Michelle Moder Braff
310.963.9707 / Michellemoder@gmail.com
The last four years, with both my experience in acting as well as directing "Hawaii Five-O" in Honolulu, Ms. Moder has proved to be one of the three most incisive, discriminating, tasteful and expeditious costume designers, organizers and executors in over 70 plus efforts in which I have been involved in my motion picture and stage career. The benefits of her taste and execution are abetted by her poise and ease with production heads as well as talent. Her personality is vivacious and entertaining all while being as prompt and appropriate as television demands; that said, hour long drama on network television demands a pace and command that is not for the feint of heart. Ms. Moder, on the other hand, compounds her gifts of taste with flair and ease of an astute journeyman, she is simply a joy with whom to work. Thus her taste, invention and swift ability to improvise when need be - in every arena from complicated stunt replication, alteration, complex accessories to exquisite or elegant visual feasts - is simply extraordinary. She is nonpareil in the world of film costumes to my mind: and I have worked with some of the most noted. Best of all, she is an absolute delight to have as an associate on the demanding grind of day to day filming particularly a show as demanding as "Hawaii Five-O".
Peter Weller
Director/Actor
I am writing this letter in behalf of a very qualified, capable,
and talented Costume Designer, Michelle Moder.
I worked with Michelle for many years on "Sparks", "Two Guys and a Girl" and "In Case Of Emergency."
Michelle makes the demanding, stressful and complicated job of costuming look easy and fun! Not only has she made my shows look amazing, she did it on time and in budget. She is comfortable and collaborative. She is an expert at bringing characters to life and works well with talent and producers to achieve the appropriate look.
Michelle is a hard worker with a positive attitude. She would be an asset to any production.
Emile Levesseti
Producer/Director
Although the show has a demanding schedule and distant location, Michelle always manages to get the job done on time and do it gracefully.
Michelle has met and received praise on many difficult episodes. Some of them include:
Pirates, citizens and the Hawaiian monarchy in the 1800’s, WWII era post Pearl Harbour and the Japanese encampments, Afghanistan villagers, ancient Hawaiian warriors, North Korea, boxing matches, football teams, roller derbys, prisons in South America, refugees, rodeos, the list goes on and throw in every bad guy known to man! It’s not all guns and bikinis. There is an overwhelming amount of character building on our show and Michelle has met each challenge.
Michelle is one of the first people our guest actors meet upon arriving in Hawaii. She has to quickly and proficiently get them into character to fit their camera costumes which are always in front of camera the very next day and sometimes even the same day. I’ve never had a single complaint from the hundred’s of day players we’ve had on the show. From Carol Burnett to Kendall Jenner, Michelle has managed to make the talent and the Executive Producer happy. We shoot 25 episodes a season. As you know, that’s over a full order. 25 action packed, on location, often with 2nd and 3rd unit movies that had to be dressed not only correctly and to the actor and producers liking but multiplied for all the action our guys go through then replicated for stunts and photo doubles all in different locations on the island often at the same time. It takes a strong and focused person to run a department that can keep up with the pace of Hawaii Five-O.
Last but not least, there’s the main cast! Michelle has set a look for our main cast that has been tried and true. They have style and capability. Michelle has set a sleek silhouette for our cast that has become part of their branding.
Jeffrey Downer
Producer Hawaii Five-O
It is with great pleasure that I recommend Michelle Moder. I had the opportunity to work with Michelle for a period of 10 years and over the span of several successful longterm projects as well as various pilots. Whatever the project, she created a wonderful team and work environment. The projects she led were successful due in large part to her extreme professionalism and wide ranging skills.
Not only is Michelle a gifted supervisor, but an incredibly talented Designer. The era of Supervisors "designing" shows allowed her the ability to hone both her Supervisor skills and Design talents. Michelle worked alongside a variety of respected designers and developed the ability to not only create character specific costumes but to also lead and inspire her dedicated crew. Having worked with Michelle continues to have been a highlight of my professional life.
She is thorough, on task, and forward thinking, comfortable expressing her goals and vision to the entire production team as well as the producers, network and studio representatives. Her process is concise, thoughtful and direct. She is acutely aware of all the production aspects and requirements and brings a professional intent to all her projects. She possesses a firm business acumen which is embraced by production without sacrificing her design aesthetic.
One of the most hardworking, honest and direct Costumers with whom I've had the pleasure to work.
Terry Gordon
Costume Designer