From LIN Wei Alex : I guess the design of the costumes really involves the communication with both actors and directors. By reading the script you might have your own understand, but this still needs to be double-checked with the directors and ask the actors to well interpret the thoughts. Is my guessing right or do you work on your own?
Yes, communication is important, in fact it impossible to start designing without a thorough discussion with all departments. After reading the script, I’ll normally have a general idea but before I decide my overall concept, I still need to get all my questions answered from director and screenwriter, to make sure I grasped the essence of the script and all the background stories even they are not written into the script. After that, I’ll lay out all my ideas and discuss with my team to establish a more concrete concept and present it to the whole production team. If possible, also discuss my ideas with actors so everyone know what to expect and I can just focus on the designs on my own. Actors involvement come much later, normally during a fitting as actors can finally see and feel the costumes in their actual form, not merely concepts and sketches on paper. When actors are in costume, many more will be discussed. Actor’s input and director’s comments are important at this stage, as they affect how director orchestrate a scene and how the actors perform. If actors hold a strong opinion on designs, we must reached a mutual understanding and make adjustment accordingly. Having the director on your side, surely make it much more easier! 🙂