Qumra Master Anna Terrazas, a renowned costume designer from Mexico, highlighted the vital role of costume design in shaping authentic characters. She explained that costumes are “like a second skin” for actors. This helps bring their roles to life and make them believable on screen.
Terrazas, whose career includes designing for legendary filmmakers such as Alfonso Cuarón, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, and Sam Mendes, stressed that costume designers carry a significant responsibility. She noted that from a script, designers must create characters and assist actors in fully embodying their roles.
Sharing her personal journey, Terrazas recalled her humble beginnings in a small town near Mexico City. Over time, she became a key figure in Mexico’s cinematic scene. She encouraged young filmmakers to always seek out elements that can help create the vision they have for their films. Terrazas’ path took her from studying art and design in London to fashion studies in New York. Eventually, she found a mentor in a theater costume designer. This led her to discover her true calling. “Costume design taught me how to bring a project to life from start to finish and how to work in collaboration,” she said.
Terrazas emphasized the importance of collaboration within a film’s creative team. Working closely with directors, cinematographers, production designers, and the entire crew ensures that everyone speaks the same cinematic language. This collaboration contributes to the final outcome.
A pivotal moment in her career came when she worked on The Deuce (2017), a drama set in 1970s New York. Terrazas was drawn to the script and flew to Los Angeles with a detailed presentation to convince the directors to hire her. Her role in the project involved extensive research to faithfully recreate the era. She believes that “watching a film is like creating real life.” She meticulously considered colors, textures, and every detail to ensure the characters’ authenticity.
Terrazas’ work on films like Roma (2018), Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths (2022), and Pedro Páramo (2024) further challenged her. She aimed to replicate historical costumes while blending realism with imagination.
Her advice to budding filmmakers is clear: create strong teams. “Films are not made by just one person,” Terrazas stated. “Building the right team is crucial because you’ll be working closely with them for a long time. Ensure you have the right department heads to bring your vision to life.”
