Shooting the Derby Stuarts

So today was the shoot day! It didn't take too long and I think Kevin Malbas has done an awesome job. The girls looked amazing and really pulled off the image as I had imagined it!

This is the shot I want to use. It'll need some touching up and editing but here it is in its raw state. 

Sourcing for the Styling Shoot.

I've managed to only purchase two of the items I needed for the shoot, the rest has either been owned by me or borrowed which is great!

Left Character

  
In addition to black leggings and long white socks.


Right Character

In addition to blue t-shirt, denim shorts, long white socks with stripe. 

And then all the skate gear for both!

Final Options for the Shoot

So the shoot is tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to it! I've put together my final design choices and am excited to see them on the girls for the first time. The main dress for the young girl is an adult size 50s dress that I think will work really well and can be easily disguised as the Victorian era with the additional details. It'll be interesting to see how everything fits, though luckily the design choice for both girls includes a tie around the waist which will pull them in nicely. 
These are the quick sketches that I've done with the final designs for them. 


 

Hirearchy Visit!

The children haven't yet been cast, though it is likely that now it will be 2 girls instead of a girl and a boy. B is seeing 2 girls later today. 
Despite having no measurements yet I wanted to at least get an idea of what was available at Hirearchy in Boscombe, so that I could make quick decisions as soon as I did have measurements! Here are some photographs of what's available.

The white pinafore is an almost definite yes. Obviously size dependant, though as it's tie at the back it should be fine whatever size. 
The coats are lovely, however I don't think the budget will allow me them, and actually for the film I'm not sure that they fit with the feel. I do really like the black shawl, though again I'm not sure it's necessary.

Aviary Keeper at the Costume Store

I think the Aviary Keeper should be quite simple. 
B has asked me to use the set as influence for this character and keep him textual and so he would be "at home" in the set.

We've agreed to keep him very basic, a white shirt, black trousers, black shoes and a rustic waistcoat. He hasn't yet been cast, though she has someone in mind. Today I went to the costume store to see what they had in terms of waistcoats and this is the one I've chosen. It's a very rough fabric and looks very worn down. I'm hoping that it will fit as this is the best option that we have! 

First meeting with Director B Emck

So today I had my first meeting with B Emck, the director for the film who also pitched the idea. It went really well, I think we're definitely on the same page, and seem to have a lot of similar tastes and ideas in terms of the design for the piece. I already knew that we would see eye to eye as she mentioned Colleen Atwood in her pitch who is one of the costume designers I admire the most, and I found that we talked a lot about films she had worked on today! 

Notes:

Victorian was the era that she had initially mentioned, and we agreed that this would work well, with the children being middle to upper class (though nothing too fancy). For colouring we're looking at the young girl in predominantly white, with possible black or coloured touches. She loved the idea for the bow around the waist and we're looking at the green to blue colour spectrum, mirroring some of the original colours of the painting. She wants it relatively plain with small details and loved the idea of the stripy tights. 

The aviary man with be 60+. She wants lots of texture with him so to match the set. Simple with waistcoat. 

Shoes will be seen. For the girl possibly laced boots.

Everything we discussed confirmed all the ideas I had started to envisage. She also showed me a couple pictures of the set which will be great to help envisage the costumes! 

None of the actors have been cast yet. B is meeting with a girl and boy tomorrow and will let me know asap if they are right for the parts. As we are filming in exactly a week I will start looking around without measurements for the basic items and get some fabric samples for colour so not to waste time. Hopefully we will have measurements by Monday. 

Dressing the Stuarts in Derby Gear

In my sketchbook I've been looking a lot at the shapes and lines created in Anthony Van Dyck's original painting of the 2 Lords. The lines from the breeches and fabric round the arms already naturally mirrors the lines created by Derby kit which you can see below. 

From these key elements of Roller Derby kit I've drawn up a rough sketch of how my final photograph will be layed out. I think the lines correlate really well to the original.

Final Choice and Next Steps

So as I said in my previous post, after my tutorial with Bunny Winter I have decided on using Lord John Stuart and his Brother, Lord Bernard Stuart. 

After seeing The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp transformed into a scene at a tattoo parlour I was so drawn to the comedy side of it as well as the alternative feel and I wanted to achieve something that also encapsulated that comedy in creating something a bit different. After the idea of recreating this as two 21st century Roller Derby girls sprung into my head I haven't been able to shake it as its such a personal love of mine. I've since been focusing a lot in my sketchbook on the key shapes and lines I want to replicate using the Roller Derby gear.

The idea is to turn the image of these wealthy 17th century men completely upside down, firstly by making them women, and more importantly by adorning them in the essential Roller Derby gear and giving them a bit of Roller Derby attitude. 

The next step is to look at the gear itself and how I can replicate the shapes, lines and colours with it. 

Images courtesy of the Dorset Roller Girls

Tutorial 1: Styling Project

Tutorial with Bunny Winter 22.3.12

Notes:

Wanting to modernise the portrait of choice.Good start with research, got a good feel for where I want to go.

Currently have 2 main choices:

- Madame Moitessier Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, 1856

Focus on shape and colour

- Lord John Stuart and his Brother, Lord Bernard Stuart Anthony Van Dyck, 1638

Change the storyline with a comical twist - modern day Roller Derby girls. 

Could use team mates at Dorset Roller Girls and friends.

Focus on colour, stance, shape.

Look at specifics of lines to make sure achieved correctly. 

Will shoot after Easter. Prepare everything during Easter so shoot is easily done after Easter. Use Kevin Malbas (3rd year Photography) and hire out studio at uni. 

Think about set, step to stand on, and something to lean on. 

Do some test shots first with kit to get perfect. 

Reflection:

After my tutorial it has become even more clear to me that Lord John Stuart and his Brother, Lord Bernard Stuart is the best choice for me. I really want to create something comical and personal to me, and really believe that I can replicate this painting well with my new context added to it. 

From talking with Bunny I know that because it is such a massive change to the painting I will need to focus so strongly on the shapes and colours of my choices in everything to really make it a successful final photograph. I've already started speaking with Kevin Malbas, a photographer friend, to start thinking about achieving the best picture I can. I already have a pretty clear idea of what I want it to look like, and in terms of costume and outfit I feel really confident in my initial choices. The test shots I hope to do will be able to show me if anything needs tweaking before I do the final shoot.