels. I punched a hole in it, I installed the art and took samples, and I sold them on a box that would be painted to look Iron Man-themed. Within seconds, they were sold. Even though it wasn't a costume, it was one of the most fun things I've done in a while because I just got to focus and be creative and put something together." Javier's work can be seen in this summer's film Captain America: New World Order and TV series Wonder Man in winter 2025. that task, time permiing, money permiing. Sometimes I have to be the purchaser for our department. I have to be the person who also has to ensure that I'm ordering things in the right time frame. I'll go over a shopping list, who needs what for this week? Who needs what in the next couple days?" Even with changing production schedules, Javier tries to have projects complete before due dates for last- minute changes. "I try to be open and let them know, 'this took a certain amount of time to make so if you need more of this, then just take into account the time it takes to actually make this.' I try to be vocal about that. 'Hey, this is completed. It takes this many days. Good communication. It doesn't happen all the time, but all you can do is try." When asked about what tools or techniques he liked best Javier replied, "There's not a tool but I wish I was afforded more time. I wish I could just download a lot more of the information I have within to help everyone else in the industry to be on a level playing field. And obviously, it's tough when you're on a show and it's a lot of deadlines. You have to be working on something where I can't MOTIONPICTUREC O S T U M E R S .O R G 39