Michelle's Mindworks

My first full time PA gig was on The Puppetman (2023.) We shot in February of 2022.

February is one of the coldest months in Buffalo, NY.

We spent the last two weeks nice and cozy in the largest film studio in Upstate New York. The first two weeks were snowy, cold, and often outside. At one point, we spent the day shooting on the roof of a hospital. But my most vivid memory is locking up a bridge from 5 PM to 3 AM in the wind, slush, and sleet.

The night before, the second AD sent out an email advising how to dress for winter weather. I thought “I’m from here. I know how to dress for winter weather.”

But I hadn’t worked twelve hours in winter weather. I took his advice to layer my clothing— but cotton leggings on top on denim jeans didn’t do much once the fabric got wet. If it was fully snowing, I would’ve faired better. Instead, by lunch, my down coat was soaked. I was soaked. And shivering. I’d had the mind to bring extra clothes. I changed into them at lunch and the second half of the night was much more enjoyable. But still cold.

Aside from an “I walked up hill in the snow both ways” story, I learned a lot from the experience.

How do you dress for cold weather?

Step One: Layer your clothing.

There’s more to layering than keeping your body heat from escaping. Whether from the elements or from sweat, getting wet equals getting cold. You’ll want a base layer, a middle layer, and an outer layer to keep yourself as warm and dry as possible.

Step Two: Select the right fabric.

Layering is key, but the fabric you layer matters just as much. Cotton is good at keeping you warm, but it’s terrible at wicking moisture. If you do any physical activity, you’ll sweat. If your layers keep you a little too warm, you’ll sweat. If cotton is the only fabric you’re wearing in the rain or snow, you’ll be shivering in no time. Cotton holds onto moisture and make you colder in the long run.

If you’re simply sitting outside for an hour, you can probably deal. But you’re on a film set. You’ll be walking around, moving equipment, and grabbing coffee for ten plus hours. Thirty minutes for lunch isn’t enough time to dry out your damp cotton clothes.

Overall, wool is the best fabric, but it’s also the most expensive. Polyester is a good, cheap choice. Even though cotton is a slightly better insulator, polyester repels water while cotton soaks it up. Silk also has thermal insulating properties, though it doesn’t do as well as polyester.

Step Three: Don’t forget your head, hands, and feet.

I’m sure I don’t need to tell you to wear a hat and gloves, but there’s a little more to it than that. Here’s a fun fact: you don’t actually lose the most heat from your head— you lose the most heat from whatever body parts are the most exposed to the elements. But your face, head, and chest are the most sensitive to temperature changes.

So yes, wear at hat. Preferably a nice, thick one underneath your hood. And cover your face if you can. I prefer a neck warmer or gaiter to a scarf. Scarves are bulky, untie easily, and overall just annoy me. Unless you’re an actor currently on camera, you should put comfort over fashion.

Say yes to thick cabin socks and winter boots. And it wouldn’t hurt to bring an extra pair of socks for when you fall through the ice trying to retrieve the prop basket that fell into the lake. (I told you I could reach it, Summer!)

Mittens keep your hands warmer, but I prefer the dexterity of gloves when it comes to my base layer. Depending on what you’re doing, waterproof mittens or gloves might not be an option.

The Base Layer

This layer keeps you as dry as possible. It might be tempting to use cotton, but I highly recommend synthetic fabrics like polyester or spandex. If you can afford it, wool is another great choice. You want this layer to be close to the skin in order for it to wick away any moisture.

You should have a base layer for both your upper and lower body. Your legs get cold too! Keep in mind jeans are made of cotton, so they’ll soak up any moisture they come in contact with.

The Middle Layer

This is the insulating layer designed to keep you warm. A heavy fleece or puffy jacket is the go to.

There are two types of puffy jackets: down and synthetic. Down jackets are warm, light weight, and compressible. You can easily shove it into a bag when you aren’t wearing it. But once the jacket get wet, its insulating power goes out the window. Protect this jacket with an outer layer. A synthetic puffy jacket dries quickly and insulates you even when wet. It’s also heavier and bulkier.

Again, don’t forget about your legs. It’s worth investing in fleece or insulating pants. If you don’t have the time or money, I’ve gotten away with layering leggings and denim in a pinch. Something is better than nothing.

The Outer Layer

This layer acts as a shield from the elements. Ideally, it’s a breathable and waterproof fabric. Many winter jackets come with an outer and middle layer. You can also buy shell jackets, which don’t do too much to keep you warm by themselves. A synthetic puffy jacket may act as a good outer layer, but you might need to bulk up underneath.

My favorite winter jacket is my hand-me-down Carhartt. The lining of the coat is a furry 82% polyester and 16% acrylic, while the sleeve lining is 100% nylon. The shell is 100% cotton, but it’s a canvas-like, waterproof cotton designed to keep you dry and warm. Since the insulated layer isn’t made of cotton, I don’t get soaked through to the bone in the rain and snow.

Additional Tips

• Hot hands: Often times, the production will provide hot hands– single use handwarmer packs– to the crew to help them stay warm. The toe shaped warmers low key suck. You’re much better off sticking regular hot hands in the toes of your boots. Throw one in each glove and in your neck warmer while you’re at it.
• Adjust your layers as needed. If you’re starting to sweat, take off your insulated layer. If it begins snowing, put your shell on.
• Stay hydrated! You can still get dehydrated in cold weather, even though you might not feel as thirsty when you’re chilly.
• You’ll feel warmer if you keep moving.

Do you have any experience on a winter film set? Any stories or advice? Let us know in the comments!