Costume Identity Crisis

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Costume Identity Crisis
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Costume Identity CrisisPanelists

• Julia McGee Degree in Study arts/sculpture.
  Started making movie costumes in the last three
  years. Specializing in Armor template and
  reengieering using inexpensive materials
• Maggie Percival- Degree in performing Arts
  specializing in Theatrical Design. Member of the
  Tolkien Society for over twenty years who
  developed a love for research as a result of
  studying for her degree. Created Tolkein and
  Fantasy inspired costumes for nearly fifteen
  years before considering the challenge of pre
  Elizabethan historical dress. Specializing her in
  the research required for the creation of
  original works

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Where do you fall
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What does your heart tell you?
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No Limitations
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Contextual Priorities

• Where will you wear it?

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Conventions, Ren Faires, Halloween, Movies

• Comfort Walking around, Sitting for a long time,
  Bathroom breaks
• Weather Conditions Dirt, rain etc.

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Plays, Ballets, Skits, Fan Films

• Team work
• Directors
• Actors
• Design for movements
• Dance
• Battles

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Reenactment, Role Play

• Individual Event Requirements
• Strict to accuracy
• Anachronistic
• Dirt, rain etc.
• Practice Wearing

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Costume Parties, Dances, Balls, Weddings

• Activities at Event Dancing, Hay Ride
• Weather Conditions Dirt, rain etc.

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Personal Priorities

• What is important to you?
• Accuracy
• Authenticity
• Recognition
• Longevity
• Comfort
• Group
• Original/Unique

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Movie Accuracy

• Identify and Research to get
• Exact shape
• Exact color
• Exact materials
• Or close enough
• Exact props
• Exact weathering
• Art Andrews
• www.thedentedhelmet.com

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Historic Authenticity

• Research
• Exact patterns
• Exact dyes
• Exact materials
• Compromise
• Modern availability
• Stitching on machine
• Cost
• Tom Young
• Yahoo Riders of Rohan Warriors Group

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Recognizable

• Do you want people to know who you are?
• Popular
• Identifying details
• Do you look the part?
• Pick a costume unquestionable
• Props

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Who am I supposed to be?
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Durability

• Do you want it to last?
• Strong materials
• Good assembly
• Non fade color

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Comfort

• Materials that breathe heat and cold
• Soft inside
• Not too tight or restrictive
• Can you sit down?
• Can you use the loo?

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Couple/Group

• Costume with others
• Identifies you
• Stay in character
• Just plain fun!

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Original/Unique
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Original/Unique

• Unusual costume from movie
• Different from the movie
• Variation
• Your own convictions
• From the book
• Research

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Summary of First half

• What do you love
• Where will you be wearing your costume
• What are your personal priorities
• Check off any costume that does not fit your
  personal priorities
• Circle the costumes you think fit your priorities
  best

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Research and References

• Find as many references as possible from every
  angle
• Take notes watching the movie/dvd, look at
  promotional photos, internet.
• www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr
• Articles describing costumes
• Tolkiens description in book
• Time period references (Maggies panel!)
• Illustrations
• Imagination

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Actors may have worn the costumes but
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Costume Layers

• Make a list of all the pieces of the costume
  layers and materials (material break through
  session)
• - undertunic (colar and other photos and
  articles) -gray wool or worn black leather
• - boots - leather, calf high, brown and worn (or
  black and REALLY worn)
• - scale maille skirt - plastic painted silver
• - chain maille tunic - pvc (plastic) painted
  silver and faux rusted
• - harness, pauldrons, vambraces, greaves - three
  layers of embossed leather. Middle layer painted
  silver to look like metal
• - green wool skirt with gold embroidery along
  edge (can barely see here)
• - gloves - brown leather
• - trousers - brown cotton or wool?
• - helmet (not pictured)- silver and bronze with
  horse hair

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Construction Time
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Do not let Fear of your Limitations Paralyze you!
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Time Money - Looks

• Quick Cheap and accurate/authentic NO WAY!
• Quick Cheap and passable
• Cheap, Accurate and time consuming
• Quick, Accurate and expensive

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Manage your Time

• How much time do you have before your event?
• How much are you willing to do per week?
• What patience do you have?
• Some techniques to help motivate you
• Listen to music/watch movies while working
• Pick a character/costume you enjoy looking at
• Find others making the costume and compare notes
  and complaints
• Take a break and work on something you can make
  quickly
• Set up deadlines for yourself

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Manage your Money

• How much are you willing to spend?
• After researching the material cost and how much
  it usually costs, set a high limit on each piece
  of the costume
• Add up your costs and go back and edit a bit
• Shop for sales and bargains if you save on one
  piece of the costume you may be able to spend
  more elsewhere

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Planning your costume

• Once you figure out how much time and money you
  have and how much it will take to do each
  costume, eliminate those that do not fit, or
  adjust your priorities
• Write down each layer of your costume and what
  you will make it out of, and where you will get
  the templates

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Final Tips and Summary

• Check the source of your tips!
• When shopping keep your eyes out for new material
  options and sales on pieces for other costumes on
  your list
• Experiment, make mock ups and muslin patterns
• Know what you like and what your priorities are
  and work toward them
• Know your limitations and do not be frightened by
  them. Keep an open mind to the possibilities
• The important thing is to have fun!

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Other Costume Panels and Workshops

• Making Hobbit Feet Panel Ian Collier and Anke
  Buttner
• Chain Maille Workshop Alex Davidson
• Elf Pins Workshop Julia McGee
• Live Make up Demo Gino Acevado
• Template Construction Panel Julia McGee
• How Lurtz was made up Lawrence Makoare
• Material Breakthrough Panel Julia McGee
• Historical Research Maggie Percival