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Friday, September 28, 2018
Creating Saturday Night Live: Wardrobe
SNL - YouTube: Saturday Night Live's wardrobe team - Dale Richards, Tom Broecker, Eric Justian and Donna Richards - reveals the magic behind the show's numerous costumes and impossible quick changes.
11 comments:
Sidney R.
said...
Television seems like an entirely different world than theatre, but that is not necessarily the case with “Saturday Night Live.” I loved watched this video, which gave me insight as to the typical work week of the costume design and production crew for the show. Their work is fast paced to accommodate the copious amount they must create for the weekly show. The core team of three members is so successful because they are so cohesive. I noticed how the video featured conversations between the members, who would always stop to listen to each other’s’ ideas before diving in. This video also featured the main dresser in the production, and how quick changes are timed and executed. This aspect of the process often goes unnoticed, but I find it to be an art in itself because it requires careful planning and timing. I never really thought about the limited timeline “SNL” really has for such an intensely packed live show. This is especially true because at least one celebrity, and often times the host, has never even set foot on that stage.
As someone who has been watching SNL for years, and has practically been raised by the skits and actors, I understand a little about how fast the SNL world has to change in only a few moments. The quick changes are enough to create second hand sweat, especially since actors may have a wig and makeup and a complicated costume and then need to immediately create a completely other character, all in the span of maybe a commercial break. The amount of respect I have the wardrobe department on this show is immense. Because of the sheer amount of skits, they have a significant task of creating individual looks for all of them, that will help the actors better inhabit the character on that particular night. Similarly, this wardrobe department is responsible for creating timeless looks that may need to be replicated, or are memorable so that when someone thinks of a character like Stefon, they immediately know that look. They also may need to replicate well known looks (from movies, media) and a fair amount of research has to be done in order to do that accurately. Watching in this video the dressers do quick changes I gained even more respect for them. SNL is such a living and breathing endeavor, and without all the creative aspects being on top of their game, the show wouldn't be nearly as successful as it is.
This was a very insightful and yet hilarious video that summarized one week schedule of the SNL costume department in a nutshell. I can’t believe how fast it goes. One week there is almost equivalent to the entire span of a theatrical production, which normally goes up to three months. Just the drama of the department would be enough to make another episode of SNL every week. I loved the part where the main dresser yanked Justin Timberlake off the stage, shoved one cameraman on the way, put him in a giant can costume and gets him to the next stage. Putting the excitement aside, it is quite amazing that three people have been running this for the past thirty years or so. I hope they are consciously growing assistants and relaying the secrets and skills that they accumulated over time. It would be sad to see Hunger Games press conference with boring everyday suit.
I loved hearing the antidotes from the SNL costume and wardrobe department. I’m amazing how well they can costume the actors on such short notice. I was especially impressed by the host dresser, Donna Richards. Carrying JLo and doing a 10 second quick change is extremely impressive. I thought it was really interesting how she feels that she can’t say no to a quick change and is willing to jump in even if it seems impossible. I would love to see how they choreographs quick changes. They also mention how they sometimes abandon rationality for the quick change and push people. I wonder how that stress affects the actors, especially if they are a first time host. Richards must have some impressive tricks from working on SNL. The costumes are so important to the audiences and the actors that they may be the secret to its success and I’m very happy that they get the credit they are due.
Oh my goodness this is the coolest thing to watch. I love SNL and it has been part of my life since I was a little girl. I used to watch the skits as a kid thinking how cool and funny the over the top characters were. Now, I enjoy the more poignant political satire and watching some of my favorite stars show their silly side on national TV. I've seen the Behind the Scenes videos for wigs & make up on SNL and often wondered about the costumes. It was really incredible to get to see a comprehensive look into the SNL wardrobe department. I cannot believe that is is charged by 3 people and that they have been with the company for so long. I wonder how the transition will be when if they all choose to retire around similar times. Overall, I thought the video was exciting and gives a peek into a job I often think of but have little context for.
Television and theater are wildly different, but live television is a lot more like theater than I imagined in the technical aspect, at least from what I’ve seen about the SNL costumes. The quick changes are very reminiscent of some impossible things that have had to happen in theater and that was a really cool thing to get insight on. Hearing about the time they had from conception to opening was impressive as well. The fact that they don’t even start making costumes until Thursday seems impossible. Which makes me think that these people are just really damn good at their jobs. My favorite story was the one about Justin Timberlake’s quick change because I’ve seen that sketch so many times, but it never really occurred to me just how much has to happen so fast behind the scenes to make his cue. I think that’s just because it’s easy to forget when something is happening live if it isn’t right in front of you.
Saturday night live is one of the most interesting jobs in our field in my opinion. The more articles that I read about it or videos I watch about it the more I become aware of the sheer scope of it all and how it is a club that not many people ever get to see. I think the science behind a quick change in general is fascinating but at this scale and with so many staff members the costume department must be overwhelmed with options. It is also so cool to m how little practice they get with the costumes. During the dress rehearsal at SNL nearly every week a third of the sketches get cut so that means that a third of the work each department has done is out the window. This is not unlike theater or any other form of art but it does beg the question just how much money is being spent that is then never used. I'd be interested to see what the budgets look like and what the stock looks like at SNL. I imagine it's like the scene in the warehouse in Big Fat Liar.
God I love Saturday Night Live and I love when these SNL videos are posted on this blog. Something I never thought about with SNL is the costume changes in between sketches. Many of those actors are in sketch after sketch as extremely different, very specific characters, and they have to make those changes in a matter of minutes. That adds another layer of insanity to the craziness that already is running a live show that is constantly changing. I wonder if when sketches get cut mid-show, that affects the costume run of the show drastically, or I wonder if costumes accounts for which sketches are likely to get cut when they are creating the plot for the show. It is such an incredibly fascinating process to watch with this enormously popular show that is completely different every week and how it all comes together.
I absolutely love Saturday Night Live. It has always been a show that I am quite fascinated by both in the viewing of it, but also in its creation. I’ve watched all of the technical videos and of course so many of the skits. The amount of work that this production requires is astounding and has always seemed like something I would love. The adrenaline bay comes from working quickly on your feet and problem solving as you go is exciting and so much closer to theatre. Saturday Night Live really is a cool hybrid of theatre and TV and that is what in my mind keeps it interesting. This was cool to watch because it shows how much work really goes into everything that they do beyond what translates just onto the screen and into people's homes. I hope that they continue to do videos and features like this to show all the work that every individual contributes.
Saturday Night Live presents a very unique challenge to the wardrobe project because they have to complete TV-quality costume pieces on a time crunch that's even tighter than theatre. Since these costumes are going to be seen close-up on camera they have to be at a certain quality level to be believable, so I was very impressed to learn that they only have one real day of production. I especially loved the feature of the host dresser and the story about how she carried J Lo across the studio to make a quick change. For the other cast members of SNL those quick changes are probably routine to them, but for others it may be a completely new concept. Many of the hosts are stand-up comedians or only Film & TV actors who might have never have had to do a quick change before. It really seems like they borrow a lot of techniques and strategies from theatrical wardrobe when it comes to tear away costumes and working with Wigs & Makeup to complete these changes.
I have pretty much zero experience in costumes, but this sounds like the most fun job ever! One thing that makes me wary of working in TV is the fact that it is prerecorded. I enjoy the challenge and adrenaline of a live show which is why SNL appeals to me so much. I think that this has got to be the most difficult job for a costume designer. SNL sketches get so out there and weird, and they only last for a few minutes each. It is absolutely imperative for the costume designers to be on top of their game so that the audience can immediately understand what is happening and who is on stage in order for a sketch to move as quickly as it has to and still be hilarious. Working on SNL would honestly be such an amazing experience and I hope I one day have the opportunity to consider something like that.
11 comments:
Television seems like an entirely different world than theatre, but that is not necessarily the case with “Saturday Night Live.” I loved watched this video, which gave me insight as to the typical work week of the costume design and production crew for the show. Their work is fast paced to accommodate the copious amount they must create for the weekly show. The core team of three members is so successful because they are so cohesive. I noticed how the video featured conversations between the members, who would always stop to listen to each other’s’ ideas before diving in. This video also featured the main dresser in the production, and how quick changes are timed and executed. This aspect of the process often goes unnoticed, but I find it to be an art in itself because it requires careful planning and timing. I never really thought about the limited timeline “SNL” really has for such an intensely packed live show. This is especially true because at least one celebrity, and often times the host, has never even set foot on that stage.
As someone who has been watching SNL for years, and has practically been raised by the skits and actors, I understand a little about how fast the SNL world has to change in only a few moments. The quick changes are enough to create second hand sweat, especially since actors may have a wig and makeup and a complicated costume and then need to immediately create a completely other character, all in the span of maybe a commercial break. The amount of respect I have the wardrobe department on this show is immense. Because of the sheer amount of skits, they have a significant task of creating individual looks for all of them, that will help the actors better inhabit the character on that particular night. Similarly, this wardrobe department is responsible for creating timeless looks that may need to be replicated, or are memorable so that when someone thinks of a character like Stefon, they immediately know that look. They also may need to replicate well known looks (from movies, media) and a fair amount of research has to be done in order to do that accurately. Watching in this video the dressers do quick changes I gained even more respect for them. SNL is such a living and breathing endeavor, and without all the creative aspects being on top of their game, the show wouldn't be nearly as successful as it is.
This was a very insightful and yet hilarious video that summarized one week schedule of the SNL costume department in a nutshell. I can’t believe how fast it goes. One week there is almost equivalent to the entire span of a theatrical production, which normally goes up to three months. Just the drama of the department would be enough to make another episode of SNL every week. I loved the part where the main dresser yanked Justin Timberlake off the stage, shoved one cameraman on the way, put him in a giant can costume and gets him to the next stage. Putting the excitement aside, it is quite amazing that three people have been running this for the past thirty years or so. I hope they are consciously growing assistants and relaying the secrets and skills that they accumulated over time. It would be sad to see Hunger Games press conference with boring everyday suit.
I loved hearing the antidotes from the SNL costume and wardrobe department. I’m amazing how well they can costume the actors on such short notice. I was especially impressed by the host dresser, Donna Richards. Carrying JLo and doing a 10 second quick change is extremely impressive. I thought it was really interesting how she feels that she can’t say no to a quick change and is willing to jump in even if it seems impossible. I would love to see how they choreographs quick changes. They also mention how they sometimes abandon rationality for the quick change and push people. I wonder how that stress affects the actors, especially if they are a first time host. Richards must have some impressive tricks from working on SNL. The costumes are so important to the audiences and the actors that they may be the secret to its success and I’m very happy that they get the credit they are due.
Oh my goodness this is the coolest thing to watch. I love SNL and it has been part of my life since I was a little girl. I used to watch the skits as a kid thinking how cool and funny the over the top characters were. Now, I enjoy the more poignant political satire and watching some of my favorite stars show their silly side on national TV. I've seen the Behind the Scenes videos for wigs & make up on SNL and often wondered about the costumes. It was really incredible to get to see a comprehensive look into the SNL wardrobe department. I cannot believe that is is charged by 3 people and that they have been with the company for so long. I wonder how the transition will be when if they all choose to retire around similar times. Overall, I thought the video was exciting and gives a peek into a job I often think of but have little context for.
Television and theater are wildly different, but live television is a lot more like theater than I imagined in the technical aspect, at least from what I’ve seen about the SNL costumes. The quick changes are very reminiscent of some impossible things that have had to happen in theater and that was a really cool thing to get insight on.
Hearing about the time they had from conception to opening was impressive as well. The fact that they don’t even start making costumes until Thursday seems impossible. Which makes me think that these people are just really damn good at their jobs.
My favorite story was the one about Justin Timberlake’s quick change because I’ve seen that sketch so many times, but it never really occurred to me just how much has to happen so fast behind the scenes to make his cue. I think that’s just because it’s easy to forget when something is happening live if it isn’t right in front of you.
Saturday night live is one of the most interesting jobs in our field in my opinion. The more articles that I read about it or videos I watch about it the more I become aware of the sheer scope of it all and how it is a club that not many people ever get to see. I think the science behind a quick change in general is fascinating but at this scale and with so many staff members the costume department must be overwhelmed with options. It is also so cool to m how little practice they get with the costumes. During the dress rehearsal at SNL nearly every week a third of the sketches get cut so that means that a third of the work each department has done is out the window. This is not unlike theater or any other form of art but it does beg the question just how much money is being spent that is then never used. I'd be interested to see what the budgets look like and what the stock looks like at SNL. I imagine it's like the scene in the warehouse in Big Fat Liar.
God I love Saturday Night Live and I love when these SNL videos are posted on this blog. Something I never thought about with SNL is the costume changes in between sketches. Many of those actors are in sketch after sketch as extremely different, very specific characters, and they have to make those changes in a matter of minutes. That adds another layer of insanity to the craziness that already is running a live show that is constantly changing. I wonder if when sketches get cut mid-show, that affects the costume run of the show drastically, or I wonder if costumes accounts for which sketches are likely to get cut when they are creating the plot for the show. It is such an incredibly fascinating process to watch with this enormously popular show that is completely different every week and how it all comes together.
I absolutely love Saturday Night Live. It has always been a show that I am quite fascinated by both in the viewing of it, but also in its creation. I’ve watched all of the technical videos and of course so many of the skits. The amount of work that this production requires is astounding and has always seemed like something I would love. The adrenaline bay comes from working quickly on your feet and problem solving as you go is exciting and so much closer to theatre. Saturday Night Live really is a cool hybrid of theatre and TV and that is what in my mind keeps it interesting. This was cool to watch because it shows how much work really goes into everything that they do beyond what translates just onto the screen and into people's homes. I hope that they continue to do videos and features like this to show all the work that every individual contributes.
Saturday Night Live presents a very unique challenge to the wardrobe project because they have to complete TV-quality costume pieces on a time crunch that's even tighter than theatre. Since these costumes are going to be seen close-up on camera they have to be at a certain quality level to be believable, so I was very impressed to learn that they only have one real day of production. I especially loved the feature of the host dresser and the story about how she carried J Lo across the studio to make a quick change. For the other cast members of SNL those quick changes are probably routine to them, but for others it may be a completely new concept. Many of the hosts are stand-up comedians or only Film & TV actors who might have never have had to do a quick change before. It really seems like they borrow a lot of techniques and strategies from theatrical wardrobe when it comes to tear away costumes and working with Wigs & Makeup to complete these changes.
I have pretty much zero experience in costumes, but this sounds like the most fun job ever! One thing that makes me wary of working in TV is the fact that it is prerecorded. I enjoy the challenge and adrenaline of a live show which is why SNL appeals to me so much. I think that this has got to be the most difficult job for a costume designer. SNL sketches get so out there and weird, and they only last for a few minutes each. It is absolutely imperative for the costume designers to be on top of their game so that the audience can immediately understand what is happening and who is on stage in order for a sketch to move as quickly as it has to and still be hilarious. Working on SNL would honestly be such an amazing experience and I hope I one day have the opportunity to consider something like that.
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