Welcome to FrockTalk, the web’s only costume-based movie review site. The goal of Frocktalk is to shed light on the magnificent artistry of costume design in motion pictures. Reviews on this site are written by working costume designers in the entertainment industry – people who know, better than anyone, what it takes to make it all happen.
The focus of FrockTalk is not to comment on the big flashy costume dramas, but to call attention to the seemingly ordinary costume design work in film that silently and persuasively moves the audience toward understanding the characters. Costume design for motion pictures is an art form that deserves more recognition than it usually gets. Fancy, pretty costumes do not always equal effective, appropriate costumes. The art of the costume is in letting the audience know who the character is, before the actor even has a chance to open his mouth. Read on, and enjoy.
Sandy Powell won the Academy Award last night for her work on The Young Victoria. In her acceptance speech, she graciously offered her award to all of us costume designers who do contemporary films, or films of a lower budget, films that do not often get the recognition they deserve. It was a very thoughtful gesture! To honor Sandy’s achievement (last night was her THIRD Oscar win), here is an interview from the CDG Awards. Anthony and Sarah spent some time talking with Mizz Powell, and she gives some sound advice.
If you can’t see the embed, CLICK HERE to watch on YouTube. Remember, Internet Explorer is INCOMPATIBLE with many websites, including Frocktalk. Please download a free copy of the Firefox browser, and change your web-surfing experience forever!!
Frocktalk reporters Anthony Tran and Sarah Schuessler talk with costume designerJanie Bryant on the red carpet at the CDG Awards. Later that evening, Janie won the CDG Award for her work on Mad Men! Check it out!
If you can’t play the embed, CLICK HEREto see it on YouTube!
Our latest installment of the “In Their Own Words” feature is this interview with one of Avatar’s costume designers, Deborah Scott. Frocktalk reporter Sarah Schuessler caught up with her on the red carpet at the CDG Awards. Big thanks to the Costume Designers Guild for getting us in! It was a fun time!!
From the NY Times, I give you this article about how Tim Burton’s new film Alice In Wonderland is inspiring fashion, art, and all of humanity. It’s a nice piece, and they talk with Colleen Atwood about her work. Read on!
Hello, Frocktalk faithful. I have been a bit crazed, having just returned from the Big Muddy film festival… and now I am starting to help a friend with a project. It’s getting hectic. However, we have tons of audio interviews from the CDG Awards, and I need to post those for you - they are pretty great. What I might do, in the interest of my own laziness, is just post them unedited here… they are funny and sweet. Anthony and Sarah did a fantastic job, and I know you are going to love listening to some of the world’s best costume designers talk about their experiences!! Stand by!!
Hello Frocktalkers – hope you had a good weekend!I am back from Carbondale, Illinois, where I spent a few days serving as a juror for the Big Muddy Film Festival.It was a total blast, and I am so inspired by the work I saw there.In total, I think I saw 52 films in about 48 hours (give or take some hours for sleep).Some of them were shorts, but there were many, many 60+ minute films.It was a lot to see, but boy was it fun.We announced the winners on Saturday night, via Beatles Rock Band, singing the titles of the winners.It was awesome.
Congratulations to last night’s CDG Award winners! They are:
In the Film categories: Fantasy - Monique Prudhomme, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus; Period - Sandy Powell, The Young Victoria; Contemporary - Doug Hall, Crazy Heart.
And for television: Contemporary - Lou Eyrich for Glee; Period - Janie Bryant for Mad Men; Miniseries/Movie - Catherine Marie Thomas for Grey Gardens. In the commercial costume design category, Casey Storm won for his work on the Milkquarius campaign.
More details, interviews and pictures to come - I should have them up by Monday!! Have a great weekend, and CONGRATS to all!!!
Hello Frocktalkers! Just here to let you know about a few things. I have been asked to be a juror at a film festival this week, so I will MISS the CDG Awards on Thursday. Do not fear. Frocktalk correspondents Anthony and Sarah will be handling coverage of the event, and I can’t wait to hear their stories! As part of the film festival I’m attending, I will screen Running Scared (2006), a film I designed, with Q & A afterward. It should be fun! Along those lines, I was recently interviewed by Chris at Clothesonfilm.com about the film, and you can read those interviews HERE and HERE. Lastly, while I am away, there is a trunk show happening on Sunday in Glendale, and my wares will be peddled there. More after the jump!
Congratulations to Sandy Powell on her BAFTA win for The Young Victoria! This is a great kickoff to the next few weeks for Powell, who returns to LA to receive the Lacoste Career Achievement in Film award at the CDG awards event on Thursday, and then attends the Oscars the following week. Congratulations to Sandy and her Young Victoria crew - and good luck with the rest of awards season!
Latest Comments
RSS