For those in the film industry, costume refers to the costume or outfit that an actor, performer, or extra wears while on a television or movie set. These outfits can be everyday clothes to store costumes or those costumes made from scratch.
When an actor auditions for a role, they will fill out and fill out a casting form with their personal information, body sizes, and measurements. Once the actor reserves the role, this information is sent to the wardrobe office / department and / or an immediate phone call is made to the actor to review or collect his data, including measurements. The actor should have this information available even if they have performed at the audition / callback. All actors or those who are going to attend the main auditions need a measurement sheet.
After the costume designer / assistant has spoken with the actor (parent of child actors) on the phone and noted their information, they will purchase the actor’s costume sizes at a local mall if everyday attractions are to be used for the shoot or schedule a tryout for the actor to come and try on different outfits or stock pieces. If attendees have purchased the stores in the mall, the actor will be called back, but this time to schedule a costume fitting in the costume department’s production office.
The costume fitting scheduled by the costume assistant will be for a day and time that is convenient for both parties. The actor will arrive 15 minutes early for the audition and will bring whatever clothing the costume assistant has requested. This usually happens with accessories for commercials. An actor may be asked to bring a pair of dress shoes or running shoes, belt, vest, etc. If the costumes are used in the commercial, the production will pay a fee to rent that garment to the actor. This action generally rewards the actor with an additional payment. Clothing and / or special equipment is rented for around $ 25.
As payment progresses, actors are paid to participate in costume fittings. They get paid for a 2 hour call, but it usually takes less than an hour to complete. Sometimes an actor will have to participate in multiple costume fittings, especially if the costume is to be made. As the actor tries on different outfits, different outfit combinations, or ideas for original pieces, a photo will be taken of the actor in each outfit. These photos are then sent to the director and / or producer (s) for final approval. The director can select an outfit or outfits from these photos or ask the designer to come up with other options or suggestions.
Extras are background performers who fill the areas around the actors. Extras must bring or provide their own complete head-to-toe changeover wardrobe including accessories. At the extras celebration, the performers show the costume assistants their costume choices. Then attendees will approve an outfit from the additional options or suggest a new outfit by putting together different items. Once approved, the extra is good to step on the set. Sometimes extras have special requirements and will be reserved in a production because they own a particular outfit, such as a tuxedo, floor length dress, Halloween costume, sports uniform, etc. The extra job depends on the closet that an extra has in their closet. Extras provide their own wardrobe because it is less complicated for production. It’s quick, easy, all clothing fit first time, and minimal cost to production.
Costume movie pre-production can begin about six weeks before shooting. The director and / or producers are shown artist designs drawn, colored and with small costume pieces for each character. These samples offer an idea of what will be the costumes / costumes proposed by the actors. Instructions are given on the cut and fit of the suits, modifications to the existing stock, etc. Costumes built or made from scratch usually involve a costume designer. The designer researches the era or time period, purchases the materials, designs the ideas / concepts, and assembles the pieces for the wardrobe. Designer designed costumes are mainly historical or vintage pieces, fantasy pieces and / or modern / futuristic.
The Academy Awards honor designers. Best Costume Design is the category for costume designers and spans from 1948 to the present day. For this category, the designer makes or creates the costumes for all the characters / actors in the film. The designer’s team may consist of tailors, seamstresses, applicators, dyers, cutters, breakers (make garments look worn), shoemakers, hatters, jewelers, etc. The winner of the 82nd Academy Awards for Costume Design was Sandy Powell for Young Victoria.
Productions give the costume designer / costume department a budget. For everyday wear purchased in stores, but not selected by the director for artists, it will be returned to the various stores for reimbursement. The wardrobe warehouses stock row upon row to the ceiling of ready-to-rent suits for specific period pieces. Costume stocks are pulled from their shelves and racks ready to dress the actors. These warehouses also have boxes and boxes and accessory boxes. From all different types and sizes of footwear, hats, gloves, jewelry to masks, hats, underwear or other rare specialty items like military uniforms, peasant rags or zombie rags, etc.
On the set of a movie there is always a costume trailer as part of the circus. However, the actor’s or interpreter’s costumes are hanging in their trailer before they arrive for the filming days. All pieces are given to the artist together with the underwear, especially if the weather is cold. The actors place warm compresses on their shoes, pockets, and / or around their body and are given a jacket to cover them. The jacket serves to disguise the costumes, keep the actor warm, and protect the costume from the elements.
On set, there are costume assistants who take care of the actors. They make sure that the entire wardrobe is placed correctly, that there are no problems of tampering or missing parts, and they make sure that everything is in its right place and used in the right way. Each outfit worn by the actor will be photographed for continuity purposes. Once an actor has changed costumes, they will go to the costume trailer for approval before heading to the set.
In short, costumes are an important piece of the giant movie puzzle. The costumes bring the actor’s character to life. They help the actor to transform into his role. For the extras, they may be in the background, but in disguise they feel connected to television or the cinema. And the audience, we can sit down and take it all in.
