Daily Inspiration: Meet Ciciley Hoffman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ciciley Hoffman.

Hi Ciciley, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I started in theater as a kid and was initially an actor. I went to Hume Fogg High School (Blue Knights!), and students have concentrations there as one does in college, mine was theater.

They have you learn all duties of the theater- set building, lights, sound, etc., and costuming felt like home to me. I then went to Oberlin College, where I double-majored in theater and German studies. Much of my German curriculum was in film.

That coupled with learning more about costuming/fashion history and sewing on an industrial machine pushed me more into film, TV, videos – and less in the theater. After college, I started making movies and knew that it is what I am supposed to do. I haven’t stopped or looked back.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way? I’ve been lucky that things have been mostly smooth! Of course, on any given production, there are struggles from weather, to budget, to technical glitches, to difficult personalities. Being an artist has its downsides, and being an independent contractor comes with its own struggles (regardless of field).

And Covid was/is a mess. Overall, the crews I’ve been on have been outstanding- talented and brilliant artistic minds in every facet of filmmaking, from dedicated PAs to visionary directors, everyone above and below the line. Filmmaking is a collaborative venture, and I’ve worked with skilled, committed teams who show up ready to make art and tell the story.

It’s important to find your team of people for each project, and I remind myself on every set how lucky I am to be there doing what I love.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a film and tv costume designer, high profile wardrobe stylist, and image consultant.

I’m most known for working in indie, arthouse films, bright, engaging music videos, and stylish commercials. I will probably always be most proud of the film “Another Version of You” because of the people on that piece who are still dear to me and because the costuming looks exactly as I and the director/screenwriter wanted.

I’m set apart by my knowledge and usage of vintage and innovative fashion and my ability to see the overall vision of the story I’m helping to tell.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Being alive and doing what I love is what makes me happy (costume design, bringing the story to life, and seeing that light in a director/producer or actor’s eyes).

Living life is a wonder and a privilege, so I’m going to make as much art and enjoy as much as I can while I’m here- I didn’t come to have a bad time. I love cooking and baking, specifically my grandmother’s chess pie, which I always make for cast and crew.

I love to travel, grow things, make things, experience things, and share them – all of which I have the honor of being able to do. And of course, my family and friends make me happy – I have a wonderful, supportive person who believes in me and adores me, and a fabulous, proud circle.

Also, cats. Cats make me happy. Meow!

Contact Info:

• Email: info@cicileyhoffman.com
• Website: http://www.cicileyhoffman.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cicileyhoffman/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cicileyhoffman/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/cicileyhoffman
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4263171/

Image Credits
Motke Dapp, Litter Robot/Whisker, Dycee Wildman, Misty Madonna, Roman White, Micah Simms, Misty Madonna again, and Spencer Creigh