Series:

The Crafts in Hollywood: Costuming

Topic:

Film and Television

Biographical Note:

Co-founder of Muto-Little custom-made costume shop. Career in costuming that has included work in film, television, opera, and popular music.

Interviewer:

Collings, Jane

Interviewee:

Muto, Antoinette

Persons Present:

Muto and Collings.

Place Conducted:

Muto-Little costume shop in Los Angeles, California.

Supporting Documents:

Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library’s Center for Oral History Research.

Interviewer Background and Preparation:

The interview was conducted by Jane Collings, principal editor and interviewer, UCLA Center for Oral History Research; Ph.D., Critical Studies in Film and Television, UCLA.

Processing of Interview:

The interviewer prepared a timed log of the audio recording of the interview. Muto was given the opportunity to review the log in order to supply missing or misspelled names and to verify the accuracy of the contents. Muto made minor changes, which were entered into the text without further editing or review on the part of the Center for Oral History Research staff.

Length:

1.25 hrs.

Language:

English

Copyright:

Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.

Audio:

Series Statement:

This series of interviews documents the work of costumers in the film and television industries in Los Angeles. The interviews preserve a dimension of Hollywood history and Los Angeles history that has been under-documented to date.

Interest in theater and costuming as a child--Education at Carnegie-Mellon University--Works at Utah Shakespeare Festival and Oregon Shakespeare Festival--Opens couture shop in Beverly Hills with Kimberly Little--Begins Muto-Little costume shop with Little--Staffing at Muto-Little--Changes in the work process due to the emerging digital landscape--The loss of skilled craftspeople in the industry--The popularity of cosplay--Work with Lady Gaga--The phenomenon of costume work being done overseas--Alteration work and live performance costumes a staple for the business--Challenges faced by Muto-Little as a woman-owned business--Predominance of women in the field--Lack of respect within industry for the field.