CMBA Profile: Rachel Martinez of Vintage Stardust

Meet new CMBA member Rachel Martinez who a blog called Vintage Stardust that focuses on design in classic movies. She took time to answer some questions from board member Maddy Langham so we could get to know her a bit more. Read on and be sure to check out Vintage Stardust.

Your site, Vintage Stardust, focuses on the design of classic era films. Tell us a bit about how you began blogging, and why you are so drawn to film design in particular. 

I’ve always loved writing. When I was a senior in high school, I wanted a blog, so I created Vintage Stardust to write about classic movies. At that time, I had been taking filmmaking classes as my electives. My blog was short-lived. Later, when I was a senior in college, I returned to Vintage Stardust and changed the focus to art direction.My intrigue in film design started while earning my degree in cinematography. I had the opportunity to focus on art direction, which inspired me to write about the costume design, set design, and makeup/hair of classic movies.

Who are some of your favourite designers who worked during the classic film era?

I have a few in the different departments of art direction:

Art Directors: Van Nest Polglase and Jack Okey
Costume Designers: Travis Banton and Gwen Wakeling
Makeup: Wally Westmore and William Tuttle
Hair: Helen Hunt and Sydney Guilaroff

How did you become a classic film fan?

When I was 9 years old, I was given an American Girl doll from the brand’s historical line named Kit Kittredge, and the book series that went with her was set in the 1930s. One of the books was called “Welcome to Kit’s World,” which talked about the history of that era. The entertainment section had a large photo of Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire as well as Shirley Temple. Watching their movies led me to become a classic film fan.

Why should people care about old films today?

I believe that people can appreciate movies deeper when they know where movies have been. In my opinion, old movies show why film matters and how storytelling transcends time. Since old movies are from another era, people can learn more about history as well as humanity.

You can travel back in time to attend any film premiere, which one do you choose and why?

I’d love to travel back in time to the fall of 1933 to attend the premiere of “I’m No Angel” starring Mae West at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Mae West is one of my favorite actresses, and she inspires me a lot in my artistic projects because she was a writer and overcame a lot of challenges during her time. I hope that maybe I could see her after the movie and she’d let me have my picture taken with her for my scrapbook! (If I were allowed to take 1 item back to current times!)

Tweet