This has been a milestone year for Saturday Night Live costume supervisor Sam Bennett, BFA Fashion Design ’07. SNL celebrated its 50th anniversary, and this fall marks 10 years of Bennett’s work on the show—joining the crew as a tailor and working his way up to his current role managing the costume shop.
Prattfolio caught up with Bennett as summer slid into autumn to see what was fueling him creatively. It’s a particularly electric season for him: “Even though I adore summer vacation, I’m always excited to go back to work in the fall,” he said. “SNL season 51 is back in October! I wonder what crazy things I’ll make and who I’ll meet this season.”
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A practice that keeps you grounded: My home is an extension of my creativity. Every day I’m arranging flowers, swapping around artwork, or moving furniture, plants, and knickknacks. I rotate what’s hung on the walls so I don’t get bored as easily. And when I do get bored, the first stop is the paint store. Currently, I have clouds on the living room ceiling and a pink disco bathroom.
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What you’re watching: I’m in the middle of the new season of Wednesday. The show is such a visual treat. The costumes and set designs are absolutely incredible and I want all of Morticia’s wardrobe, and her beach umbrella and chairs.
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What you’re looking forward to: This is my first Halloween in an apartment that has a cute stoop and stairs, so I’m thrilled to carve pumpkins and go all out for my favorite holiday! The Fall-O-Ween exhibits at New York Botanical Garden are a great place to get inspo. Trick or treat!
Garbage, my favorite band from high school, is back on tour! I can’t wait to feel my teen angst when they visit Brooklyn.
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An essential tool: HOT GLUE GUN! HOT GLUE GUN! People love to hate on hot glue, but it’s versatile, fast, and buildable. I even keep a travel size glue gun in my suitcase just in case.
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A meaningful object in your workspace: The wall of my workspace at SNL is somewhat of a catchall college of some special projects and memories. The Sam’s Sweet Buttered Buns is a leftover decal from a rejected costume for Samuel L. Jackson. The orange stripe template is a stencil we made from one of Aubrey Plaza’s monologue cue cards (all the departments enjoy reusing them). A picture of Aidy Bryant as the most beautiful chicken in the world looks over me as I work. Aidy has a special place in my heart (I made her wedding dress!) and this chicken costume was one of my favorites to make. She’s my sewing guardian angel.
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Advice for students and recent grads: I think being resilient and able to branch out helps you find your center better. Professionally, that could be trying a field that’s adjacent to or a little off from where you originally thought you might end up. It can help you identify and harness your best assets. I also like taking classes and workshops for fun in other mediums. Nothing beats getting filthy at a ceramics class the day after working on a pristine white wedding dress. It’s a good way to scratch all my itches.
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What else is new? I’m only a few months in, but I’m a shrimp dad! That’s right, I have a tank full of beautiful little freshwater shrimp. They come in lots of colors and are so much easier and more fun than fish!