12 November 2008

Proposed 10 step plan for making costumes

How to make six historical costumes in two weeks and ten easy steps.

Step One
Talk to your director. Always a good first step. Find out what he wants. Where he is coming from. What he see’s in these characters. What they should be feeling. What season we are in, what country is never a bad question to ask, their station, age etc.

Step Two
Gather/purchase material.

Step Three
Get measurements for your actors

Step Four
Get your patterns, cut, trace and alter like your life depends on it!

Step Five
Sew. HA! I wish it were that easy.

Step 5.5
Try to avoid panic attacks and remind self to breathe.

Step Six
Fit your costumes on your actors and adjust as necessary.

Step Seven
Fit your actors again and with any luck they are right for acting!

Step Eight
Stress clothes a little bit. Don’t be afraid to get them dirty, after all none of our clothes are pristine, and why should theirs be?

Step Nine
Stand back and watch your clothes work miracles.

Step Ten
Laugh and cry as necessary.

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