Just spent the afternoon doing a Social Media Marketing consult…
I mean I have done it (social media management) before when I used to work at the PUMA store here in JA and tried to work for a Social Media Promotions firm but that part of my skill set (always lurking on the internet) never took off.
Now though, I’m wondering if I should take it seriously and make some Dead National Heroes (lame?) off of it.
I think I may be becoming a mature adult because I worked at a fashion show over the weekend and my self esteem didn’t suffer from being around models.
Were models always so young?
I just wanted to make sure those ridiculously tall girls were alright.
Ok maybe I’m getting old more so than mature LOL
CAMERA, LIGHTS, FASHUUN!
Just when I was thinking a new URL name was in order, I get a call to help out at Caribbean Fashion Week Launch (Yass!). There were four designers that showed a capsule collection at Pulse (Modelling Agency) to give press for the MAJUH Fashion Week coming up in June.
Believe or not, I have never worked in at a Fashion Week before, it’s always been just Wardrobe/Styling on Production Sets. So I went in with what I learnt from Lauren Conrad from The Hills (I kid). But I was still a bit surprised at how frantic it can be and this is coming from a girl who had to run across a Cricket Field at Sabina Park while gluing on pocket crests to Sports Jackets (don’t ask..)
Herding up models and making sure they have on double sided tape and shaved armpits was part of the job description that night.
More importantly though, I was able to help style some of the lines and remind myself that I have come along way with everything.
**Sorry, I wasn’t able to take more pics but I was busy the whole time and snuck these in. You can check out Pulse’s Instagram to see the other designers.
INNA DI VIDEO LIGHT
Somehow I have made it this far in the business evading being filmed but alas I found that there is now a second (one second!) of me not just film but in a music video no less. I wasn’t even working! I was just there to show support for Proteje.
My debut appearance was for no other than Proteje’s video “I&I” shot by Kushnie. It’s obvious that Proteje loves the real laid back style for his videos. You can check out his other video that I produced late last year, Kingston Be Wise which had docu style going on.
So there I was on the side lines at Twelve Tribes (a Rasta HQ of sorts) watching the parade of Rastafaris getting ready to march down Hope Road and startle the conservative/corporate and unsuspecting Jamaicans when sneaky Randy took some footage of me which the director, Kushnie clearly decided to use.
My first time in di video light and I’m screw face? I guess I must be thankful my turban game was on point.
Feel free to click for the full video and see my turban face at 0:56 seconds.
IDENTITY CRISIS
I find that in my pursuit to finance my fashion/costume endeavors, my blog is gonna be more production heavy rather than fashion oriented that I set it out to be.
*sigh*
Bwoy, may look like I will need to change the name of my blog.
We’ll see…
THE HILLS ARE ALIVE
Well, mountains really.
I can’t believe that I’m still working on this particular project where I’m producing a series of Mathematics educational videos. You heard me right, people. I can’t believe I’m starting to miss those hot mess music videos that I normally find my self working on.
Aside from the footage that we have to film in a classroom (will upload those pics soon), there are gonna be cute little video tips telling students things like “Remember to Eat properly”, “Relax and Never Give Up” etc. Upside is that these tips that we have shot or will shoot will be done on a beach or in this case, Blue Mountains.
Blue Mountains (second highest peak in the Caribbean…woot!) is where we decided to shoot the “Never Give Up” tip. The story was of our female talent hiking on a treacherous path to the top which would include cute little graphics of the Math variety.
Hiking a mountain trail (ugh) and filming (ugh some more) but man was it beautiful. I really need to stop going to all this wonderful places in JA for work and go for some leisure at some point.The lesson learnt here that production is not for the weak, people.
PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED
If you expect this blog entry to start off with me saying “Sorry I haven’t posted because I been so busy, blah blah…” Well you got it all wrong, everyone who works in production well and knows that there’s weeks of being busy to days where you watching a marathon of Friday Night Lights wondering how you gonna have a piece of Tim Riggins.
It’s my lack of camera that’s hindering posting here on The Wardrobe Dept. I’m working on getting a new camera so I can get pics of anything I’m working on. There are a few things lined up that I will try to get images of to put on here.
What’s with the logo you have up there, you ask? Well I’ll tells ya! I been mentioning that my gang/posse/clique who I work with hadn’t come up with a name. But now we do, FRESHLY SQUEEZED CREATIVE Co. (*sigh*) It is what is. Just know that it fits this rag tag band of quirky island hipsters perfectly.
Meantime, if you happen to be into costume design you can check out The Costume Trailer. The Costume Trailer is where I post all things movie/tv costumes for your viewing pleasure.
PRODUCTION POST
Before I start talking about this video, there a few thing I should explain to my non Jamaican followers.
- Jamaica is a small island, this fact works in our favour sometimes (everybody practically knows everybody, laid back vibe etc.) and sometimes it doesn’t (everybody practically knows everybody, no Topshop etc). Another way it doesn’t work in my favour is that the Production Industry is still pretty young and very small so costume design isn’t very big out here to make a living off of. So with that said, I’m nestled between the fashion industry and production (PA, producer) to get things going. So you will see production posts from time to time.
- Another point, music producers make beats or Riddims as they are called here. It’s norm for any number of artists to sing on the same riddim, now when all those artists on that same riddim decided to make a video together, it’s called a medley.
Alright, so with all that understood I can direct your attention to the Matrimoney Medley (no spelling error there, just a juvenile play on words) where I played a lowly PA in July 2011.
You may or may not recognize Sean Paul, though my favourite is Lady Saw. I grew up with Lady Saw songs playing in my ear so imagine my fancy when she came on set and all I could do was stand close and stare.
Anyways, my task on this video other than screwing up the director’s coffee and picking up trash was to get people to be part of the wedding congregation (HA!). It is very clear I did an excellent job (sarcasm!) because the camera has to pull in real tight for all the crowd shots.
But what was I to do when it was a work day and the extras wouldn’t get paid? All you have left is eager college students and worse, people who want to make it in the entertainment business. The latter by the way will call you in the late night asking if you’re currently working on a set and need them to head down there because they willing to do anything (*sigh*).
All in all, it wasn’t the most stressful thing I have worked on but it sure was one the more annoying. If I came away from this production learning anything is that I will no longer hide in a corner and sob silent tears because the director informs me that I’m near useless because I can’t make coffee and don’t use my personal cell phone number to call extras.
P.S. When I saw the artists in the old people make up, I really questioned what I decided to do with my life. I mean, seriously?
PRESENTING MAD MEN
Take a minute to ask yourself what is the name of this blog? [I’ll wait..] Right, so it should come as no surprise that I am currently wondering how I can photoshop myself in these pics somewhere. Ever since Mad Men made its debut on AMC, not one episode has missed me. This show is one of the reasons I fell in love with Costume Design (see also: Atonement) and wanted to know more about production. Janie Bryant is most well known TV Costume Designer at the moment and rightfully so, every print, fold, color and look of all the costumes on the show have a meaning and purpose.
New episodes are finally making it’s way to my tv in April, till then do yourself a favor and check out the behind scenes photographs taken by James Minchin.
THE VERY FASHIONABLE GATSBY
For anyone that loves costumes, you are bound to raise an eyebrow and mentally mark the calender for a movie that is ALL about the costumes. Late last year it was Anna Karenina and that movie almost had me walking around with veils over my face (fashuuun ova style!). Lucky for me, I came to my senses just in time check out the design sketches for The Great Gatsby (Leo’s Squinty Eyes be damned!) over at Vogue UK. It’s all about the 1920s for this one folks.
The magazine give us a quick run down about how Prada dusted off some their designs to give to costume designer Catherine Martin. Clearly, I’m simplifying but this does give rise to the debate of fashion and costume design. Back in my younger years in costume design (read: 3 years ago), I was pretentious and made it a point to let anyone know that I had no interest in fashion but costume design but my naive days are over and I see value in any form of inspiration and collaboration. I no longer see both of them as friends that occasionally hang out but more like cousins that constantly in each other’s room borrowing make up and clothes.
I’m not gonna say much about the designs just yet, but I have a feeling I will do a nice big fat write up after seeing this movie.
P.S. The fact that I’m willing to spend my money on “tree D” tells you I mean business.
