Eulyn Hufkie is a Hollywood costume designer who's worked on more than 3 dozen films and TV series. With a penchant for horror and the macabre, her credits include The Collection, There's Something Wrong with the Children, The Passenger, If You Were the Last, The Purge (TV series), Mayans M.C., 24:Legacy, Black Box, The Joneses, and The Secret Life of Bees. A former model from Cape Town, South Africa, Eulyn made her way to the States after college and worked on commercials for Nescafé and M&M's. Eulyn has worked on AMC's hit zombie show The Walking Dead – the most popular TV show in cable television history – since 2011.
Episode Highlights
Can you imagine the creative process that goes into dressing over 450 zombies for a TV show? Or the skills needed to bring a character to life through their attire? Brace yourself for a thrilling journey into the world of costume design with our guests Eulen Hufkie, the extraordinary designer from South Africa who transitioned from crafting glamorous commercials to Hallmark movies to turning some of TV’s most beloved characters into brain-eating undead.
Eulyn gives us a blow-by-blow account of the challenges and joys of dressing characters on the hit show The Walking Dead, creating unique styles for each character and collaborating with actors and the prop department. Additionally, we delve into the horror genre as this designer from The Collection discusses her love for Halloween, the tradition of creating group costumes with her colleagues, and the challenges of staying creative within the film industry's boundaries.
Finally, we switch gears and look at the world of costume design from the perspective of a successful actress. We discuss her journey, the importance of diversity and representation in the entertainment industry, and the message she wants to send to young girls who may feel like they don't fit in. Stay hooked with us till the end as we wrap up with a heartfelt acceptance speech for a Lifetime Achievement Award, where she thanks those who have hurt her and encourages others never to give up on their dreams. It's time to immerse yourself in this enthralling voyage that takes you behind the scenes of the intriguing world of costume design.
In this episode, we cover a lot of ground including:
The specific skills required to be a costume designer (it’s WAY more than just shopping and sewing!)
The importance of reading the script, researching, and communicating with the director and actors
Innovative ideas for creating Zombie clothing, and the challenges of dressing 500+ Zombies
Creative names for bodily fluids paint colors
The camaraderie between cast and crew on The Walking Dead
How the actors’ real-world personalities can influence costume choices
The secrecy around the final episode of Season 6 and who Negan killed, and so much more!