For our second unit we completed a project that included designs for West Side Story and collaboration with Level 5 Film Production students costuming their short films. I did a sketchbook of research and development which resulted in 3 designs for Anita, Bernado and Graziella from West Side Story, was co-Costume Designer on two short films entitled Ledgerdemain and White Lily, and completed character breakdowns, script breakdowns, production journals and continuity sheets for each.
I started my West Side Story research by looking at the story origin and existing productions, including the original Broadway show (1957), the film (1961) and the national tour (2012). I then looked into each of the main characters and mind mapped their characteristics. I researched immigration and gangs in 1950's America and the fashions of that time. I made style mood boards for the Sharks, Jets and each main character, I decided the Jets would be 'Teddy Boys' in mainly reds and the Sharks would be 'Greasers' in mainly blues, and depending where their loyalties lie throughout the story the colours they wear would transition between red and blue. I completed thumbnail designs to show the costume changes throughout the story. Then used the trace method to complete analogue final designs for Anita and Graziella, The final design for Bernado was completed as a CAD costume illustration on photoshop.
I started my West Side Story research by looking at the story origin and existing productions, including the original Broadway show (1957), the film (1961) and the national tour (2012). I then looked into each of the main characters and mind mapped their characteristics. I researched immigration and gangs in 1950's America and the fashions of that time. I made style mood boards for the Sharks, Jets and each main character, I decided the Jets would be 'Teddy Boys' in mainly reds and the Sharks would be 'Greasers' in mainly blues, and depending where their loyalties lie throughout the story the colours they wear would transition between red and blue. I completed thumbnail designs to show the costume changes throughout the story. Then used the trace method to complete analogue final designs for Anita and Graziella, The final design for Bernado was completed as a CAD costume illustration on photoshop.
We had film pitches from each Film Production students and then chose a couple of productions to work on. Ledgerdemain was about a taxidermist daughter who falls for a young magician who uses his magic to 'steal her heart'. The stylistic theme was Victorian gothic Tim Burton-ish feel so we put together a Wednesday Addams style look for the girl with animal skull accents to link back to her job working in her fathers shop, and a classic magician outfit for the boy, with darker shades of red to keep the gothic theme. We sourced most of the garments from charity shops and our costume store in university and made anything we couldn't find, such as the choker necklaces, brooches and cape (which I made). We completed pinterest mood boards for each character and pitched them to the director. We did budget breakdowns and fittings for each film and it really opened our eyes to the experience of working on a film. We had to follow call sheets and found out what it is like working on a film set.
White Lily is about a poet who falls for a military officers wife, they meet each day on the pier over a lake, but the officer finds out and kills the boy and so the lady thinks he has abandoned her. It was a Pre-Raphaelite inspired piece with minimal dialogue and symbolism throughout. We used Edwardian style for the lady to reflect the flowing gown worn by Pre Raphaelite models, breeches and flounce sleeve shirts for the boy so he reflected a Pre Raphaelite poet who was completed taken by the beauty of the lady. The man wore a Victorian dress suit with military medals and sash, reflecting a military parade uniform. We sourced all pieces from the costume store and made any elements we couldn't find, like the breeches for the boy, military medals, sashes for the lady and the man, and the quill and notebook for the boy, complete with calligraphy on the pages. It was interesting to do a conceptual period piece and how we had to piece garments together to create the overall look we wanted, for instance we used Victorian nightgowns layered and embellished to created the lady's dresses. It was also interesting to do a completely outdoor shoot to see how the process has to be adapted to the environment.
Overall I was nervous to start but the more we got to grips with the process the more comfortable I got. Working with the Film Production students, Makeup students and actors was a really interesting and collaborative atmosphere and also meant we could learn what they do as well as them learning what we do and seeing all of our skills come together to create a story was a lot of fun. It was a bit of a rushed process as we were waiting on actors sizes and we only had 5-6 weeks to pull together and shoot both films but it all worked out and it pulled us together as a costume team (Me, Chloe and Scott).