Costume Design (reading packet notes)

Costume Design

Character-Actor Dressing Lists

-       List used by actors and dressers during dressed rehearsals and performances

-       Lists what the actor wears in each scene and what accessories

Costume Calendar

-       Helps costume designer budget time

Costume sketches for Sweeney Todd

-       Visualisation of how much time to be devoted to each phase of costume design and construction process

·      Accessories that are agreed upon during design phase maybe need to be changed once seen onstage. Costume designers need to plan for these changes and adapt as necessary

Visual Presentation

-       Designers need to codify their thoughts about the costume design

-       Sketches should: show the nature and personality of character, time in the play, evoke the mood and spirit of the play

-       Preliminary Sketches: first visible results of the creative process on paper, first tangible result of the synthesis of the costume designer’s thoughts, ideas, impressions, and research. Costume designers will cover one or more pages of a sketch pad with variations of the same design as they try out different ideas and concepts. Designers may have to “go back to the drawing board” and continue making new designs based on input from production design team

-       Costume Layout: small, simply and clearly drawn, group figures that illustrate the costume design for a number of characters. Characters are normally grouped in some logical sequence (e.g. dancers, leads, extras, etc.). Provides an overall view of the costume concept for the entire production and to give an indication of how the various costumes will look and work together.

-       Costume Sketch: full-colour drawing that should give a strong indication of character, should look like it is being worn by the actor playing the character. Large and clear enough to provide accurate information about the line and detail of the garment yet not cramped on the page. Research material about construction details can provide more accurate information for the cutter/draper than sketches. And information that will help construct the costume as the designer envisions it can, and should, be provided with the costume sketch or rendering. Each plate should identify the play, the name of the character, and the scene that the costume is worn. Sketches are also used by scenic and lighting designers to provide information about the costume palette and fabric.

·      You must be imaginative, be able to draw with ease and authority, have an understanding of fabrics, and knowledge of the history of clothing.