Goals of costume design
What are the goals of costume design?
Why do productions need intimacy choreographers/directors?
What are some elements that are common between fight choreography, lighting design, and costume design?
Read the beginning of the "Blues for An Alabama Sky" script - (u can just look up summary for start of script)
Describe how you might think about the costume design principles of "Rhythym and Unity" (pg. 290) for this cast. What elements would you use in the design to achieve those principles?
How would you indicate the passage of time in Blues with onstage lighting?
Sample Solution
Goals of Costume Design
The goals of costume design can vary depending on the production, but some common goals include:
- To create a visually appealing and cohesive look for the production
- To support the storytelling by helping to communicate the characters' identities, backgrounds, and relationships
- To create a comfortable and functional environment for the actors to perform in
- Rhythm: All three elements can use rhythm to create a sense of excitement, suspense, or humor in a production. For example, a fight choreographer might use a fast-paced rhythm to create a sense of excitement during a fight scene. A lighting designer might use a pulsing rhythm to create a sense of suspense during a tense scene. A costume designer might use a rhythmic pattern of colors and textures to create a visually appealing look for a character.
- Unity: All three elements can also be used to create a sense of unity in a production. For example, a fight choreographer might coordinate the actors' movements to create a sense of harmony. A lighting designer might use a consistent color palette to create a sense of cohesion. A costume designer might use similar fabrics and textures to create a sense of unity among a group of characters.
- To indicate the beginning of a new day, the lighting designer could start with a dim blue light and then slowly fade up to a brighter yellow light.
- To indicate the end of a day, the lighting designer could start with a bright yellow light and then slowly fade down to a dim orange light.
- To indicate the passage of time during a scene, the lighting designer could gradually change the color temperature or intensity of the light.
- To indicate a sudden change in time, the lighting designer could use a flash of light or a sudden change in the direction of the light.