Costumer that Inspires Me

I have always admired the costume in films like Lord of The Rings, Star wars and now the Hobbit. All of the costumes and the numbers needed for the extras. Only since coming to university have I realised that I would love to take a managerial role, like costume supervisor or even wardrobe coordinator, understanding that for huge film sets, unlike in theatre you take a larger role before during and after the filming.

I have also recently loved the idea of being able to make wedding dresses.

However to try and tailor research to a specific costume maker, or to try and find a costume maker who worked on any of the above films in incredibly difficult; the only information you can be given is information on the designers.

What I love about these films is the way that so many costumes are needed. Especially in fantasy and sci-fi films this is needed, where each extra and character cannot be dressed in modern clothing, and costumes cannot be simply hired from a large store if the film is historical, but all costumes need to be made and tailored to each area and design of the film.

I am lost for where to begin when trying to find a particular maker who influences me; when a production like lord of the rings hires a team of 40 costume makers for a film, it is impossible to find one maker any where who work on that film in particular.

Anthony Brookman.

From working as a wardrobe master on films like Sherlock Holmes (2009); Sherlock Holmes: Game of shadows (2011) and Star Wars: Episode 1- The Phantom Menace (1999); as well as a crowd costume supervisor on films like Elizabeth: The Golden age (2007), Eragon (2006) and The duchess, as well as a costume assistant in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991).

I am inspired by this costume maker as he is very diverse in the work he has done, also helping in some films as an assistant designer, and so taking leading roles, whilst also being able to step back, and take roles where he is given responsibilities of larger numbers of people and costumes.

I have always loved the idea of being able to make and dress large numbers of people, be it from a large chorus in a theatre, to these large scenes in huge film productions.

I love the costumes for all of the above films, and I would personally love to work making costumes, or dressing actors or extras in a film or t.v. setting.

To find a costumer with such diversity in the roles they have taken also inspires me to want to do the same.