For the aspiring filmmaker, stage producer, or stage and film hobbyist, it is important to discover the processes behind creating a production. Some of the most important aspects of film or theater production are the props and costumes. Prop-making is handled by the prop-makers, who work within the properties department as part of a larger props team. Costuming is handled by the costume- makers, who work on the wardrobe team along with a wardrobe master and a variety of assistants. To get started learning work with props and costumes, follow the directions in this article.
Instructions
Make a Statue or Figurine
1. Sculpt a simple prop out of Sculpey clay, such as a small statue or figurine. You can make any kind of statue, such as a classic bust, a tabletop figure or a small decorative piece. Bake the Sculpey in the oven as described on the packaging, then let it cool completely. Sand the surface of the statue down until it is free of lumps, lines and other surface deformities. Coat the statue with a mold release agent, and let it dry.
2. Create a two-part plaster mold for your statue. Build a wall of modeling clay along the middle of your statue, all the way around it vertically, then paint a layer of mixed water and gypsum onto each side of the clay. Let this layer dry, then paint another layer. Lay strips of burlap over this layer while wet, then let it dry again. Build up at least four layers of plaster and burlap so the mold is strong. Let the mold cure overnight, then pull the mold halves away and remove the clay.
3. Cast your statue prop in fiberglass resin. Coat the inside of each mold half with mold release. While wearing a ventilation mask and latex gloves, mix together your resin and catalyst in a plastic cup. Paint a layer of resin inside each mold half, then layer strips of fiberglass and resin over that. Build up several layers, then let the fiberglass cure for a few hours. Pull each half out of the mold, then replace it in the mold and let it cure overnight.
4. Bind your prop together with a few pieces of masking tape. Lay strips of fiberglass over the seam, removing the masking tape as you go, and paint over it with resin. Let the fiberglass cure overnight. Wearing a particle mask and safety goggles, sand down the seam until it matches the rest of the prop.
5. Paint your statue in any color or manner you desire. When the paint is dry, seal it with a clear sealing spray. You now have a basic prop and the skill set for building more complex props.
Create a Dress Pattern
6. To create a pattern for a basic costume piece like a dress, take a basic cotton sheet and cut a head-sized hole in the center. Put it on the person for whom you wish to make a dress. Have the person stand with her arms spread out, and pin the sheet together underneath her arms and at her sides, close to her body. Using a fabric pencil, mark out the waist, bust, underbust and hip placement, as well as the the armhole placement. Also mark where her wrists are, and the height at which you would like the skirt to fall. Carefully remove the sheet from your friend, so that you do not disturb the pins.
7. Place the sheet over a dress form that is close to your friend's size. Mark the center front and center back of the sheet from neck hole to hip. Determine what style of dress you would like to make, then draw your desired neckline at the neck hole. Cut along your drawn line, making sure that it is symmetrical. Draw a line on top of the shoulder from the neckline to the armhole line. Choose the sleeve type you would like the dress to have and cut the sleeves to the proper length. If you would like the sleeves to fit tightly, cut the excess fabric off right at your sleeve side seam pinnings. If you would like them to be looser, move the pins downward.
8. Choose the waistline of the dress, whether it is at the underbust, waist or hip. Trim the excess side seam fabric from the armhole underside to the waist. Move the pins outward below the waist until you have the skirt fullness that you would like. Trim the excess, and cut the skirt at the marked hemline. For a very full skirt, you will need to cut the skirt off at the waistline and cut it into "A"-shaped pieces that fit together for a tight waist and loose hem.
9. Cut the dress up the center back seam, all the way from skirt hem to neckline, and cut around the armhole and on the shoulder line. Take all of the pins out. Lay the dress pieces on top of a single layer of your costume fabric, and trace around them with a fabric pencil. Remove the dress pieces, then draw your lines again 1/2 inch away, except at the hems and collar, which should be 5/8 inch away. Cut out each piece along these outer lines. Pin together the shoulder seam edges of the front and back of the dress, wrong sides touching, and stitch 1/2 inch from the edges, then press open and zigzag stitch the seam allowances. Stitch the dress together at the side seams. If you have made a separate skirt, stitch the skirt seams together, excluding the center back seam, then stitch the skirt to the waistline. Stitch the side seams of the sleeves together
10. Insert the sleeves in the armholes and stitch the armhole edges together. Turn the neckline under 1/4 inch, then another 1/2 inch and stitch along the fold. Turn the skirt and sleeve hems under in the same way and stitch. Measure the length of your zipper, making sure that it comes down at least a few inches below the waistline. Start stitching the center back seam that distance from the collar. Fold the rest of the center back edges under 1/2 inch and pin each side of the zipper under each side of the seam. Stitch the zipper in place. You now have a simple fitted dress and a starting point for creating more high-fashion looks.
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