A costume designer is a person who designs costumes for a film, stage production or television show. The role of the costume designer is to create the characters' outfits or costumes and balance the scenes with texture and colour, etc.[1] The costume designer works alongside the director, scenic, lighting designer, sound designer, and other creative personnel. The costume designer may also collaborate with a hair stylist, wig master, or makeup artist. In European theatre, the role is different, as the theatre designer usually designs both costume and scenic elements.
Designers typically seek to enhance a character's personality, and to create an evolving plot of color, changing social status, or period through the visual design of garments and accessories.[citation needed] They may distort or enhance the body—within the boundaries of the director's vision. The designer must ensure that the designs let the actor move as the role requires. The actor must execute the director's blocking of the production without damaging the garments. Garments must be durable and washable, especially for plays with extended runs or films with near-real timepacing (meaning that most costumes will not change between scenes) but whose principal photography phase may stretch across several weeks. The designer must consult not only with the director, but the set and lighting designers to ensure that all elements of the overall production design work together. The designer must possess strong artistic capabilities and a thorough knowledge of pattern development, draping, drafting, textiles and fashion history. The designer must understand historical costuming, and the movement style and poise that period dress may require.
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During the late-19th century, company managers in the US usually selected costumes for a show. Many were pulled from a rental houses, only a few were designed. Though designers in other theatrical disciplines were recognized, few who specialized in costumes were. The few that were included Caroline Siedle, C. Wilhelm, Percy Anderson, and Mrs. John Alexander. They sometimes even received credit on the title page of a playbill rather than in the back.[2]
Professional costume designers generally fall into three types: freelance, residential, and academic.
Freelance designers are hired for a specific production by a film, theatre, dance or opera company. A freelancer is traditionally paid in three instalments: Upon hire, on delivery of final renderings, and opening night of the production. Freelancers are not obligated to any exclusivity in what projects they work on, and may design for several productions hired by a specific theatre, dance or opera company for an extended series of productions. This can be as short as a summer stock contract, or may be for many years.
A residential designer is consistently "on location" at the theater—at hand to work with costume studio and other collaborators. A residential designer's contract may limit the amounts of freelance work they are allowed to accept. Residential designers tend to be more established than strict freelancers, but this is not always the case.
An academic designer is one who holds professorship at a school. The designer is primarily an instructor, but may also act as a residential designer to varying degrees. They are often free to freelance, as their schedule allows. In the past, professors of costume design were mostly experienced professionals that may or may not have had formal post-graduate education, but it has now become increasingly common to require a professor to have at least a Master of Fine Arts in order to teach.
Both residential and academic designers are generally also required to act as Shop Master or Mistress of an onsite costume shop, in addition to designing productions. In a resident theatre, there is almost always a shop staff of stitchers,[4] drapers, cutters and craft artisans. In an academic environment the shop "staff" is generally students, who are learning about costume design and construction. Most universities require costume design students to work a specified number of hours in the shop as part of their course work.
Unions in the United States and CanadaEdit
The examples and perspective in this section deal primarily with the United States and Canada and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this section, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new section, as appropriate.(April 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Costume Designers Guild, Local 892 is one union that represents Costume Designers,[5] as well as United Scenic Artists.[6]
Many costumers belong to the Motion Picture Costumers Union, Local 705 and represent every position within the costume department (except the costume designer). Local 705 represents Costume Supervisors, Key Costumers, Costumers, Tailor/Seamstress, Ager/Dyer, Cutter/Fitters, Costume House Employees and Commercial Costumers.[7]
^Local 705 2013-10-05 at the Wayback Machine motionpicturecostumers.org
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Costume designers.
Costume Designers Guild
October 15, 2023
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A costume designer is a person who designs costumes for a film stage production or television show The role of the costume designer is to create the characters outfits or costumes and balance the scenes with texture and colour etc 1 The costume designer works alongside the director scenic lighting designer sound designer and other creative personnel The costume designer may also collaborate with a hair stylist wig master or makeup artist In European theatre the role is different as the theatre designer usually designs both costume and scenic elements Elizabeth Whiting costume designer for New Zealand Opera 2016 Designers typically seek to enhance a character s personality and to create an evolving plot of color changing social status or period through the visual design of garments and accessories citation needed They may distort or enhance the body within the boundaries of the director s vision The designer must ensure that the designs let the actor move as the role requires The actor must execute the director s blocking of the production without damaging the garments Garments must be durable and washable especially for plays with extended runs or films with near real time pacing meaning that most costumes will not change between scenes but whose principal photography phase may stretch across several weeks The designer must consult not only with the director but the set and lighting designers to ensure that all elements of the overall production design work together The designer must possess strong artistic capabilities and a thorough knowledge of pattern development draping drafting textiles and fashion history The designer must understand historical costuming and the movement style and poise that period dress may require Contents 1 History 2 Types of costume designers 3 Unions in the United States and Canada 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it May 2016 During the late 19th century company managers in the US usually selected costumes for a show Many were pulled from a rental houses only a few were designed Though designers in other theatrical disciplines were recognized few who specialized in costumes were The few that were included Caroline Siedle C Wilhelm Percy Anderson and Mrs John Alexander They sometimes even received credit on the title page of a playbill rather than in the back 2 In the 20th century film costume designers like Edith Head and Adrian became well known Edith Head born Edith Claire Posener went on and won eight Academy Awards for Best Costume Design between 1949 and 1973 Later those working in television like Nolan Miller Dynasty Janie Bryant Mad Men and Patricia Field Sex and the City became more prominent some becoming authors and having their own clothing and jewelry lines 3 Types of costume designers EditProfessional costume designers generally fall into three types freelance residential and academic Freelance designers are hired for a specific production by a film theatre dance or opera company A freelancer is traditionally paid in three instalments Upon hire on delivery of final renderings and opening night of the production Freelancers are not obligated to any exclusivity in what projects they work on and may design for several productions hired by a specific theatre dance or opera company for an extended series of productions This can be as short as a summer stock contract or may be for many years A residential designer is consistently on location at the theater at hand to work with costume studio and other collaborators A residential designer s contract may limit the amounts of freelance work they are allowed to accept Residential designers tend to be more established than strict freelancers but this is not always the case An academic designer is one who holds professorship at a school The designer is primarily an instructor but may also act as a residential designer to varying degrees They are often free to freelance as their schedule allows In the past professors of costume design were mostly experienced professionals that may or may not have had formal post graduate education but it has now become increasingly common to require a professor to have at least a Master of Fine Arts in order to teach Both residential and academic designers are generally also required to act as Shop Master or Mistress of an onsite costume shop in addition to designing productions In a resident theatre there is almost always a shop staff of stitchers 4 drapers cutters and craft artisans In an academic environment the shop staff is generally students who are learning about costume design and construction Most universities require costume design students to work a specified number of hours in the shop as part of their course work Unions in the United States and Canada EditThe examples and perspective in this section deal primarily with the United States and Canada and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject You may improve this section discuss the issue on the talk page or create a new section as appropriate April 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees is the sole union in the United States and Canada that represents costume designers It has two local unions that costume designers can belong to Costume Designers Guild Local 892 is one union that represents Costume Designers 5 as well as United Scenic Artists 6 Many costumers belong to the Motion Picture Costumers Union Local 705 and represent every position within the costume department except the costume designer Local 705 represents Costume Supervisors Key Costumers Costumers Tailor Seamstress Ager Dyer Cutter Fitters Costume House Employees and Commercial Costumers 7 See also EditCostume design Filmmaking List of film formats List of motion picture related topicsReferences Edit Landis Deborah Nadoolman 2012 03 16 Filmcraft Costume Design Costume Design Elsevier Science pp Introduction ISBN 9780240818672 King Kimball Western Drama through the Ages A Student Reference Guide Westport CT Greenwood 2007 534 Print Meltzer Marisa 2013 09 19 Get Me Wardrobe The New York Times p E1 stitcher The Free Dictionary retrieved 2020 09 30 Costume Designers Guild I A T S E Local 892 Local 829 usa829 com Local 705 Archived 2013 10 05 at the Wayback Machine motionpicturecostumers orgExternal links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Costume designers Costume Designers Guild Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Costume designer amp oldid 1169049981, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
