Costume Design, Heart Enough by Carla Schwarz-Shutak at Coroflot.com

Costume Design, Heart Enough

Costume Design, Heart Enough from Carla Schwarz-Shutak

Costume Design, Heart Enough

I worked as the lead costume designer for an independent film. I also became responsible for the design of three sets; two bedrooms and one prom locale. The film included a talent show scene as well as a prom scene, for which I designed and created several gowns and accessories. I collected over forty gowns and used their trims and details in combination to create the finished gowns. I developed several props as well. The lead male character was a high school want-to-be fashion designer. His persona was 'sewing circle punk' which I helped develop through costuming and accessories. It was necessary to research and learn how to use a vintage Singer sewing machine for one set. I delivered all assigned tasks on time and under budget. The plot and more can be viewed at the listed external link. There were many complex characters. A write up was featured in a local newspaper at: http://cjonline.com/life/arts-entertainment/2013-07-27/topeka-artist-designs-costumes-film-being-shot-lecompton

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The official movie poster for "Heart Enough" designed by Dan Ginavan, LightLyre Films, LLC in Lawrence, Kansas

A mixed-media fabric collage representation of the film poster made from costuming scraps and materials. A gift to LightLyre Films, LLC.

This is the sketch for inspiration of the green talent show gown

This gown was altered down and fit to flatter the actor.The sleeves were removed. The hem was cut to a high/low line. I added pink sequins to the bodice, and created a diva-esque cape with a stand up neck piece. The skirt was embellished with a gold trim which had an added gold and green beaded fringe to make the gown more figure flattering for the actor's body type. It was featured in the talent show scene.

Final fitting at the studio.

I created the vision of the director for talent show make up to match the gown.

The talent diva takes the stage at the contest on set.

Another view.

This gown was created for the female lead to wear at the talent show. It was designed to compliment the previous gown, and was inspired by the Halston gowns of the 70s. The original gown was altered down several sizes and hemmed to above the knee. The original gown had long puff sleeves which were removed and I created an off the shoulder design with a side rouche to enhance the figure of the actor. This image is of the gown in progress. The completed gown had a gold and green beaded fringe around the drop waist the full length of the skirt.

This jacket was created to compliment the two previous gowns during the talent show scene. It was originally just a lime green jacket that I embellished with complimentary sequins/fabrics/and trim. The trio performed a song by Common Ground written exclusively for "Heart Enough". The jacket was modeled in a fringe leather 70s style using beaded trim for fringe on the sleeves and back.

These shoes were embellished to be worn by the actor in the lime green jacket.

The finished shoes embellished with fabric and trim.

The talent show trio during filming of scene.

The talent show trio receiving direction from film director.

The talent show trio during scene filming

Another view in between shots.

The talent show gowns were 'designed' in the film by the aspiring high school fashion designer. This tee shirt was embellished for him to wear during the talent show scene. I used fabric paint and faux gem stones.

Inspiration sketch for the black strapless gown.

A simple two-piece black strapless gown, altered and embellished to fit for prom. This was worn by the same actor as the caped gown for the talent show. Her character was bullied for being overweight, her challenge was to accept her gifts and find self affirmation.

The actor modeling her prom gown behind the scene.

Inspiration sketch for female lead prom gown.

This is the before image of the gown I redesigned for the female lead to wear to prom.

A close-up of the bodice on the female lead actor after alterations were complete. Her character was to reveal her secret during the prom scene, which required a removable panel in the center front bodice and a low-cut neckline. The lace panel insert was enhanced by a bodice detail of lace, sequins, and a bow. The skirt was cut to tea length and the original train was left intact, embellished by lace.

Inspiration sketch for purple prom gown.

This gown was originally just a purple dress. It took three gowns and extra fabrics to create this gown. It was altered to fit the actor and cut to add the mermaid flounce skirt detail. Many sequins were sewn on by hand.

Bodice detail of the purple gown. The blue flowers were made from hand-rolled tulle.

A close-up detail of the actor and accessories chosen to match the gown. Jewelry provided by Stella and Dot.

The finished gown modeled by the actor.

Behind the scenes prom photo of actor portraying the budding fashion designer in the film. For his prom costume I embellished a pair of tuxedo pants with sequins and altered a woman's suit jacket with a sparkle collar detail to fit him. I then embellished the collar of the jacket with his signature color of the film, purple. The shirt was a men's dress shirt which I embellished with sheer purple fabric to make neck, sleeve, and button detail ruffles. I then replaced the buttons with faux jeweled crystal buttons.

Another image of the fashion design character on set for prom.

Inspiration sketch for pink gown.

Front view of pink gown in progress. The original gown was a long pink solid satin dress. I altered the gown to fit the actor and cut the hem to a high/low line. I then used the beading and fabric salvaged from another gown to create a ruffle and the ornamentation.

The back view of gown embellishment. All trims were sewn on by hand.

Finished gown front view.

The pink gown being modeled by the actor backstage before the prom scene was shot.

Inspiration sketch for tulle gown.

This gown originally was a floor length royal blue gown. The bodice was velvet and the skirt was satin. They were connected with a large lace natural waist detail. In order to create the tulle vision inspired by the character's love of couture, I began by attaching a full slip to the underside of the drop waist petal cut skirt. I then cut countless pieces of multiple colors of tulle into varying lengths and randomly attached them to the bottom of the slip to create the illusion of a skirt made entirely out of tulle.

I then covered the remaining visible area of the full slip with a gold lame fabric to reflect the multiple colors of the tulle after application.

Here you can see the cut tulle waiting to be applied to the gown. The color and lengths were random to create the illusion of more fullness.

Tulle application in process.

More tulle application.

Starting to get the look envisioned.

Tulle application complete. Gown awaiting silk flower application.

I enlisted the help of my design staff to create the jeweled silk flowers for the tulle gown.

The design team hard at work.

The final gown being modeled by the actor. The jeweled silk flower detail was applied around the neckline and individual flowers were sewn into the skirt randomly. This was my personal favorite creation for this project.

The female villain of the film. Of course she had to wear red. I selected and altered this gown, and created a matching bag. I also chose the shoes and jewelry for this scene.

Every prom has two girls who dress similarly. I altered these gowns and specifically embellished them with matching fabric salvaged from another gown.

The prom queen coronation scene. This is also a shot of the female lead's gown from a distance where you can see the hem and train alteration effect.

A group shot of the cast during the prom scene filming.

Sewing inspired graphic tee collection created for the fashion designer character in the film.

Detail image of graphic tee original design created for the singing diva character in the film.

Fashion design inspired graphic tee.

Fashion design graphic tee. The image is of a stylized dress form with a spot light shining upon it. It is surrounded by glittering thread attached to a sewing needle releasing energy of creation.

Back view of 'sewing circle punk' book bag carried by fashion designer character.

Front view of 'sewing circle punk' book bag carried by fashion designer character.

Design staff embellishing a hoodie to be worn by the fashion designer character of the film.

For this hoodie, I had my assistant darken many areas with a black sharpie and then attached a trim of black boa feathers to the hood and sleeves.

I created a prop used in the fashion designer character's bedroom set, which I designed. The box is created from old patterns modge podge'd onto a crate and then painted over. It was used on the set to house sewing supplies for the character.

Sewing inspired art for the fashion design character's bedroom set.

A line drawing of Audrey Hepburn I created for the fashion designer character's bedroom set.

Bedroom set view 1.

Bedroom set view 2.

For the 'inspiration board' in the fashion designer's bedroom, I created a bulletin board out of a cardboard cutting board. I then attached various sketches of the gowns and embellishments I used on the gowns.

A view of the set including the vintage sewing machine I had to teach the character how to use for this scene.

'Sewing circle punk' inspired bracelet. Made by sewing together pieces of a measuring tape and applying buttons, safety pins, and a hook-and-eye closure.