A brief summary of the workshop on costume design

February 5 we held a workshop on costume design. We discussed the work of costume designer, the need for education, collaboration of departments while working on the film, working with the main actors and professional techniques to help facilitate the work of costume designers. Traditionally, we have prepared for you a brief summary of the workshop:

• Main tasks of a costume designer: 1. Helping director to realize his artistic intention. 2. Helping the actor to create an accurate portrait of his character that will be remembered.
• If you plan to work as a costume designer on a film, you will need organizational skills. Higher education will be helpful as it will allow you to talk to producers and directors in the same language.
• In books on the history of costume, it is important not only to view images, but also carefully read the text, since the design of books is created by artists who have their own vision.
• The starting point in the work of make-up artists is a sketch of a costume.
• All the costumes should be ready in preproduction period. It is better to get the script as soon as possible to start preparing costumes and gather information.
• Costume designer often works with various consultants - military, medical, ethnographers. The involvement of such professionals is very important for the reliability of the picture.
• You must be willing to perform any task - from shopping to creating a fantasy costume. At the same time remember that the director is not required to understand the intricacies of the suit - it's your job. Also, it is the costume designer who decides exactly where to take clothing.
• Work on the show, which is shot by an acquired format, requires compliance with the rules of the format. In particular, density, color, shape of the suit are parts of the format. Keep in mind that the standards and the names of fabric may vary in different countries. 
• The work on television means working on the image of the host. After the approval of the style, "technical card of the host" is created, which includes work of stylists, costume designers and makeup artists in the preparation of the hots to each programme. The card includes a description and image, style and haircut, make-up, limits of the color gamut and so on.
• For the presentation of the programme and style of the host a Mood Board is created. It includes colored sheets with references to the style and clothes of the host; to the characters with the appropriate mood; images corresponding to the character and mood of the programme; theses or words that reflect the mood of the direction of the program. Technically Mood Board can be made in different techniques - collage, drawing, digital graphics, etc.
• You can have as many assistants costume deisgner as you need. When shooting large-scale scenes with lots of extras, you need to understand exactly how much time you have to spend on dressing them. If you want to dress people in one hour, then you will need at least one helper for every thirty people.
• If you rent clothes, keep in mind that the minimum rental period is three days: a day to take the suit, day of filming, day to return it back.
• Schedule is an internal agreement within the team of costumers.
• Theatrical approach to the costume is perfect for a costume designer. It implies a leisurely creative work, engaging actor for costume fitting, agreement with the director and production designer, personal approach. In movies and TV shows it is often impossible due to busy schedule.
• Cooperation with the designers of the fashion industry in the movie can be extremely effective. They are very ambitious and responsible, and won't make a bad costume if their name or brand comes up in the credits.