Re: [h-cost] Director-designer professional standards
I would guess not, since the top of womens costume seems to be a shirt with a 1/4 bra thing, that pamela anderson is fond of, so that would definitely not go well with the parents and the local vicars ;-) Tania Margo Anderson [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Apr 14, 2008, at 12:52 PM, Paula Praxis wrote: This a discussion that benefits all era of costume. Agreed that not all on this list work in theater but many of us do and to hear from others about your experiences is great. I agree the modern period is the most difficult to design for. I much prefer period plays. however there are some times that are more difficult than others. I designed a play set in ancient Egypt. I love archeology and am aware that slaves in the real' ancient Egypt worked naked - this didn't go over too well with my director - so I let her have her way and designed slave costumes for the ensemble. I'm helping with costumes for my 6th grader's class play, which is set in Minoan era Crete. Not surprisingly, the teacher doesn't want historically accurate costumes. We're putting them in chitons. :) Margo ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
[h-cost] Director-designer professional standards
I had a difficult situation with a play I designed last summer.? The director didn't have much of a clue what he wanted before the rehearsal process started but he did have one conceptual concept he wanted visualized by the costumes and I agreed it would be a good one, so I designed the show around that.? The play only had 2 actors, one male, one female (The Last Five Years) and when rehearsals started, they, especially the woman, started suggesting costume ideas.? At that point, the director more or less submitted to their-mainly her--ideas and my ideas kind of flew out the window.? It was a shopped show and one weekend the woman even went to a store and bought some things she liked, to bring back and show me.? I was getting rather frustrated and disappointed by then but tried to go with the flow and I actually did appreciate their input, since they knew more about their characters than I did through rehearsing their parts.??? I guess I've been in the business enough by now to know do this, although it would have been impossible if the costumes had been built. This is why I continue to maintain that contemporary show are the most difficult to design.? Many cast members think they have a better idea than the designer.? And?many directors, wanting to please the actors in order to get the best possible performance out of them, will let the actors dictate to the designer what they want.? Which is why research and renderings are extremely valuable from the beginning of the process.? So it doesn't turn into He said, she said and one can produce the original ideas which were agreed on.? I hope we're not boring the non-costume designers on this list. Cheryl Odom College of Santa Fe ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] Director-designer professional standards
I hope we're not boring the non-costume designers on this list. I, for one, am finding it fascinating, and a reminder of why I didn't persue theatre after high school. Emma ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] Director-designer professional standards
I too find this conversation interesting as it's part of theater I know nothing about. My daughter is in high school but has done some semi-legit theater and hopes to pursue it as a career. I don't act except as a recreationist and I make my own costumes under approval of a costume director. However, I've helped others with their community theater and have heard the stories. It seems that a contract really is the way to go. Lynn On Mon, Apr 14, 2008 at 12:42 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I hope we're not boring the non-costume designers on this list. I, for one, am finding it fascinating, and a reminder of why I didn't persue theatre after high school. Emma ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] Director-designer professional standards
On Apr 14, 2008, at 12:52 PM, Paula Praxis wrote: This a discussion that benefits all era of costume. Agreed that not all on this list work in theater but many of us do and to hear from others about your experiences is great. I agree the modern period is the most difficult to design for. I much prefer period plays. however there are some times that are more difficult than others. I designed a play set in ancient Egypt. I love archeology and am aware that slaves in the real' ancient Egypt worked naked - this didn't go over too well with my director - so I let her have her way and designed slave costumes for the ensemble. I'm helping with costumes for my 6th grader's class play, which is set in Minoan era Crete. Not surprisingly, the teacher doesn't want historically accurate costumes. We're putting them in chitons. :) Margo ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] Director-designer professional standards
In a message dated 4/14/2008 3:54:23 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I agree the modern period is the most difficult to design for. I much prefer period plays. *** Yes! Modern dress is difficult, not only because any actor or actress thinks she can just go buy something, but also because everyone in the audience [and cast] knows all about the clothes and different garments speak huge volumes when they are new and fresh in everyone's minds. The wrong brand of sneakers or jeans can ruin an effect. Of course these two aspects the buying and the newnessare related. **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms and advice on AOL Money Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolcmp0030002850) ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
[h-cost] Director-designer professional standards
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This a discussion that benefits all era of costume. Agreed that not all on this list work in theater but many of us do and to hear from others about your experiences is great. I agree the modern period is the most difficult to design for. I much prefer period plays. however there are some times that are more difficult than others. I designed a play set in ancient Egypt. I love archeology and am aware that slaves in the real' ancient Egypt worked naked - this didn't go over too well with my director - so I let her have her way and designed slave costumes for the ensemble. I'm helping with costumes for my 6th grader's class play, which is set in Minoan era Crete. Not surprisingly, the teacher doesn't want historically accurate costumes. We're putting them in chitons. :) Margo Snicker, giggle. What, you mean they didn't want bare 6th grader boobies for their play? Julie in San Diego ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] Director-designer professional standards
Margo Anderson wrote: On Apr 14, 2008, at 12:52 PM, Paula Praxis wrote: This a discussion that benefits all era of costume. Agreed that not all on this list work in theater but many of us do and to hear from others about your experiences is great. I agree the modern period is the most difficult to design for. I much prefer period plays. however there are some times that are more difficult than others. I designed a play set in ancient Egypt. I love archeology and am aware that slaves in the real' ancient Egypt worked naked - this didn't go over too well with my director - so I let her have her way and designed slave costumes for the ensemble. I'm helping with costumes for my 6th grader's class play, which is set in Minoan era Crete. Not surprisingly, the teacher doesn't want historically accurate costumes. We're putting them in chitons. :) Margo I went to a costume party as Ariadne when I was about 15 - my friends and I were all studying classics and reading Mary Renault... I did my best to do the skirt and a high, pointy belt (a bit Wonder Woman, really!) with a lined but gauzy bodice. It kind of gave the idea without giving anything away. When we visited Plimoth Plantation, I spoke to one of the Native American interpreters about how what she was wearing, as modern traditional costume, compared with what her predecessors would have worn in period. Her response was along the lines of I'm way overdressed. Just another example of modern sensibilities getting in the way of accuracy - tut tut! ;-) Jean ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
