Naked Illusion
“Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion” showcases the six-decade career of award-winning costume designer, Bob Mackie. And like his costumes, Bob Mackie is wholly unique and unfiltered, which makes for a compelling and candid subject.
The film examines Bob’s unique upbringing, those whom he has held dear within his inner circle, and the familial surprises in his life that have all contributed to the optimism and audacity present in his work.
Because the film is fully authorized, Quixotic Endeavors was given access to the full Bob Mackie archive, which has been meticulously kept and curated with many rare and unseen artifacts, including the outfits that didn’t make the cut. We also capture the over- the-top costumes as they get sequined and beaded from sketch to stage. Specific highlights include some of the soon-to-be lost art methods by old-world artisans that help make each outfit Mackie conjures something to behold and remember.
The documentary feature includes original interviews with Bob Mackie clients and collaborators, along with those he has inspired – designers, stylists, comedians and actors, as well as Bob’s first-person account of some of his most iconic looks from The Carol Burnett Show’s Starlett O’Hara dress to Cher’s 1986 Academy Awards look with feathered headdress and Tina Turner’s iconic concert costumes. Bob Mackie is a truly peerless and timeless costume designer, with interviews from Cher to Pink, to Tom Ford and Miley Cyrus, to RuPaul and Carol Burnett a testament to that fact.
Talk Back with Joe McFate Following Screening
Following our screening of Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion, stay for a special conversation and audience talkback with Joe McFate, Bob Mackie's longtime Design Director and one of the people who knows the legendary designer's work—and the man behind it—as intimately as anyone.
For me, this evening is especially meaningful. I first met Bob in the mid-1980s, and we've remained friends ever since. Over the years, I've also had the pleasure of getting to know Joe, whose remarkable career has placed him at the center of one of the most iconic design legacies in entertainment history.
While the documentary offers a fascinating look at Bob's extraordinary life and career, our post-screening conversation will take audiences beyond the film. Joe will share personal stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and his unique perspective from years of working side-by-side with Bob on creations that dazzled audiences around the world—from television and Broadway to concert stages and red carpets.
This is more than a discussion about costumes and design. It's an opportunity to hear firsthand about friendship, collaboration, creativity, and the enduring influence of an artist whose work helped define popular culture for generations.
Join us for what promises to be a warm, candid, and memorable conversation—and bring your questions for the audience talkback that follows.
We hope to see you there.
David Kuehn, Executive Director
Cotuit Center for the Arts
Joe McFate: Bio
Joe McFate has served as Design Director for legendary fashion and costume designer Bob Mackie for the past 26 years. Renowned for his creative vision, impeccable attention to detail, and sophisticated understanding of color, proportion, and elegance, McFate has been an integral force behind the enduring success of the Bob Mackie brand.
Throughout his distinguished career, he has collaborated with some of the world's most iconic performers, including Cher, Carol Burnett, Tina Turner, P!NK, Diana Ross, Ann-Margret, Bernadette Peters, Anjelica Huston, Mitzi Gaynor, and Liza Minnelli. His work has spanned television, concert tours, stage productions, and special events both nationally and internationally.
McFate's Broadway credits include working alongside Bob Mackie on the Tony Award-winning musical The Cher Show. As Associate Costume Designer to the legendary Alvin Colt, he contributed to acclaimed productions including Waiting in the Wings by Noël Coward, starring Lauren Bacall and Rosemary Harris; Sacrilege, starring Ellen Burstyn; The Herbal Bed; and If You Ever Leave Me, I'm Going with You. He also served as Associate Designer for the Broadway-bound production of Catch Me If You Can.
With a career rooted in theatrical storytelling through fashion, McFate continues to help shape some of entertainment's most memorable visual moments. As Bob Mackie famously says, “Fashion is everyday theater” - a philosophy reflected throughout McFate's remarkable body of work.