Interview with Costume Designer BJ Rodgers

Interview With Costume Designer BJ Rodgers

I got the opportunity to interview one of my biggest inspirations Criminal Minds Head Costume Designer! This is one of my favorite interviews I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did when I first read it!

So we know your name is BJ, but what do the initials stand for?

BJR: BJ is short for BUNDLE JOY....it’s a play on words, mum's bundle-of-joy. I have a feeling if my mother hadn’t delivered me in 20 minutes we wouldn’t even be having this conversation!

What made you want to work in the fashion industry?

BJR: When I was young I was really tall and skinny, so it was difficult to find clothes to fit me properly so a needle, thread, and scissors became my best friend and tailoring I would go! I definitely had my own sense of style from a young age and was always redressing my girlfriends. At my sixth grade graduation, I stated that my ambition was to become a designer or a writer. Much to my parent's chagrin I dropped my psychology major and went for fashion design instead.

(BJ on the set of Criminal Minds)

When did you decide you wanted to work as a costume designer on a TV/Movie?

BJR: I started out doing commercials and music videos. I was really blessed, a director named Francis liked me and had my work on all of his projects. When he got his first feature so did I. We did the movie “Freeway” on a shoestring budget. I was mortified when I went to the screening. Darlanne Fluegel had another actor die in her arms and was covered with blood. The film was edited and the dude that died in her arms died in the edit instead!!  When she stood up and was bloody, I asked if my name could be removed from the credits!  My favorite movies that I worked on?   Hmmm... “oceans 12” the actors were a blast ‘12 Monkeys “ definitely a supreme amount of work equal to creativity.
‘“Charlie’s Angels full throttle “...I was turning 300,000$ a week in clothes..and that was every week
‘The edge’. For the talent of Tony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin and the gorgeous scenery of Canada. The film I am sorry to have turned down was God & monsters... Sir Ian McKellen
Invited me to work with him again, but I had already accepted another show.

 What does your day to day work consist of?

BJR: I love the creativity that being a costume designer affords me. I am able to create a character out of thin air and nourish the growth, in the case of CM. On a feature the arch of a character is in a 2 hour period, I have had 13 years to create growth and change for my characters, which is really a privilege and a challenge I have enjoyed. I think that your right, that the viewers have no idea what goes into the building of a character, it’s not like the actors turn up wearing their own clothes! Everything detail is plotted out. I like to start with the pallet so when the main cast is together the viewer's eyes can pass from each character without distraction. Well, except for Garcia she has been designed to be just that... the bright spot in what can be a dismal storyline. I have signature colors for each character, but not without some crossover. The background artist, and all of the uniforms too. To put it simply if you see them on screen it falls under the costume department!  The answer is yes...we do undergarments too!

 Is it a demanding job working on a TV show?

BJR: It’s a big job, especially on a show like CM. Episodic is the most hectic format as we are prepping, shooting and wrapping ..repeat!  On a feature, you shoot 2 pages a day, so the pace is slow which allows you really be well prepared. On my show, we have to fit, alter, wash the clothes and often time age them all in the same day, so the costume can be on film the following day. That is after I have figured out, if I have to design a garment or if it can just be purchased. Even then, I am always altering the design in some fashion to make it my own, so it feels like a second skin to the actor.  I almost never let a day player[guest cast] wear new shoes! It’s a pet peeve for me. I really try not to overlook any detail, as I want the show to look real. If some article of clothing is ill-fitting then that was a choice, I felt right for the character. I find pleasure in the details!

The best part of your job?

BJR: What is my favorite part of the job?  Hmmm, I would have to say without question that is my creative freedom.  I remember the third episode, and I’m talking season one. I asked Ed Bernero, who was our showrunner a question about a choice I was making for one of my characters, and I quote “ I will never micromanage you it’s your name up on the screen. If I don’t like it I’ll fire you” and I thought fair enough. It has been that way ever since. Every now and again I will have a director or a writer who wants to make a change, but in large the show is my vision. There isn’t anything that could top that feeling of expression, it makes me work harder to top what I have just done the week prior. That’s why I love it when Gube directs. I really can bend reality. I had the best time searching for the clown garb. The pink and white striped overalls I found in some weird displaced section of Warner Bros that was made for a movie from 1942! I flipped out and knew they were perfect! The actor, Gube, and I worked through the weekend doing fittings and Matthew practicing the makeup to go with the costume... it was great.

I loved the dress you made for AJ/JJ In the season 7 finale, was that hard to put together, or did you have input from AJ Cook herself?

BJR: But you are right, JJ’s wedding dress is at the top of my list! Come on. I get to design a dress that definitely will not have any blood splattered, and someone other than Garcia is wearing it!  The director wanted her to wear a short dress and I was like, No..a night wedding requires a gown.  You can still find the footage on Vimeo. In actual fact, I prefer that footage to what the viewers saw on the show! It was really beautifully done. Back then there was a behind the scenes of CM so someone rolled footage on my design process and the first fitting with AJ. She was so happy, saying it was more her than the dress she wore at her own wedding! You don’t forget a compliment like that.. it was huge!

Thank you all for reading! Criminal Minds season 14 starts October 3rd in the USA don't miss it!