“There’s a lot of moving pieces and a lot of big, expensive balls that can be dropped.… It’s best if you can apply the same kind of meticulous details that you do in the design work to the operational part of it as well.”Īnd it helps to be a quick problem solver. “If everybody’s doing their job correctly and holding their weight, it’s a bunch of crossing T’s and dotting I’s,” said Carothers. They might have to make sure the stunt doubles’ costumes are exactly the same as the corresponding actors’, except for being one size larger to accommodate the padding and with gussets sewn in so that their pants don’t rip mid-kick.Īwards Dressing ‘West Side Story’ for a new eraĬostume designer Paul Tazewell chose distinct color palettes to help audiences track the opposing groups whether they were dancing in the school gym or fighting in the street. Costume designers also need to remember whether an actor likes a particular undergarment or pantyhose, and if any prefers armpit shields. If a scene takes several days to film, the outfit has to be managed so it can appear the same way for continuity.
Because scenes are often shot out of order, designers need to plan accordingly. Costume designers may be dressing not only the principal cast but also the guest stars and background characters.
It also helps if you like spreadsheets, because there’s a lot to keep track of. “So you’re both seeing the tiny details and the big picture all at once.” “There’s close-ups in movies, so you can see the intricate embroidery and beading, but they’re also getting these wide group shots,” she said. Hollywood costume designers need to be very meticulous. So it’s not just having a good eye and a good design sense.” “You’re not only a designer, but you’re a psychologist, you’re a historian, you’re a researcher.… And then you have to really dig into it with a lot of details and hold all that in your brain at once. “You have to wear so many hats,” said Adams.