Ellen Mirojnick, who was tasked with creating more than 500 outfits for the movie as well as dressing better than 1,000 extras, has been nominated for a Costume Designers Guild Award for excellence in a period film. The detail and extravagance of her work speak for themselves.
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I went to see The Greatest Showman over winter break with my brother and my mom. Afterwards we couldn’t stop talking about how wonderful it was. The period was set very well while still seeming like a modern and relatable story. The costumes were something that really drew my attention for the entire movie, and everything fit all the multitude of characters present in the film. I agree very strongly with what Mirojnick says about Barnum’s red jacket; “The moment Hugh put the jacket on, we couldn’t take our eyes off it.” It played perfectly with the lights, and seemed to come right off of the screen. I think that was what really sold the film for me. All of the costumes and colors really popped off the screen and drew me into the movie. If I were to compare The Greatest Showman to La La Land as two modern musical films, I would say that The Greatest Showman was the better film by miles.
This is one of those movies that I so desperately wanted to see in theaters but never could quiet find the time to go and see. From the commercials and promotional material it looked like an absolutely beautiful and well crafted film with captivating design elements and an interesting story. The clothes and the aesthetic for the whole movie is an interesting concept and is something that looks to be captivating and intriguing for an entire show. I feel as though musical films are one of those kinds of films that are a captivating twist on the old and integration of the new. It gives this sense of realism and obscurity. With all of the different worlds of musical theatre and the ability of film to separate and create new experiences for people the ability to make the impossible happen right before a persons eyes is easier then ever and film makes anything possible which I feel will always captivate people. Doing things that they have never seen done before.
I definitely think that the Greatest Showman had amazing production quality, the costumes were beautiful, but I have to disagree with Peter-- I do no think the Greatest Showman is a period piece. It is a period piece in the same way the TV show Merlin was a period piece. Every piece that came out of the department of production design was beautiful and well put together-- individually. But together, the individual pieces did not work together to create the illusion that the movie took place in a particular time period. It sort of felt like a set that had a lot of props but still felt underdressed. That being said, the I appreciated all of the thought and work that went into each prop piece and costume piece-- even though they did not quite feel cohesive. Everything that Zendaya wore in that move looked good on her. I am glad I went to see this movie over the break.
I am torn on how I feel about The Greatest Showman as a whole. For me I was on the edge of my seat, thinking if it was amazing or a little to overly dramatic. That being said I loved the costumes in the movie. They were all so elegant and fantastical. That being said, I still there think there was some confusion for me. In terms of time period I had this nagging instinct that something was clashing. Be it the sent and costumes, or some of the costumes to others. I think they tried modernized it, but with out actual leaving the historical time period. I think will all the glam and grits they put into this movie this should have made it more clear if they were trying to modernize the story, or play fantastic tribute. I think they road the line. If I was not so easily pleased when it comes to movies I might think this movie was over done. Lucky for Ellen Mirojnick, put almost anything to music and add some fancy lights and I’m sold.
I am always shocked by how many costumes actually have to be designed and created for movies. Even though they have similar run times to most musicals, movies always seem to be infinitely more complex. The number I found most impressive was the number of extra costumes they had to create for people likely only seen for a minute or two. Especially with period piece like this one, every costume has to be so meticulously thought out because it has to be historically accurate. Also it always seems as though movies have much more detail because if high definition and close up camera work. The details and subtle nuances have to be perfect, because everything is seen so close up and subject to scrutiny. Not to say that what we do in theatre is not impressive, it just always seems like film happens on a much larger scale for the same time slot.
love the attention to fabric and texture because that can make such a difference. I love the way the designer thought through every single detail to make a statement about Jackman’s character. I am impressed by the way that the designer taylored the costumes to the actor’s presence. For example, the way she talked about Zendaya. All of the design choices make perfect sense in terms of the characters. While I agree with Sydney that the costumes in this film are absolutely beautiful, but the the film is not completely a period piece. The designer places more emphasis on character rather than time period, and takes some liberties with historical accuracy. However, the designer addresses this issue in the article sayings that she wanted the audience to “identify with her (Zendaya) in an aspirational way rather than a particular place in time.” In this situation the designer made a choice to convey feeling over accuracy and in a sense that is valid.
One of the most incredible aspects of the costume design in The Greatest Showman to read about was the necessity of flexibility and breathability of the fabric for the actors. Something you don't often think about in a film or tv show or even musical is that the costumes need to look aesthetically beautiful as well as have enough stretch for the actors to move, leap, and dance in them. I didn't realize actually how difficult this would be to accomplish until I read the article, and how it detailed how the designers spent so much time and thought into making something as simple as a red coat-- yet this costume piece alone was so integral to the character and his personality. Sometimes a costume piece or pieces become symbol of the character themselves. It's also even more mind-blowing to consider the sheer amount of extras that needed to be dressed for this movie. I can't imagine the number hours and people needed to make sure each extra is dressed accordingly for every shot, even though they're just in the background.
This article was an interesting read because, like Sydney, I disagree with Peter's thoughts on the distinction of these costumes as period costumes. After seeing this movie with my family over the winter break, I left confused by the design in general as well as the choice of music that was written for the film. While the costumes were circus-like and looked really good moving with the dancers during musical numbers, the accuracy for the time period was quite confusing. Some of my family thought that the film was supposed to be set in the 1950's, while I thought that it might have been closer to Edwardian America. When Queen Victoria showed up part way through the movie, I grew even more confused, especially when the queen herself did not seem to be wearing the right clothing. In all, while a lot of the color choices in both costume and production design were clear and well done, the design and production of the film in general left me confused and wanting to better understand the intentions of the film makers.
Color is certainly the deciding factor often times when it comes to the overall feel of a movie, the mood they're trying to convey. Costume designers create the status and they convey the inner monologues of characters in the same way that we convey how we're feeling, through our appearance. The Greatest Showman has a rather unexciting story and a not so gripping character build up, but the only way they would get a name like Hugh Jackman to sign on to film like that during Oscar season was by giving it a shot at being recognized at the Academy awards for at least their visuals. Though some of the other films might deserve it, for my taste, I think that the Greatest Showman had the most impressive costumes this season ranging from the coat to Michele Williams textured dress. The color scheme is remarkable in the Greatest Showman, it walks the fine line between perfectly fit, recognizable time period garment, and a stylish, edgy, and rather glamorous outfit that only performers and artists would wear.
It is very obvious that this costume designer had a full and complete vision for how she wanted the people in this show to dress, and had very specific reasons for this vision, as well. Color was obviously a huge driving force when it came to costuming the characters. I can relate to this process; whenever I am doing art, whether it is drawing, painting, lighting, or a Basic Design project, color is always the very first thing to come to my mind. They represent my personal feelings, inner thoughts, and mindset. Something else that seemed to drive her designs was movement, meaning the movement of the characters, the show as a whole, and the shapes she incorporated into the costume pieces. This is something I can relate to a little less, mostly because I love doing art that is precise and strategic in a way, not very flowing or moveable. Maybe that is why costuming is so difficult for me to wrap my mind around. Either way, hearing about her process makes me want to see the movie. I have heard many mixed reviews, but I would go just for the costumes!
I absolutely loved the entirety of The Greatest Showman. Everything about it I found fantastic. The songs, the choreography, the lights, costumes, setting. It all worked so well together and created something quite truly aspirational. The costumes in particular are astonishing. I can’t think of another way of showing some of these characters as for me, after seeing this movie, they are associated with those outfits. The scene when Jenny Lind sings for the first time; I can’t imagine her without that costume and without standing still. It made me speechless. The same goes for Barnum’s performances; I can’t imagine those scenes without that red coat. It is just so part of that character and those scenes. Like other films, it has become iconic; similarly, to jack sparrow. No one can think about that character without his costume and manner of moving about. The costumes add so much without ever realizing it and those can be the best because they become iconic and simply just fit so well in, but can stand out so much at the same time.
I was quite impressed with the production quality of the Greatest Showman. The detail that was so carefully implemented into each costume and makeup look was obvious. I really appreciated how the designer took the time to understand the essence of each character and went forward to reflect that in what they were wearing. It is really interesting to consider the technical aspects of the costumes in The Greatest Showman. The capacity for movement that each piece needed based on what actor was wearing it when is a really complex and fascinating study. There is so much care that must be taken when constructing a piece that will undergo odd pressures, and have to remain comfortable for each actor to be in for the length of time it took to shoot each scene. I really appreciated the bold color choices that were consistent across each character’s wardrobe. The designer was able to pursue a really strong color choice, but was careful to maintain the idea of “bold” within the scope of the character’s background and personality.
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