Ever wondered what the creative process is behind the films, TV shows and theatre productions you watch? Well, crew chats is a new podcast going behind the scenes and chatting to the crew that help make these productions.
EP77: Melanie Bell- Professor of Film History & The Film Costumes in Action Project
Ever wondered what the creative process is behind the films, TV shows and theatre productions you watch? Well, Crew Chats is a podcast that goes behind the scenes and speaks to the crew that help make these productions.
Melanie Bell is professor of film history, specialising in how films are made with a particular interest in women in film making. Melanie is the lead Investigator on the project, ‘Film Costumes in Action’, which is looking at how costumes were designed, made and used in British film from the 1960s to 2015. This research will culminate in a book called Film Costume: A History in Twenty Objects - and will be published in 2027. It will cover all aspects of the 'costume journey' from design, making, shooting, on screen and beyond. As well as including information by some of the costume professionals that they spoke to on the project. We spoke about the project, the importance of it, and the work that Melanie is doing to highlight the huge contribution of women who have worked in film and more!
Recommendations:
The Wicked Lady
Swing Time
Orlando
Film Costumes in Action website and instagram
https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/directories1/dir-record/research-projects/1914/film-costumes-in-action
https://www.instagram.com/film_costumes_in_action/
5 May 2026
Ep76: Vanessa & Alan Hopkins - The Hopkins Costume Trust
Ever wondered what the creative process is behind the films, TV shows and theatre productions you watch? Well, Crew Chats is a podcast that goes behind the scenes and speaks to the crew that help make these productions.
If you’ve worked in the world of costume it is likely you have come across the name. ‘Hopkins’. Alan and Vanessa Hopkins turned their knowledge and skills of fabric and clothing to the creation of the Hopkins Fabric shop, selling unique fabrics and trimmings. They’ve also been collecting historical British clothing, textiles and accessories for over 50 years, which in 2019 culminated in the creation of the Hopkins Costume Trust. I spoke to them about how their collection started, what it is like working together and the series of books they’ve created about items in their collections.
Recommendations:
Sense and Sensibility (1995 film)
Topsy Turvy (film)
Gentlemen Jack (TV show)
Links to the Hopkins website where you can see their collection and purchase their books .
https://hopkinscostumetrust.org/
https://hopkinscostumetrust.org/shop/
24 Feb 2026
Ep75: Greg Arrowsmith - Musical Director
Have you ever been to the theatre and wondered about the music you're hearing? Who composed it? Where is the orchestra sitting? Who's conducting them? To answer these questions and more, Musical Director Greg Arrowsmith joined me on the podcast to discuss all things music - from conducting an orchestra and running rehearsals to arranging music and beyond!
Credits as a Musical Director include:
The Rocky Horror Show (World Tour 21/26)
Strictly Ballroom (Piccadilly Theatre)
Sleeping Beauty/Robin Hood/Peter Pan (London Palladium)
Reccomendations:
Michel Camilo and All Star New York Big Band
John Adams – Dr Atomic (Opera)
Elvis performing at Madison Square Gardens 1972
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
11 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 49 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
68
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
77
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