Grace: Who/What has influenced you the most in your career?

Marcella: I kind of have two answers to this question. Before my career, what influenced me was when I was four years old, I was watching blues clues with the girl who lived next door. Her name was Jennifer. The credits started going and she was like, “if your name is on the screen, that means you're popular.” And my name never showed up on the screen ever. And I was upset by that. So, that's kind of where it all began. Now, every time I see my name in the credits, it takes me back to that little person wanting to see her name. So I think that's really cute and it's a feel good moment. It's like all the hard work pays off.

I also just worked with Mayes Rubio on WandaVision as the costume designer, and it was just the best job. It was such a dream watching her create this world. She has a huge influence and she's probably going to be nominated for all the emmys for the show. So, it's nice that Latino women are getting recognition for their filmmaking.

Grace: What is something you did as a student that you feel prepared you for your career?

Marcella: So, I was a double major at UNCW in Film Studies and Theater Design and Technology. With theater, what I learned was how to break down a costume plot for a play. It's very similar to how we break down the costume changes for film and TV. So that was so helpful and I'm pretty sure the professors are still there, Mark D. Sorensen and Jessica Gaffney. They were so incredibly supportive and encouraging for me in the beginning because I didn't even know I wanted to do costumes, and they kind of convinced me to do it. So, that was really great. 

Then from the film side, working on student films and short films and just discovering how to communicate and collaborate with other people, it was just so helpful. I took a lot of film analysis and screenwriting classes at UNCW, and you really have to learn how to break down and create a character in those classes. Learning how to do that and how to connect costumes with that has been super beneficial. 

Grace: Describe your typical work day.

Marcella: So, my typical workday is really weird because I've been climbing the ladder trying to get to the top, and so I've had to learn a lot about how to be a background costumer then into how to be a set costumer into how to be the key costumer and now at the next level, the assistant costume designer. And so, I kind of do all those jobs now. So today, I built some blogs for our background extras to let them see images and know what to wear. I've sent emails to them and approved looks. Usually, we go to base camp at the beginning of the day. I go with the designer and help her establish any look for the day. I actually fit my first tuxedo today and I've never done that before, so that was really exciting. 

Grace: How can someone entering a career as a costume designer stand out from the rest of the crowd?

Marcella: I feel like if you are able to be adaptable and be authentically and unapologetically yourself, I think that that will take you far. Also, if you pay attention and you take initiative throughout the day and stay positive. You work with these people for 10 to 16 hours every day, and you want to be around somebody who does their job, wants to be there, and is happy to be there.

Grace: What is one experience every film student should have?

Marcella: I've done two indie’s in my life, and they're the most fun movies I've ever done. I think everybody should do one. That’s where you learn how to do everything because you have no money, you have people who have never done it before, and you just have to figure it out. So, I’m letting you know, you have got to do an Indie. .