From Anson Tang : I wonder if budget is a huge concern during the costume making process? In case there is a tight budget, how could we balance the cost and still produce costumes that represents the character? Thanks
CCHU9034
From Anson Tang : I wonder if budget is a huge concern during the costume making process? In case there is a tight budget, how could we balance the cost and still produce costumes that represents the character? Thanks
Budget IS always a huge concern, I have not yet worked in a production without worrying the budget! After reading the script, we would have a production meeting with all departments to understand the Director’s vision of the film, aesthetic approach, duration of filming, how many costumes is needed, numbers of actors and extras need to be dressed, so on so forth. Only with these information, I could be able to outline my budget and discuss it with the producer. I need a very clear plan to prioritise where my budget goes, for example: limit the changes of costume for some character, customise or purchase items instead of making the costume from scratch, get sponsorship, rental, etc.
When working on Rigor Mortis, I have the most impossible budget to work with. I spent almost 1/5 of my budget on 4 sets of Vampire silk robe , which I have them made in a Beijing costume house, the robe WAS my priority! Another big chunk went to the dyeing mill because I wanted all 16 colours that I used on the Tall Ghosts were in perfect shades. So many costumes in that film were made by my team: we designed the pattern and printed our own fabric with silkscreen, we aged those brass coins and attached them one by one for the mask. I even hand sewn a few of them towards the end of filming. My experience taught me there’s nothing to stop you from creating something you believed in. All we need is a dedicated team shared your vision. Always stand by your ideas when being challenged but also have the ability to improvise. Limited budget is never an excuse.