So you've got a theater background and you want to break into the film industry? The lure of exotic locations, big stars, lavish budgets and cushy salaries that you can find in film is certainly seductive when you look at the shrinking theater market. If you build a successful career as a film costume designer, your work will be seen by generations to come. Pretty heady stuff to those seeking fame, fortune and significant work. Film salaries and budgets can seem lavish to those who work in regional theater and can even impress the Broadway crowd: a $20 million film can easily have a costume budget over $250,000; weekly television shows can have costume budgets around $6000 per episode; union design salary minimum is $1584 a week, and union supervisor mjnjmum is $1523 a week. When even a very low budget film can have a $35,000 costume budget and a lowly entry position can start at $16 an hour the film industry seems Hke it works at an entirely different level than its theatre counterpart. But don't get your hopes up too high. Good artistry and exciting work are as rare in the film world as they are in theater. by Holly TD&T F All I 9 Cole 9 7 41