I’ve come to the realization that when working on a project you’re personally attached to, it can sometimes be more difficult to come up with new concepts than you’d think. Not for lack of ideas, but because there’s too many ideas! In fact, if I didn’t have a deadline to keep me focused, I would still be making thumbnails for the Hocus Pocus poster – the possibilities are endless! Enough ideas to fill a book of shadows made out of all sorts of ghoulish things? Perhaps. The Denison sibling duo and friend Allison with help from that mangy feline, Thackery Binx, might be our protagonists, but the Sanderson Sisters are the stars of the show. I knew I had to let them steal the spotlight. 

As I stated before, I love Hocus Pocus. I’ve watched it countless times. I would even wager I could probably do a one-man show acting out the whole film. Looking to the film, it’s history and behind-the-scenes extras, I found my inspiration. Using the motifs, themes and color palettes I found within the film, like foraging through the forest for ingredients for a spell, this deep-dive into Hocus Pocus led me to some costume test footage that laid the foundation for my final design choice. A dash of burgundy red skies, a full moon, dust from the grave of Billy the Butcher, and costume test footage!?!