“Kill Bill,” “A Prairie Home Companion” and “27 Dresses” have one thing in common besides being box-office hits: costumes designed by Kansas City Art Institute alumna Catherine Marie (“Cat”) Thomas (’93 fiber). For “Kill Bill: Vol. 1” and “Kill Bill: Vol. 2” she received two Costume Designers Guild award nominations.

Her career has provided Thomas with opportunities to work with some of Hollywood’s highest profile directors, including Quentin Tarantino, Robert Altman, Neil Jordan, Richard Shepard, Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke and Edward Burns.

“Collaboration is crucial,” she said, emphasizing that any motion picture is the product of hard work and creative input by many individuals. “There are so many elements that go into making a film. It’s the actor’s voice, the director’s voice and my voice.”