SEATTLE — New drama “Pain Hustlers” features the costume work of an Oscar-winning Washington State native.
The Netflix film stars Andy Garcia as a pharma company founder, Chris Evans as a sales rep, and Emily Blunt as a single mom recruited to market a dubious fentanyl drug.
Based on a true story, the movie follows Blunt’s journey from homelessness to sudden wealth. Her evolving wardrobe was designed by Colleen Atwood.
She’s spent more than 40 years at the height of her profession in Hollywood, but her own story began east of the mountains.
"Born in Ellensburg,” Atwood said. “I don't know why it's on my IMDb (page) as Yakima, but I was never born in Yakima, I was born in Ellensburg Washington."
She grew up in the small farming community of Quincy before moving to Seattle in the 1970’s. She attended Cornish College of the Arts for about a year.
"I worked at Frederick & Nelson, in the Yves Saint Laurent area, managing that for I don't know how many years - two or three years?" Atwood said. "Working in Seattle and having all kinds of different jobs, working in the fashion section in the '70's, and working in restaurants and doing all those things, informs what you do as a costume designer because you meet all kinds of people, which you can apply to your work as a designer."
“Pain Hustlers” marks the 86th project for Atwood.
Over the years, she’s been nominated for 12 Academy Awards and won four, including one for Tim Burton’s film “Alice in Wonderland.” She’s collaborated with the director for decades, most recently for the hit show "Wednesday" based on the Addams Family.
What do fantasy series like “Wednesday” and true-event films like “Pain Hustlers” have in common?
"They're both about people,” Atwood said. “They're about the human character, they're about people that struggle, people that don't struggle, and how they come together in the world. I think it kind of applies to any story you're telling."
Despite her success, Atwood admitted she has trouble watching her work on-screen.
"It's fairly cringeworthy, because I just see everything I wish I'd done differently or that I'd missed and it's very self-torturing,” she laughed. “But generally, after a movie's been out for a while and I look at it four or five years later, I actually have fun looking at it.”
Atwood encourages young people from small towns to think big.
“Go for it. I mean, you never know what life will bring you,” Atwood said. "When I lived in Quincy, I never dreamed of doing this. I dreamed of other things. And you never know the journey that your path can make."
“Pain Hustlers” is rated R and debuts on Netflix October 27.
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