3. RE: Re:History Channel (monica spence)
Message: 3
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2006 12:13:58 -0400
From: monica spence
Subject: RE: [h-cost] Re:History Channel
To: Historical Costume
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Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I feel badly that the people at the HC are being ripped. They have a limited
budget, it is difficult to get permission to film in some of the real sites
and many times their actors are the reinactors that "do" a period-- unpaid,
but not stars or people who have anything to say about scripts, production
values, etc.. Not to mention that costumes are usually rented from a costume
house that is more interested in genaric than specialty work. And then there
are time constraints...
I have a friend who is set to do a Civil War program for the HC. Who knows
what it will be like, but he is working with people who know the period. My
husband is slated to play a soldier-- no lines, or he would have to be payed
Equity scale.
We were in Philadelphia this past November and visited the USS Olympia,
Admiral Dewey'S flagship. As we followed the electrical cables aboard and
passed a cabin filled with men in uniforms of the period (Spanish American
War) we were informed that the HC was doing a documentary on the SA War. It
was very exciting-- the air was filled with smoke from a "fire" or a
battle-- but we couldn't see it because it was cordoned off for filming. The
people were really helpful, and the technical people put up with us
tourists, and we hooked up with one ofthe reinactors who have a a tour that
was not to be believed ! We got to stand on the bridge, and got to see the
crow's nesy, which was rusted and needed repair. Most people don't get to
see half that stuff...
Anyhoo... unless you have ever been directly involved with a production you
don't know the limitations put on a director by the chanel, the director
etc.
It is not as easy as you may think.
Monica Spence
-AND-----------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2006 11:50:17 -0500
From: Dawn
Subject: Re: [h-cost] Re:History Channel
To: Historical Costume
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
monica spence wrote:
> I feel badly that the people at the HC are being ripped. They have a limited
> budget, it is difficult to get permission to film in some of the real sites
> and many times their actors are the reinactors that "do" a period-- unpaid,
> but not stars or people who have anything to say about scripts, production
> values, etc.. Not to mention that costumes are usually rented from a costume
> house that is more interested in genaric than specialty work. And then there
> are time constraints...
I had an interesting chat with one of the guys who did the costuming for
the Revolutionary War series on HC. From the sounds of it, the producers
left the costuming entirely to the unpaid actors...
quote: "I do not-for-profit living history demonstrations. I started
with The Revolutionary War time period. I could not afford to buy
clothing so I learned how to make my own, by hand. I researched
historical garments and began making them with historical construction
techniques. Soon I started and outfitted an entire re-enacting group.
I served as the Historical Advisor on the new 13 Episode History Channel
series on the Revolution, which will air this summer. Not only did I
review the scripts and coach the producers, writers and actors but I
also made most of the clothing worn in the production (hand made museum
quality pieces). The wardrobe people came with nothing and knew nothing
(actually they are Civil War specialists). They will be creditted with
wardrobe but, oh well, at least things are accurate now."
endquote
So, someone did try.
Dawn
Actually, The History Channel deserves to be ripped for the pirate thing...It
was JUST BAD! And they's don't so many good things too!!
AND the Revolution is almost bad, well, maybe worse to me, it's boring. If
you are good at what you do and use your imagination and make good choices, you
can work around limitations ( i.e real whale bone is not so easy to find in
21st century NOW, but you can still make a plausible set of stays.)
I know it can't be easy, that's why they call it work. It's not about money
either, many of the resources give it away for pretty much free. and are
willing to lend kit if it's taken care of, but frequently it is not.... And act
as free backgrounds in miles and mile of stock footage.
Hmm historic costume content.....It doesn't cost any more to do it right, If
that is what you want., but don't try to pass off bad as good to me
18c Mia in Charlotte, going back to trying to make that cute little cap, the
one with the little dip in the front, Burnely and Trowbrige, the 18c cent
fabric merchants is putting out the patterns., but i have to work a bit on the
whipped gather thing, it's harder thatn ti out to be
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