Not since the late Joan Rivers have we had a comedienne so adept at putting herself down as Amy Schumer. Introducing her makeup artist, Kyra Panchenko, at the recent Designing Women Awards Ceremony held at NYU’s law library, the Trainwreck star was convinced she was not Panchenko’s first choice, given that she also made up Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Jessica Chastain, Naomi Watts, Kirsten Dunst, and Emily Blunt, among other Hollywood A-listers. Schumer was further convinced that they used her skin for close-ups of Blunt’s character in The Girl on the Train when she was all reddened from drink.

And so it went at this warm evening honoring the excellent work of behind the scenes artists in movies and television. Costume designer Melissa Toth who had worked on this year’s Manchester by the Sea was also recognized, with David Costabile noting her trademark ability to make the clothes look like no design was involved. Carmen Ejogo who played Coretta Scott King in Ava Duvernay’s Selma introduced Melissa Forney who designed the hair and wigs for Hidden Figures and television’s Empire and The Leftovers.

The entire design team behind the series Jessica Jones received the Ensemble Award. Krysten Ritter, now filming the next season, taped in her introduction with Stephanie Maslansky, Sarit Klein, and Pamela May heading up the large group. Of course Wonder Woman, now garnering great reviews for its action hero and for its director, Patty Jenkins, was invoked more than once, auguring a change in tide for women calling the shots.

Regina Weinreich

Graphic Design: Salpeter Ventura