We will create beauty

After weeks of pre-production preparation and panic we have finally arrived at the big day everybody is has been working their socks off for. Tonight at John Cabot University, an international university here in Rome, we will be performing our opening show of 'Nine'.

It's tense, exciting and nerve racking before a show. I can't speak for myself as an actor (god knows how terrified they must be!) however nerves do still creep up when you're up in that little magic tech box above the audience. A skill I have learnt here at the theatre is how to operate light and sound boards and so this has recently been my responsibility during the show - and I really enjoy it (AND get to see the show!)

Initially I would have expected to be backstage with the actors so that I could help them into their costumes and ensure that they are ready to go - however, with a role elsewhere this has meant I have instilled a confidence in them to dress themselves and help each other. I actually think this has worked out for the best. I'm not backstage fussing over them, perfecting every crease and ruffle and i'm sure it's as satisfying for me as it is to them when they come out looking fabulous.

Here's a sneak-peek photo of the Folies Bergere song from last nights dress rehearsal:

"We will create beauty"

A Costumista's Catalyst

I'm going to start with a little insight into my day today - because I believe it's been a catalyst for me starting up this blog.

Firstly a bit of background - I am currently working, among other things, as the costume designer for an upcoming performance of the musical "Nine". It's based on a Federico Fellini film favourite - 8 and a half. Fulfilling my role as the costumista, (costume designer) - do expect a big of Italian lingo slipped in here and there - I've been resourcing and fitting costumes and hand crafting head pieces for the Folies Begere number.

I spent the proportion of my day yesterday spray painting obscure faux flowers in a striking chrome colour and affixing them onto miniature bowler hats I managed to grab for a cheeky 1 euro each. I will include a more detailed post on these. My boss, an incredible lady who I could also dedicate a long ass post to, was actually rather delighted this morning when she saw them.

But the thing that really left me motivated this evening was how I surprised myself by taking on a leadership role stronger than I ever have. To sum it up: the lights we had for the show were not having a striking or professional impact on the stage. I was unsatisfied and drew up a light design for the show. With the help of two other students I instigated a swift re-working of the lights, directing and leading them to create the design I had drawn up.

I dare say, it felt pre-ty good taking charge and being assertive. A good skill to learn, and a good opportunity for me to practice it.

An Introduction...

Buonasera (Good Evening)

I would like to actually start by introducing my blog, and myself a little. I have been working in Rome as an intern now for.. let me see.. 7 months. (Wow). Living in another country lands you in experiences and situations you would never have expected for yourself - and it's really, really so interesting.

Alora, I want to share with you these adventures, escapades and general day to day happenings of my life here on this blog.

Expect some back dating - 7 months has gone by so there's a fair bit to catch up with...

Baci!

'NINE: The Musical' Research and Boards

I have been busy working on Nine and still stoked for project as I will have a much more hands-on role and freedom with my work. We have a cast of 11 characters with 2-3 costume changes each which is a huge increase from the last shows I worked on. I think this will be a challenge as I am going to have to work a lot harder - and faster to ensure everyone is ready in time for the show. I want to push myself and really prove my talent in this show.

I began by doing my own research into the themes, I said a while ago that I was going to create boards and I followed through and did it. This is quite a personal achievement for me as I often come up with good ideas but don't always persevere and follow them through. This time I have. 

This production screams sexy, showgirl and avante garde Italian fashion

Basic costume board for the 'Overture' scene

We have girls of all sizes in the production - from extra large to extra small - which means I need to create costume that is adaptable size-wise and keep it sexy. The above board shows my first ideas which I followed up with a trip to the huge fabric store I know of from my first few weeks here in Rome, Fratelli Basetti Tessuti. It felt good to need something and know where I can get it from. It has taken me a while to learn the best places to buy stuff however now I feel confident shopping in Rome and not getting ripped off. Which, believe me, is a challenge in it's self!

In the store I was shown rolls of sequinned materials, some were a million miles away from our budget - I'm talking 80euro a metre here (and I expect some are even more expensive) - yet some were much more in budget. I collected samples to attach to my boards.

The more expensive fabrics... so damn.. pretty...

More sparkles... just cheaper! Hooray!

I am uncertain our small 200 euro budget will cover the sequinned fabric to make the skirts however I enjoyed following through with the process as it was good practice for me. I used research skills from my two years at Coventry and knew the importance of collecting samples and getting a feel for the fabrics. My images and information has all been referenced too - another thing I would never have got into the habit of doing if it was not for our projects on campus. I realise now how even the smallest tasks and skills are important. 

Being in a fabric store that large was actually quite overwhelming - in a positive way. There are rooms after rooms of rolls of fabric, all unique and some really spectacular. Although I am not doing a collection for my final year I definitely want to include the use of fabric in the installation I hope to create. I have always enjoyed working with fabric and I want to create pieces that do not require the precision and accuracy of pattern cutting and making. I have confidence that with practice I would be capable to do so, however I feel it would be more beneficial for me to use my best skills - which is creating from a more artistic perspective where projects are more adaptable and you are able to modify and fine-tune as you go along.

We create a programme for every show and it is really important for everyone involved. It not only informs the audience but commends the actors who take part and help them publicise themselves - which is what the theatre aims to do as a spring board.

Nine programme designed by me - Front and Back

Inside pages of the programme with bios and photographs

My experience as an extra in a film! 'Everest' OUT in 2015

Last  Monday I attended my costume fitting for my role as an extra. Being a costume designer this was really exciting for me as it gave me a chance to see how it's done by a professional. Well, in this case, the assistant of the professional. I was dressed by the assistant designer but I managed to catch a glimpse of  the real costumista as he strode into the room, looked at me, exclaimed "Urgh that's horrible - take it off" and went off out again.

I couldn't help but smile to myself a little as he left the room, I found his mannerisms slightly amusing, the offence he felt from my miss-matched outfit was almost too much for him to look at. 

It made me wonder if things change once you move up to higher ranks. It seems it becomes more deciding 'yes' and 'no' to other peoples decisions than making your own - depending on how many people you have working for you.

There were shelves of mountains boots, boxes of gloves, hats, scarves and earmuffs and finally rails of old school 90's ski and mountain wear. The colours were great, I love the magenta, teal and purple combo's that were so popular for that fashion. 

Wooley hats, scarves, gloves, ear muffs - the lot!

Mountain boots.. I was one of the last so the shelves were a little bare

Rails of 90's ski wear

Colourful body warmers

Ski wear is super super comfy

To the left is my first costume and, as comfy as the blue sweats were, they weren't working as part of costume. We needed to go less pyjama, more mountaineer-er. The solution was a pair of original high waisted Levi's, that if I may add, fitted ever so perfectly - it's a shame they couldn't come home with me!

I returned to Cine Citta on Thursday for my first day of shooting. The producer briefed us before we headed off to get changed. We had an assistant to help us and off with our clothes and on with the costume - I was not expecting such treatment as an extra! We then waited in turn for hair and make up - something else I wasn't expecting. I sat in front of a Hollywood vanity mirror and had my cheeks dirtied and reddened, then my hair fashioned into a very cute Norwegian style low plait. 

It seems as a red-head I was a target of serious face-reddening
in the make-up department

I was really really lucky to have this experience. Not only did I get an idea of how costume works for a film, I got to see how the action on set worked. Unfortunately I could not get any other photo's as phones were forbidden on set (as expected). We went through the process of retaking scenes, hearing the clacker and then the directors words: Rolling, Background action, and then finally Action. Background action was our cue, and with that I tried my best to immerse myself in the scene and act as naturally as possible. I would not have had the confidence to do this a year ago, however after a combination of being at University and most importantly, moving to Rome independently, I was comfortable enough to do it. 

Seeing filming in action and the way the costumes, hair, make-up and set is all designed really enthused me about film making. It gave me an idea for my final year project to integrate video into my branding. I want to create a promotional video and I now have lots of skills from my year in Rome to help me along with it. I will be able to use my lighting skills to set an effective ambience, I have learnt from the Everest filming how important it is to ensure that costumes of extra and actors do not clash with each other - nor can they clash or blend in with the set. This is a useful note that I will take from this experience - the image being shot on camera must work as a whole, every aspect an part of the shot needs to be considered and they must all be in visual harmony with one another. 

Information on the film Everest due for release in 2015 is on IMDB so check it out! I will most certainly be going to the cinema for this one!

Another cheeky photo - I hope I'm allowed to share these..

Women Honing One-Acts: Supporting International Women's Day

Things are moving very quickly now - I like working at a fast pace as it keeps me active and hard-working. 

Last Saturday was the opening night for W.H.O.A - Women Honing One-Acts (A Night of Women Who Write). This runs like a mini festival with three performances - two playrights, and one excerpt from a book by Elizabeth Geoghegan - The Marco Chronicles: To Rome, Without Love. The excerpt is by far my favourite part of the show, it has humour - some witty, some adult, and it creates a very different perspective of 'romance' in Rome from the standard rose-tinted glasses people tend to see it with. This I feel I can relate to which is perhaps another reason why it is my favourite. I see a very commercialised Rome which over the years of tourism seems to me, to have lost it's charm. 

Anyway, I'll save all that for another post!

Promotional poster for W.H.O.A made by me

Period Clothing and A day at Cine Citta - The Famous Italian Film Studios

Period hats and costume in Costumista Scenigrafo

Recently, us at The English Theatre of Rome have been working with Pop-up Rome on a fundraiser for Save The Children. The event, which I assisted in organising, was a theatrical rendition of Shelly's poem about the Italian noblewoman Beatrice Cenci held at the the Cenci Palace. 

The theme was 16th Century, as the performance was this era, so everybody was required to be in full costume. We had a small budget for the costume this time so Gaby and I went to the Costumista Scenigrafo at Giacomo Ponzio, a costume shop that specializes in period clothing. This was another great opportunity for me to learn more about period fashion and whilst there the shop owner told me which styles were from what years and how to pick out certain characteristics from the decades. 

Rails of voluminous period skirts and underlays

Eve and Nikolai were actors in the show and were being fitted for their costume. I was a little envious of them being able to dress up in the extravagant clothing to be honest, I would have really liked to join in. Their costumes look great!

Eve and Nikolai in the dressing room.. Smile guys!

A costume from the period just after the Revolution

Spanish costumes from the 15th Century

Cenci Event

The costume below is inspired by the African fashion that would have been worn by black people during the 16th Century - I wanted the challenge of designing something different from the Italian medieval theme which I knew everybody else was focused on. 

African costume designed by me

A typical servants/peasants costume from the century. Leggings and shoes hired from the costumista, the top resourced from Gaby's wardrobe (budget was very limited as always!) - I am pleased with the combination created here.

Anthony in a one of his best Medieval poses

There was a trip to Venice up for grabs for best dressed. These are the lovely couple that won and it's clear why. Unfortunately I cannot take credit for these absolute masterpieces, the attention to detail and embellishment in these made them stand out from the rest. The hours of hard work that went into these costumes is astonishing. Even the masks.. just wow. 

This week I also had the lucky opportunity to visit Cine Citta (Cinema City), a large film studio here in Rome considered to be the hub of Italian cinema. Gaby is hosting a casting for an upcoming film 'Everest' so I had the pleasure of joining her whilst seeing the sites at the same time. There were some striking fascist buildings - I have noticed they are quite popular here in Rome.

The studios were closely associated with Frederico Fellini, and his office was here at Teatro No.5. As the musical Nine, which we are working on with the University students is based on a film by Fellini, it was fantastic for me to be able to make that link and get a feel of the director and see his work space from many years ago.

Taa daaa!

Cine Citta also has model cities - Rome, New York, Paris. It was so interesting to see how realistically these can appear in film and even in real life - it was hard to believe these buildings are mostly made from plastic and light wood!

'Fake Rome'

The view from behind of the scaffolding - the big give away!

LA Jail... GUILTY

La Paris.. capturing how perfectly my hair can match my handbag...

Whilst having lots of fun at the film studies, Gaby suggested that I should have a go at my own casting for a place an as extra. I heard back later in the week from the production crew and they have indeed selected me for the extra cast! I have a costume fitting on Monday.

I later found out there may be some issues with the payments as the company pay by direct debit into your Italian bank account - which I do not have. These are the sort of problems you are faced with when living abroad. I found a simple solution in that they are happy to send the money into Gaby's account.

The shifts will long, full days, but it will be great chance to meet directors, actors and make a bit of money!

I haven't heard back from NutKase, the company who I applied for a position within. Upon reflection I was probably a little over ambitious. It hasn't knocked me though - I have enough on my plate already and I am learning and achieving so much working at the theatre.