Motion Picture Costumers (IATSE Local 705)

Overview

The Motion Picture Costumers, operating as IATSE Local 705, is the union representing costume supervisors, set costumers, additional costumers, background costumers, and other wardrobe staff working in motion pictures and television in the United States. Founded in 1926 and headquartered in North Hollywood, California, Local 705 is one of the older IATSE locals and covers the operational and execution layer of the costume department. This is distinct from the Costume Designers Guild (Local 892) which covers the creative design leadership of the department.

The current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) runs from August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2027, negotiated between IATSE Local 705 and the AMPTP. The agreement increased wage minimums by 7% effective August 4, 2024, by an additional 4% effective August 3, 2025, and by an additional 3.5% effective August 2, 2026. These increases are compounded.

The distinction between Local 705 and Local 892 reflects the functional division within the costume department. The costume designer (Local 892) develops the overall costume concept and creative design. The costume supervisor (Local 705) manages the day-to-day operation of the wardrobe department, tracks continuity, coordinates fittings and alterations, manages the wardrobe budget, and leads the set costumer team. Set costumers (also Local 705) work on set during principal photography, dressing performers and maintaining costume continuity between shots.

Membership Requirements and Qualification

Local 705 membership is earned through documented work experience, similar to other IATSE locals. Prospective members must track their own work history through Contract Services (CSATF) at csatf.org.

Roster Membership (Industry Experience Roster - IER) is required to work on productions covered by the IATSE Basic Agreement within Los Angeles County. Qualification requires 30 days of employment with one or more signatory companies within a 365-day period. Alternatively, 30 days of employment at signatory costume houses (such as Western Costume, ISS, or other approved vendors) qualifies for Roster placement.

Non-Roster / Off-Roster Hire: Signatory productions may hire individuals not yet on the IER, but only after confirming that all available Roster members have been offered the position. This pathway exists for productions that need specific talent not yet on the Roster.

Application requirements:

• 30 days of documented employment in a Local 705 covered classification
• 3 letters of recommendation from costume supervisors, designers, or production professionals familiar with the applicant's work
• Government-issued ID and I-9 form
• Completion of CSATF Safety Pass training

Initiation Fees and Dues (2025)

Initiation fees vary by classification and are paid in two parts: 50% due with the application, and the remaining 50% due before swearing-in. The initiation fee for the primary Film/TV classification is approximately $3,500. Additional fees may apply for IATSE Per Capita and processing.

Quarterly dues are based on hours worked at the member's classification rate. Dues are calculated as 4 hours of work at the member's contract hourly rate per quarter, plus IATSE Per Capita fees. For a Costume Department Supervisor earning $56.89/hour (the 2023-2024 base rate before general wage increases), quarterly dues would be approximately $227.56 plus per capita.

Members become eligible for health insurance and pension benefits through the IATSE Motion Picture Industry Health Plan and Pension Plan after accumulating qualifying on-the-job hours.

Wage Minimums (2024-2027 CBA)

The CBA increased wage minimums by 7% effective August 4, 2024, by an additional 4% effective August 3, 2025, and by an additional 3.5% effective August 2, 2026. These increases are compounded. Key studio minimum rates for Schedule A (daily employment, 8-hour minimum call):

Weekly rates (Schedule B-1, 54-hour weekly guarantee, 5 consecutive days, 9-hour minimum call) for the 2023-2024 base period:

Weekly rates increase proportionally with the 7% and 4% general wage increases. For August 2025 through August 2026, a Costume Department Supervisor earns approximately $3,415.20/week on weekly guarantee.

A 3% reduction applies to Wage Schedule #2 rates for certain production types. The full wage schedules are available through the Local 705 MOA. Producers should consult these documents directly when budgeting a signatory production.

Classifications and Roles

Local 705 organizes its membership by classification, each with distinct minimum rates:

• Costume Department Supervisor (Occ. Code 2302): Manages the day-to-day operation of the wardrobe department, tracks continuity, coordinates fittings and alterations, manages the wardrobe budget, and leads the set costumer team. One of the most logistically demanding roles in any production's below-the-line crew.
• Costumer Keyperson (Occ. Code 2303): Second-in-command in the costume department, responsible for managing specific aspects of wardrobe operations under the supervisor's direction.
• Costumer (Occ. Code 2305): Journey-level wardrobe crew who work on set during principal photography, dressing performers, managing quick changes, addressing continuity issues flagged by the script supervisor, and protecting costumes between setups.
• Background Costumer: Handles wardrobe for background performers and extras, a separate classification with its own rate structure.
• Stock Clerk (Occ. Code 2356): Manages wardrobe inventory, tracks costume pieces, and maintains the wardrobe department's physical organization.
• Costume Maker Class 3: Constructs and alters garments in the wardrobe department, requiring advanced sewing and tailoring skills.

On-Set Wardrobe Work

Set costumers work on set throughout the shooting day, dressing performers between takes, managing quick changes, addressing continuity issues flagged by the script supervisor, and protecting costumes between setups. The physical and logistical demands of on-set wardrobe work, including long hours, demanding physical environments, and the need for constant vigilance over continuity details, make experienced set costumers among the most valuable members of any shooting crew.

On large productions with complex period or character costumes, the costume supervisor manages a substantial wardrobe team. A major period feature can require a costume department of 10 to 20 people, including the supervisor, keyperson, multiple set costumers, background costumers, and costume makers.

What Filmmakers Should Know

For productions budgeting their costume department, understanding the distinction between Local 892 (design) and Local 705 (execution) costs is essential. The costume supervisor and set costumer team represent a significant portion of on-set below-the-line costs on any production with substantial costuming requirements.

For a production with a 6-week shoot requiring a costume supervisor, keyperson, and 2 set costumers at minimum rates (August 2025 through August 2026), weekly costume department labor costs would be approximately $63.30 + $60.17 + $55.37 + $55.37 = $234.21/hr, or approximately $12,647/week at 54 hours. Over 6 weeks, that is approximately $75,882 in costume department labor alone, before factoring in overtime, penalties, and fringes.

For period productions, large ensemble casts, and genre productions with elaborate character costumes, the Local 705 team carries substantial logistical responsibility that requires experienced crew to execute reliably. Budgeting for costume supervisor and set costumer rates as separate line items from the designer's fee helps producers plan realistically.

The off-Roster hiring process allows signatory companies to hire individuals not yet on the Industry Experience Roster, but requires petitioning the Local and confirmation that all available Roster members have been offered the position. This pathway exists for productions that need specific talent not yet on the Roster.

See Also

For the costume design leadership covered by a separate local, see Costume Designers Guild (IATSE Local 892) in this directory. For the broader IATSE structure within which Local 705 operates, see IATSE in this directory. For estimating costume department labor costs in your production budget, use the Indie Film Budget Calculator. For official membership information, visit local705.org.