ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

12 years, 4 months ago - Natalie Willis

Thanks Marlom, however, as a writer I wouldn't deter you from attempting to create or design your own costumes. Go for it!
The thing is I have lots of experience in music videos designing costumes for Hot Chip, Tame Impala, Goldfrapp, to name but a few but I am looking to collaborate or design for a more developed character that something happens to. I work in TV but I don't have the 10-15 years experience often required before you're able to get a job as a designer.
I've spoken to many a producer, writer and director who make shorts who assume costume designer means someone who wants to sew period costumes - it's not that at all. It's building an idea of a character through what they chose to wear, how it appears, is it new, fresh, old, creased, perfectly fitting, second hand, ethereal, sharp, desiigner, high street, homemade etc and what this says about them. Does this change with the story & their circumstances?
This isn't something that can usually be explored in a music video so film is the way I want to go... But thanks for your suggestions!

12 years, 4 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Have you got access to money? That's what it'll all boil down to in the end!

I absolutely agree that costume is an essential part of a character and aesthetic - but as you say when cash is tight, the scripts that get made are the ones that can afford to be made. If you're making a short for £3000 including the core camera, lighting and sound departments, production, catering, location, driver, parking, permits, printing, set and props, performers, rehearsal spaces, power, etc., money is tight so things get trimmed. Alas the trimmings sometimes include costume.

It's tough, but even with your own script, unless you have cash, yours will just become one of the thousands of other unmade scripts written each year :-(

12 years, 4 months ago - Marlom Tander

As a writer, should I make my own costumes? Thought not.

My suggestion - think about the costumes you'd like to make and then go looking for a writer who can take on the brief. E.g. "set in the plebian streets of Tudor London, with commoners, tradesmen and monks", "near the end of WW2 a group of Germans escorting some Jews are trapped in an old farm", "The Vienna School - Klimpt etc".

Speaking personally, I find that an idea or a brief is always easier to work with than a blank page :-)

However, the whole film malarky can be very much "in progress" rather than "being shot". Music videos might be an area to explore, esp if you want to go really design nuts and can afford to supply th costumes :-) (Lots Uni cities have a surfiet of excellent bands and plenty of people who can shoot well. What they don't have is money for costumes.)

12 years, 4 months ago - Vasco de Sousa

I think the problem isn't necessity, it's confidence in raising the money for a costume designer. And like you said, assumptions that it's not relevant.

That said, I'm currently working on a film where there will need to be a couple of costumes, chiefly 1) a CCTV officer uniform and 2) a red polka dot dress. There is also room for pyjamas, slippers, a robe, but most of these will probably just use off-the-rack costumes. However, the three characters dress very differently, and it does say something about their personalities. (Costume is also part of the story.)

I did try to design them myself, or get them off the shelf. I've looked at what I already own to keep the budget down.

So, what I decided to do is design a logo for the fictional cctv company, and stick it as a badge for the uniform of one of the three characters. I have a couple of designs for the badge in mind, but it isn't finalized. The red polka dot dress is a bit more complicated.

With all the ideas about creasing, etc, I'd be interested in talking more. We've done a storyboard, shooting schedule, and budget (with clothing check list), so we have a basic idea of what they wear.

But, Yeah, I'd be interested in ideas telling the character more through costume. We considered this more at the storyboard stage than the screenplay stage, and it was interesting to consider.

There's one point where I had a character wear a gray suit to show his defeated attitude, but I wondered if another outfit might be better at times.

The budget is extremely low, going mostly to quality shooting equipment and perhaps a crew of two and cast of three (two of the cast are the storyboard artist and screenwriter.)

Does it sound like the type of project you're looking for?