Overview

 

This standard is about your ability to break down, age and distress costumes and accessories. This may involve meeting production requirements, using knowledge of historical references and the visual style of the production, identifying safe locations to carry out the work, ensuring adequate power and water supplies and good ventilation and working repeatedly and duplicating effects.

This standard may be applicable to costume supervisors, costume assistants, costume stand bys, wardrobe assistants and costume makers.

 

Performance criteria

You must be able to do:

  1. review the production requirements, costume designers brief and script and identify costume distress requirements
  2. confirm the production schedule, budget and sequence plan
  3. confirm the costume continuity requirements
  4. brief the costume team on the costume requirements
  5. identify and source resources required for costume break down and distress
  6. identify allergies and sensitivity levels of performers and the costume team and ensure appropriate products are used
  7. use the appropriate processes to break down fabrics, garments, shoes and accessories
  8. identify costume breakdown and distress work to be outsourced
  9. source and liaise with an appropriate subcontractor when necessary, communicating and agreeing the work, budget and schedule
  10. identify and communicate how much of the costume will be used in shot, and confirm whether they are close up or background shots
  11. monitor and manage subcontractors ensuring the quality standard, budget and schedules are met
  12. wear appropriate protective wear to carry out ‘costume distressing’ work
  13. identify and work in a safe location
  14. take records and store details of completed work
  15. ensure COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) regulations are adhered to
  16. communicate across production staff and other relevant departments or individuals
  17. follow health, safety and environmental legislation, policies and guidelines



Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand: 

  1. the genre or time period of the production
  2. the production requirements and costume designer’s brief
  3. the timescales, schedule and sequence plan
  4. the production budgets
  5. the productions continuity requirements
  6. techniques and processes used to break down and distress costumes
  7. the resources and products required to carry out costume break down
  8. allergies and sensitivity levels of performers and the costume team and how to deal with them
  9. how to assess the workload and estimate outsourcing requirements
  10. how to outsource/subcontract work to meet the budget and schedule
  11. how much of the costumes will be seen and the impact that has on the costume breakdown, distressing work required
  12. the protective clothing and equipment required when carrying out costume break down, distressing work
  13. how to assess locations for suitability in relation to costume break down distressing work
  14. the costume breakdown records and details required
  15. production staff and departments involved and the communication protocol
  16. statutory responsibilities under health, safety, COSHH and environmental legislation and regulation