Local wins Oscar

Former area student has extensive filmography as costume designer

QUINCY — An area alumna picked up her latest honor Sunday night, and all the world was watching.

When Colleen Atwood took the stage at the Kodak Theatre to accept the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha" Sunday, it was actually her second time of six nominations to receive the award, having brought home the gold for "Chicago" in 2002.

Atwood went to high school in Quincy, living with her father and stepmother, Gerry and Ruth Atwood, until leaving in the 1970s.

"I'm so proud of her," Ruth Atwood said. "I'm sorry her father isn't here. He was here for 'Chicago.'"

Ruth said Colleen has always been an artist.

"She doesn't sew, she likes the design," Ruth said. "Oh, she's very good. She's a nice girl, too."

Colleen said she doesn't really know when she decided to become a costume designer, but estimated it was in her mid-20s.

"I had always wanted to be a painter," she said when reached Monday afternoon via her cell phone. "I got interested in costume design when I went to New York."

Of her time in Quincy, Colleen said she didn't spend too much time pursuing her art, but did take art lessons and attend art school. Colleen has not been back since her father, Gerry, died a couple years ago.

Of winning her second Oscar, Colleen said the experience was similar to the first time.

"It's very scary, you're living in apprehension and then the moment comes and it's exhilarating and fun," she said.

With "Geisha," Colleen said there was a very conscious effort on the part of the entire design team to create an impression of a time in Japan, and the world in which a geisha lives.

Colleen's filmography is actually a lengthy one, with the Internet Movie Database Web site listing 47 movie titles to her credit as costume designer, including "Manhunter," "Joe Versus the Volcano," "Silence of the Lambs," "Philadelphia," Little Women," "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" and the forthcoming "Mission: Impossible III."

"They're all different," Colleen said when asked if she has a favorite movie experience. "Each one's different and has qualities that you love and enjoy."

Colleen has worked a lot with director Tim Burton, including on "Edward Scissorhands," "Mars Attacks!" "Sleepy Hollow," "Planet of the Apes" and "Big Fish."

"Tim Burton's a friend and a collaborator," she affirmed, adding that she's working with Burton on his next project, which she's very excited about.

Ruth Atwood said she had not gotten to visit Colleen on a set, but her father did and "it was great." But Ruth got to see Colleen's fabric warehouse. "My goodness, that's huge.'

"We're all very proud of her," Ruth said. "There's not too many small town girls that go as far as she's gone."