MAJOR PROJECT: Costume/Wardrobe Design:Research

Security Guards

Atomic Blonde Poster

To be able to sell the characters in a production and make them believable as real people, their appearance and costumes are very important. Not only is the acting itself important but the way the character looks can help to tell the story. We'd discussed the costumes as group and decided that the 2 main characters Bobbie and Clive should be dressed in simple, plain black clothing. As they are setting up a heist at night, they would want to disguise themselves so they wouldn't be seen in the dark. Black is also a stereotypical colour used for spies in films, and as the film is a comedy, we wanted there to be some stereotypes thrown in. Their costumes should be plain with no obvious logos or brands visible. We also decided that plain outfits as opposed to elaborate costumes would highlight that they are amateurs and don't have very much money.

Hand Radio

Bobbie is a spy enthusiast and dreams of being an action heroine. Therefore, we decided that her costume should look a little more authentic, as if she has put some real effort into looking the part. The plan to steal was her idea and we want it to come across in her costume that she is really enthusiastic and excited about it.

Clive, however, has set the plan up to fail and so although he will be wearing black also, his costume should be much more relaxed than Bobbie's. We decided that he should be wearing some casual black jeans, a black t-shirt and a black hoody. We have come up with the idea that Clive will be wearing some bright, white trainers that should stand out on camera. We want this to be a subtle hint to the audience that he is not as invested in this as Bobbie is and the he is trying to deter the plan from going ahead.

Clive's White Trainers

The security guard on the other hand should look authentic. His role needs to be believable to drive the the story forward. Therefore, we have decided that a simple white shirt, black tie and smart black trousers and shoes would be most suitable with some other accessories like a hand radio and a lanyard with his personal security details on it. A torch may also work, as he will be on duty during the night and so it would be likely that he would be carrying a torch.

Overall, I think that the costume/wardrobe design for the film should be fitting to the genre of the production and the characters. Bobbie and Clive's wardrobe is relatively simple and the cast members may have some of the items required already. However, I will need to communicate with them during the audition stage to find out what I will need to get for the shoot. The security guard's costume itself is also relatively simple, and the added extras like the radio and torch we already have. We will be able to make the lanyard once we have cast the actors.