Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Carpenter.
Katie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I developed an interest for the arts at a young age. We were learning about jobs in second grade – although I had high hopes to be an astronaut, first woman president, or an FBI agent, once I found out being an actor was a real job, I was hooked. I acted in plays in elementary school and on, eventually earning a performance scholarship to Catawba College. It was a liberal arts school and we were required to work on more than one discipline so I latched onto the costume department. I loved clothing and what it said about a character – you can tell a lot about a person by the way they’re dressed. In addition to acting in plays and musicals, I would also design them. I lucked out designing my first commercial out of college – it was a Pepsi/Carolina Panthers spot. I was cast in a film in Atlanta and saw how big the film industry was here, so myself and my boyfriend packed up from Charlotte and came to ATL. My acting career blossomed – I was cast in shows like “House of Cards,” “Devious Maids,” Tyler Perry’s, “Acrimony,” and most recently “Haunting of Hill House.” When I’m not acting, I design commercials and feature films or work as a costumer on multi-million dollar TV shows and films. Some of the brands I’ve worked with are: Wayfair, Coca-Cola, Sprite, and Rubbermaid.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have definitely been some ups and downs. Being a freelancer is not easy, especially when moving to a new city. Most of my work comes from referrals, so it really takes time to build up your network. I would encourage anyone new to a city to get out and meet people. The more people you know, the more people know you! Always do good work and always be kind because people remember that.
As far as acting goes, I’ve felt on top of the moon or extreme disappointment. A big part of how I’ve been able to maintain a good attitude is to work on my own projects. It allows you to have some control over what’s happening, and not just feel like you’re at the mercy of everyone else. It’s very empowering! For those who are just starting out, there are some great student film projects you can audition for at colleges. It’s a great learning experience for the students, as well as you, and a resume credit!
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
As an actor, I tend to play roles on the comedic end of the spectrum. I was lucky to have one of the lighter moments in the horror series, “The Haunting of Hill House,” where I play Stacey, the maid of honor. I think comedy is so fun because it puts everyone in a good mood, and there’s really a flow to it. I also acted in a horror film called “Bloody Ballet” that just came out a few months ago with my friend, Kendra Carelli. Brett Mullen was the director and did an excellent job making the film look stunning.
Styling-wise, I love doing anything unique. I designed a music video for Jen Carlos called, “Dure, Dure” that took place on a 90’s soap opera set. The director was very particular – he only wanted me to use four colors, so it was a challenge. But I love the look of that video and the whole vibe really came together well.
I worked with the local company Ideas United to design a few pilots for Playstation. Those were a lot of fun too – one was kind of futuristic and the other was a funeral. My favorite thing to do when I am hired onto a project is to gather all kinds of concept images and inspiration, there’s nothing better.
I’ve also worked as a set costumer for many TV shows and films in town, like CW’s Black Lightning, Legacies, MacGyver, Welcome to Pine Grove, After, and Doom Patrol. Being on those sets is such a dream come true. The hours are long – typically 14-15 hours for us in costumes, but we get to make movies, and there’s always food around.. which is something I love!!
Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
My theatre teacher in high school very much supported me. Her name is Tara Blake, and she trusted me as a freshman with a lead role in the school play. I was very grateful. She let us explore what we wanted and really listened, and she was so mellow about everything.
I also had a unique experience working with the Emmy-nominated costume designer Natasha Landau. I was originally hired as a Costume Production Assistant for a film (my first real job on a set), but after a day or so, it was clear I was doing more, so we both marched into the UPM’s office and I got a title change and a raise. She had an incredible detail for design – she kept a little book with drawings and fabric ideas with her all the time. She knew when it was important to fight for what was creatively important, and she looked after me like a mother hen. I learned a lot from her.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.katie-carpenter.com and www.katiecarpentercostumes.com
- Phone: 18283023181
- Email: the.katiecarpenter@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/heykatiecarpenter
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/thekatiecarp
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/_katiecarpenter
Image Credit:
(red dresses) Netflix, (yellow dress/red blazer + skirt) Morgan Hayes, (headshot) Jason Vail, (blue jerseys/panthers) Pepsi, Wayfair, Fanta, (Infinity mirrors – polka dots) Kevin Welch
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