Vancouver attracts many talented performers. Each one has an amazing story to tell. Jaralin Detienne is no exception.
We spoke with Jaralin about her career, working on set in Vancouver, and changing careers.
HNMAG: Where are you from originally?
Jaralin Detienne: I was born in North York, Ontario. It’s just outside of Toronto. I’ve lived across Canada. Junior high and high school in Nova Scotia.
I currently live in Kelowna. I just moved from Vancouver to Kelowna.
HNMAG: How’s that?
Jaralin Detienne: Magical. I love it here.
HNMAG: Lots of snow?
Jaralin Detienne: Well, you know what, we just got snow recently. The same as Vancouver so it’s been pretty.
HNMAG: Oh interesting.
Jaralin Detienne: Yeah, not normal for Kelowna.
HNMAG: Are you getting work in Kelowna?
Jaralin Detienne: I will probably commute and go back to Vancouver.
But there is a lot of stuff that’s also being shot out here. It’s always a possibility. I’m open to whatever. The film industry has changed in the last couple of years. There are larger gaps in between movies these days.
HNMAG: Right. How did you become interested in the industry?
Jaralin Detienne: Well, my university degree was in vocal performance and musical theater, so I started really as a singer and in theatre.
HNMAG: Oh nice.
Jaralin Detienne: I traveled and sang all over the world for ten years. When I came home, I was in an accident and so I went back to acting, and from acting, it just kind of fell into place where I started working as a buyer in film. Then I worked my way up the ranks, and started designing myself.
HNMAG: You started off as an actor, but then you transitioned to work behind the camera.
Jaralin Detienne: Yeah.
HNMAG: What made you decide to pursue other parts of the industry?
Jaralin Detienne: I booked this indie film as an actor. I showed up and as you know, Indies don’t have much money for costumes. I was asked to bring a bunch of my own clothes. A friend of mine had also booked a similar role. She was there for the fitting at the same time. The costume designer said, Oh my gosh, I love your clothes, and my friend said Jaralin does a lot of personal styling, so the costume designer asked if I have ever done it for film, or have I ever bought clothes for film. Even though I said no, she offered me a job anyway. I was just saying yes to things and so she took my number. I never thought she would call me. She did call me a couple of days later. She was assisting a costume designer for a Hallmark movie and they asked me to be a buyer. Again, I said yes.
HNMAG: Since then, you have worked on a lot of Hallmark movies.
Jaralin Detienne: Yes, I’ve done fifty-seven.
HNMAG: Wow, so that’s really your niche.
Jaralin Detienne: People say to me, “why don’t you do bigger features” or “why don’t you branch out?” I’m just so grateful and thankful for the work. They’re really sweet movies of the week, that give people so much joy.
HNMAG: Are there any Hallmark movies that have been set in Canada?
Jaralin Detienne: I can’t be 100% certain but I don’t think so.
HNMAG: You were nominated for a Leo Award for Mystery On Mistletoe Lane. Was there anything different about that shoot?
Jaralin Detienne: There wasn’t anything particular that stood out. It was a great, cute movie and if anything, the wardrobe on that one was probably a little bit more relaxed than I was used to, but it was called for, given the movie’s tone and theme.
HNMAG: So, No?
Jaralin Detienne: Some of the other movies that I’ve done for the network, like The Wedding Veil series, I’m dressing characters that are from New York, and I had three leading ladies to dress in those ones, so the wardrobe was a lot more vibrant and fun because of the storyline and the characters. I was thankful for them for the nomination.
HNMAG: What was the most challenging production you worked on?
Jaralin Detienne: The most challenging would’ve been The Christmas Waltz with Lacey Chabert. It was just coming out of Covid…
HNMAG: Yeah…
Jaralin Detienne: It was a whole dance movie where Lacey was dancing, and her costar was dancing. I had to find all of these dance outfits at a time, nobody was dancing because everything was still shut down.
HNMAG: Was there another production that was more rewarding than The Christmas Waltz?
Jaralin Detienne: When you do any kind of a series, it’s always really rewarding because you actually get to build the reoccurring characters. I worked on Garage Sale Mysteries with Lori Laughlin and that was really fun. I actually got to create and change these characters.
HNMAG: Lori Laughlin has been back working on set for a little while.
Jaralin Detienne: I am so thankful for Lori Laughlin because Lori Laughlin is actually the reason why I got my shot at designing. The reason why Hallmark gave me a chance as a new designer was because of her.
HNMAG: Were you initially a buyer for a production with Lori Loughlin?
Jaralin Detienne: The first show with Lori I was on set with her. She asked me to stay on as her personal dresser. At that time I had just got a role as an assistant designer, so I politely declined. I would’ve loved to, but I was working in a higher role. She understood. Then all of a sudden, they needed a designer for Garage Sale Mystery and I pitched myself to the production company.
HNMAG: Was Lori an executive producer on the show as well?
Jaralin Detienne: Yeah, she was.
HNMAG: OK, that makes sense. She was part of the production team. It was her decision to hire you as the series costume designer.
Jaralin Detienne: Yeah, she was the one that championed me to the Network.
HNMAG: Are there any productions coming up that you might work on in Kelowna?
Jaralin Detienne: Everything’s pretty quiet right now. You never know because things happen so quickly. Tomorrow, I could get a phone call and the production manager says you’re starting on Monday.
Yes, hurry up and wait for sure.
You never know where life in the film and television industry will take you. Many artists have specific dreams, but it’s important to keep an open mind because most of the time, you would never imagine where you will really be five or ten years down the road. Jaralin Detienne was a very talented singer with a promising career, but she had some misfortune that ended that path. She continued to perform and again moved in another direction. Now she is a very successful costume designer who has found a lot of work. We are sure she will continue to thrive.