|
Getting the right look for your production: tips, tricks and resources
by Vanessa Roman
Recently, I wrote a short film that I decided to set in 1973. Arguably, it could have been told in modern day because it was about an everyday, middle class family, but as a storyteller, you not only want the right look, but the right setting. We know the political climate, the clothes, as well as attitudes towards race, gender, sexual orientation and domestic violence change from decade to decade. All of these factor in to how to tell a story. Once I decided that the right feeling for this story was the attitude of the 1970's, I knew I had my work cut out for me transforming a set.
I had to take an empty house, which looked perfect on the outside and take it back in time. Everything that hung on the walls, all the furniture had to be period perfect. I had to find a house that had the same bathroom fixtures, the same window frames, and the correct doorknobs. Luckily, not everyone updates.
Every production needs a set designer, your look is very important. Enter Barbara Merlotti, production designer for Fang as well as Brian Jun's Joint Body and Jack Snyder's Call me on Tuesday. You can see more of her art and still pictures from the films at www.barbaramerlotti.com
Barbara described for us getting the look just right for Call me on Tuesday. She was challenged with a space she had to transform from an empty classroom area to a detective squad room. She did the props, art and set decoration. Barbara took us through the process from start to finish and told us what it takes to create the illusion on a budget. Check out the work she has done, we were all quite impressed.
Next we moved to costumes. As important as the background settings are, we need costumes to know where we are in time. We know we're in the 80's when we see massive shoulder pads and bell bottoms and Brady Bunch florals set us in the 70's. Beth Ashby, who is currently costuming Cannibal the Musical http://www.cannibal-stl.com/
brought a whole list of costume resources and talked to us about how to do research about the era your production needs. Two of the web resources she recommended were the costumers guide to movie costumes, which can be found at : http://costumersguide.com/ and the costumers manifesto which can be found at: http://www.costumes.org/history/100pages/fashion_theory.htm
When I was researching the 1970's, I found a great place that rents period costumes and also sells them at very reasonable prices. The Vintage Habadashery is a lovely little shop with nothing but treasures inside. I was able to find everything I needed all in one place. They are located at 3181 Morganford and their website is: http://vintagehab.com/
Another great place for costumes and furniture is: TFA (the future antiques) http://tfa50s.com/
Beth Ashby is a very talented individual. I highly recommend her for your costume needs. To contact her for your next project, email her at: Madeleinethegoat@gmail.com
Next we moved to Jim Tudor who has an extensive resume in art direction, set decoration, set dressing. Check out his Imdb page! http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2021486/
Jim has a really great kit that he brought to show us how he creates his magic. He was the art director on the films Alice Upside Down, The Tomb, which just played on cable last month and Kingshighway and many more. Since what we do is always temporary, Jim gave us tips and tricks on how to decorate a wall, how to create depth in a scene and where to get the right stuff for our production. Jim Tudor has worn many hats in a great deal of local productions. To hire him for your next film, his email is: jimtudor@sbcglobal.net . You can check him out at http://www.iatse493.org to see how multi talented he is.
Next time I do a film, I am going to want all three of these brilliant people on my set. Thanks for coming out and giving us such great advice and showing us your terrific work. Look for them at future MCA meetings, we hope to have them all back!
| 
