When a season wraps, most of us want one thing: to be somewhere no one needs us. However, choosing where to travel after a long project is its own art.
After all, the people who make Hollywood have spent months creating other worlds. So when they finally escape, they choose carefully. I asked three of them where they go, where they stay, and what they never pack.
The Costume Designer: [Mexico City]
Image by Leah Gunter
For costume designer [Name], whose credits include [Show/Film], the answer is [Mexico City]. “I go for the textiles,” she says. “Every market feels like a fitting room with better lighting.”
She stays at [a small hotel in Roma Norte], chosen for [its courtyard and quiet rooms]. First, she sleeps for a day. Then she spends a week [visiting markets, museums, and tailors].
What does she never pack? “Anything black,” she laughs. “I wear black at work for months. On vacation, I wear color.”
Her one recommendation: [a breakfast spot, a museum, or a market]. “Go early, before the crowds. Trust me.”
The Cinematographer: [Big Sur]
Image by Leah Gunter
Cinematographer [Name] spends every season chasing light. So between shows, he drives up [the California coast to Big Sur].
“No lenses, no monitors, no shot lists,” he says. “I just watch the light change over the ocean, and I don’t try to capture it.”
He stays at [a cabin with no Wi-Fi]. Meanwhile, his phone stays in a drawer. “The first day is hard,” he admits. “By day three, I forget it exists.”
His one recommendation: “Watch the sunset from [a specific overlook]. It’s better than anything I’ve ever shot.”
The Hairstylist: [Lisbon]
Image by Leah Gunter
For hairstylist [Name], whose credits include [Show/Film], recovery means somewhere slow. “I spend every day with my hands in someone’s hair,” she says. “In [Lisbon], I just walk.”
She stays at [a guesthouse in Alfama], where [the tiled streets and late dinners] reset her. “Nobody’s in a hurry there,” she says. “That’s the whole point.”
Her packing secret? “One great hat and nothing that needs styling. I let my hair do whatever it wants.”
What They All Agree On
Image by Leah Gunter
Although their destinations differ, all three follow the same rules.
Leave soon, but not immediately. Most take two or three days at home first to sleep and unpack the season.
Choose somewhere that uses different senses. Designers look for texture, cinematographers look for natural light, and stylists look for slowness.
Pack light, and pack nothing from work. Leave the kit, the light meter, and the work wardrobe at home.
Stay somewhere small. A guesthouse or cabin feels more personal than a big hotel, and it’s quieter too.
Your Between-Shows Escape
Every department has its favorite escape. So tell me yours. Where do you go when the season ends? The best trips may appear in a future Between Shows.
With love,
Leah
