The Paris Chong Show

Costume designer Mona May's new book celebrates the 30th anniversary of the movie *Clueless*. Mona May confirms that she wrote the book with the help of a ghostwriter, a fashion writer who lives in Los Angeles and understood the book's themes of friendship, girls, and fashion. The conversation details how Mona May designed the book, which is a "coffee table book" with pictures, process discussions, and interviews with actors and the director, taking about a year to put together. The discussion also touches upon the general decline in writing skills and the importance of handwriting and journaling for creativity.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Mona May

https://youtu.be/ggFe8n7f5Eo

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#clueless #costumedesign #monamay

Costume designer Mona May dives into the iconic fashion of *Clueless*, revealing how she transformed Jane Austen's *Emma* into a high-fashion, colorful aesthetic for 1990s Beverly Hills high schoolers, moving past the era's grunge trend with plaids, Mary Janes, and berets. She discusses her continued work with cast members like Alicia Silverstone and shares her concerns about the struggles facing the film industry in Los Angeles as productions increasingly move to places like Bulgaria and Ireland for financial incentives. Finally, Mona May explains how her Polish-German background and her birthplace in India, where she first experienced a world of bright color, profoundly shaped her signature design style and love for using color in her films.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Mona May

https://youtu.be/ggFe8n7f5Eo

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#clueless #janeausten #film

Costume designer Mona May (Clueless, Romy and Michele's High School Reunion) and Paris Chong lament over the missed opportunity for Mona May to have been the costume designer for the *****Barbie* movie. They dive into the complexities of forming relationships in the industry, the grueling life of production (including Paris's one awful experience on the set of *Starship Troopers*!), and why dating in LA is so tough. Mona May is also crowned the "Queen of the Nineties" as she lists her classic film credits and reveals her unique process for sourcing materials and creating the iconic looks for movies like *Enchanted*.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Mona May

https://youtu.be/ggFe8n7f5Eo

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#Clueless #MonaMay #CostumeDesign #bookpublishing

Costume designer Mona May explains the immense power of costume design, noting that an actor's clothing instantly conveys their character's "psychology" and socio-economic status. She pulls back the curtain on her process, revealing her large team of artisans—including pattern makers, tailors, and dyers—that allows her to manage large projects like Enchanted and typically stay off-set, contrasting this with the constant presence required for the frequent changes in Clueless. Mona May offers crucial career advice for aspiring designers, emphasizing the need for passion, a love for film, and flexibility to embrace a "gypsy" lifestyle of constant travel. Finally, she discusses her current focus on the Clueless 30th-anniversary book (written with a ghostwriter) and her book tour.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Mona Mayhttps://youtu.be/ggFe8n7f5Eo

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#careeradvice #monamay #clueless #hollywood

Costume designer Mona May joins Paris Chong to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the iconic film "Clueless." Mona shares insights into her creative process for the movie's memorable fashion, including Alicia Silverstone's 63 costume changes, and how the script, based on Jane Austen's "Emma," influenced the high-fashion yet youthful looks. She discusses reinventing 90s grunge with plaids, Mary Janes, and berets, drawing inspiration from runways while adapting for 16-year-olds.

Mona also talks about her continued work with "Clueless" stars like Alicia Silverstone and Elisa Donovan, and the challenges facing the film industry in Los Angeles, with many productions moving overseas for cost-saving measures. She recounts her experiences working in places like Bulgaria and Berlin, highlighting the difficulties of sourcing materials and adapting to different working styles. Mona expresses her passion for color, influenced by her birth in India, and how it translates into her signature costume designs for films like "Enchanted" and "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion."

The conversation also touches on Mona's recently published book about "Clueless," her upcoming book tour and master classes at film schools, and her dream costume design projects (like "Barbie"). She offers advice to aspiring costume designers, emphasizing passion, flexibility with travel, and the importance of mentoring. Mona also discusses the significance of costume design in character development and the current state of the industry.

Show Notes:

www.theparischongshow.com/episodes/mona-may-costume-designer-of-clueless-and-your-other-favorites-movies

Chapter Times:

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:00:42) Mona May / 30years of Clueless

(00:03:49) Actor's Request

(00:07:39) Romy & Michele's

(00:08:24) Book Tour

(00:13:00) Teaching at SCAD

(00:14:31) Dream Costume Job

(00:17:37) Sourcing Materials

(00:19:29) Awards

(00:24:20) Advice for Costume Designers

(00:28:16) Outro

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

Alan Schaller candidly discusses his "meltdown" during the COVID-19 lockdown, attributing it to the sudden halt in his extensive work-related travel. He reveals that this period of confinement led him to purchase a vintage Aston Martin, jokingly referring to it as an "early midlife crisis" car, which initially brought more mechanical woes than joy.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Alan Schaller

https://youtu.be/XeQEMtOU4pE

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#socialmedia #photography #alanschaller

In this exciting clip, Paris Chong expresses her profound excitement about her new role as top curator for Alan Schaller's innovative photography company, Irys. She shares the backstory of the company's name, inspired by a beautiful flower, and eagerly anticipates the launch of this groundbreaking platform designed to support photographers.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Alan Schaller

https://youtu.be/XeQEMtOU4pE

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#photography #irys #alanschaller

Alan Schaller discusses the challenges photographers face in the digital age, particularly concerning book publishing. He highlights how many photographers are resigned to not publishing books due to low royalties (often under 10%) offered by traditional publishers. Schaller then introduces Irys's innovative business model, which aims to pay artists a 50% royalty on book sales, making it a "game-changer" for the industry. He also details Iris's plans for physical galleries and bookstores, fostering a community for photographers.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Alan Schaller

https://youtu.be/XeQEMtOU4pE

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#photography #royalties #artbooks

Alan Schaller recounts the significant moment of purchasing his first Leica camera for $10,000, describing the physical sickness he felt due to the cost and his hesitation to open the box for six days. He also shares anecdotes about accidentally dropping a friend's camera and his current collection of four cameras, highlighting his tendency to "smash" them into things during his photographic endeavors.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Alan Schaller

https://youtu.be/XeQEMtOU4pE

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#photography #leica #equipment

Paris Chong Show features acclaimed photographer Alan Schaller, who discusses his journey into photography, starting from a crush on a girl to becoming a "golden boy" in the industry. He shares insights into his practice, including his initial investment in a Leica camera and his dedication to street photography, which he attributes to an "obsessive maniac" approach and a flexible freelance musician lifestyle.

Schaller also introduces his new company, Iriys, an "ecosystem" designed to support the photography industry. Irys aims to offer book publishing, an agency, galleries, a magazine, and a social media application for photographers. He highlights the company's mission to address challenges faced by photographers in the age of AI and video prevalence, and to create a supportive community where artists receive fair compensation for their work, such as a 50% royalty on book sales.

The conversation touches on personal anecdotes, including humorous stories about dropping cameras and a "midlife crisis" purchase of a vintage Aston Martin during lockdown. Paris Chong expresses excitement about Iris and her involvement as a curator, emphasizing the need for such a platform and Schaller's generous approach to sharing knowledge within the photographic community.

Show Notes:

www.theparischongshow.com/episodes/alan-schaller-from-a-crush-to-photographys-golden-boy-the-birth-of-irys

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:11) Alan Schaller

(00:06:06) A Funny Meeting

(00:07:16) Irys Photo App

(00:11:32) Lockdown Experience

(00:14:30) Irys, but for real this time

(00:19:33) Book Publishing & PopUp Galleries

(00:25:09) When is the launch of Irys?

(00:27:24) Traveling Life

(00:29:16) Featured Print & Sponsors

(00:33:18) People are obssessed with Alan

(00:37:25) Explaining the Photo

(00:39:30) How we met again, but different.

(00:46:56) Irys Launch Party

(00:48:03) Playing with Chaka Khan

(00:50:02) Outro

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com