How to Choose Wardrobe for Film Characters

While watching a movie the clothing that characters wear seems so normal for their persona that most audiences do not even notice them. However, these clothes were not just thrown together. They were carefully picked out by a professional to appear unnoticeable based on the character's persona. For an independent movie you probably will not have money for a professional to do this, so follow these instructions and you will be set.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Script
• Actors
• Clothing

1. Determine the number of outfits a character needs throughout the course of the movie.
2. Determine what genre the movie fits in. Actors in horror or slapstick comedies will require numerous backup outfits due to blood or anything else, while romance would be less.
3. Understand the character. Talk to the director about how he/she feels about the character's persona and presence. A powerful character needs clothing to match his personality.
   
   If 'Spiccoli' walked around in a business suit, that would not match his personality. Same is 'Gordon Gecko' walked around in surfer attire.
   
   With the right wardrobe, the audience can learn about the character before he even speaks.
4. Talk to the Director of Photography about the lighting in specific scenes. If you need a nice suit and tire outfit, make sure the color fits well with the color scheme of the scene.
   
   If the Director of Photography plans to use a red tint in the scene and have red props, you do not need a red suit.
5. Determine what size and material makes the actor most comfortable.
6. Purchase the outfits. For a low-budget film, keep the tags on so you can return afterwards.