MALEFICENT, BIRDMAN etc at Fashion Institue of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) Art of Motion Picture Costume Design Exhibiton

 If you are in the Los Angeles area, you can see the iconic Angelia Jolie Maleficent costume IN PERSON -- it's part of the "Art of Motion Picture Costume Design" exhibit (through April 25, 2015) a the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Museum, http://fidmmuseum.org/ 919 S. Grand Ave in downtown LA. The exhibit is free -- on-site parking is $5. Here's link to LA Times story about the exhibit...http://www.latimes.com/fashion/la-ig-fidm-exhibit-20150222-story.html

To help share the wealth of educational material provided at the exhibit, I brought back a few copies of the 15 page, double-sided, black and white xerox booklet, along with brochures and postcards. The xerox booklet has in depth commentary on many of the featured films, with quotes from the designers and descriptions from studio production notes. These are free and available in the Stuart Ng Books showroom. You'll find these and other educational/resource freebies near the checkout area.

From the booklet... "No matter what time period or genre in which the movie is set, there is one underlying thread common to all of them: each article of clothing was carefully researched to best represent the character wearing it, and the feel of the movie in which it is seen." Michael Black, Exhibition  Curator.

This year's exhibit features costumes from the following films: MALEFICENT (Anna B. Sheppard); MR. TURNER (Jacqueline Durran); BELLE (Anushia Nieradzik); NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB (Marlene Stewart): GURADIANS OF THE GALAXY (Alexandra Byrne); DRACULA UNTOLD (Ngila Dickson); EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS (Janty Yates); X-MEN:DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (Louise Mingenbach); THE FAULT IN OUR STARS (Mary Claire Hannan -- FIDM Alumna); THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING (Steven Noble); THE IMITATION GAME (Sammy Sheldon Differ); THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL(Milena Canonero); BIG EYES (Colleen Atwood); THE GREAT GATSBY (Catherine Martin); JERSEY BOYS (Deborah Hopper); INTO THE WOODS (Colleen Atwood); SELMA (Ruth E. Carter) STEP UP ALL IN (Soyon An -- FIDM Alumna); GET ON UP (Sharen Davis); INHERENT VICE (Mark Bridges); GONE GIRL (Trish Summerville -- FIDM Alumna); BIRDMAN (Albert Wolsky)

Costumes in first room of exhibit...

costumes in second room...

Costumes from MALEFICENT....

Anna Sheppard, 2015 Oscar nominee for Maleficent on designing for the character... " The persona than comes to you straight from this film is Maleficent. The colors I used are similar to the Disney prints from that film. I think Maleficent looks exactly, in the big christening scene, as everyone expect her to be. This is Maleficent from the animated version, just more beautiful."

Costumes from DRACULA UNTOLD...

Costumes from GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY...

Costumes from BELLE ...

Costumes from NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB...

Costumes from BIRDMAN...

The exhibit booklet notes that the Birdman suit was designed by Mike Elizalde, a creature effects and prosthetics specialist, who was recommended to Birdman director Alejandro Inarritu for this assignment by filmmaker Guillermo del Toro.

From the booklet: ".... Elizadle explains "Birdman was a psychological symbol of (character Riggan's) past, the thing that grounds him and also potentially can destroy him....." The design was a collaborative effort between Inarritu, (Michael) Keaton and Elizadle and his team: "Alejandro intentionally wanted to preserve what was familiar about Michael playing Batman. So parts of his face that are exposed are in the same sort of shape and proximity to Batman."

Costumes from THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (2015 Academy Award winner)

 Costumes from INTO THE WOODS ...

 From the booklet: "Atwood's inspiration for all her designs were the Woods, and many of the character's costumes included the texture of wood in some way. For instance, the witch's costume worn by Meryl Streep, was actually made from tiny pieces of leather that were stitched on to chiffon and then combined with leather that looked like cracked bark."

Costumes  from THE GREAT GATSBY (2014 Academy Award winner)

Costumes from SELMA..

Costumes from THE FAULT IN OUR STARS .... Don't underestimate the impact of "contemporary" costume choices .. plus they become "vintage"... then "period" sooner than you think :)

Designer and FIDM Alumna Mary Claire Hannan discusses her role in the filmmaking process: "Although my films are contemporary, if you look at them you can see that I am really studying the human condition. I am striking very different demographics, many types of people, interesting lifestyles, and choices.... My plight is to tell the story and I do it through clothing."

Costumes from X-MEN:DAYS OF FUTURE PAST.....

In addition to the exhibit space, the museum has its own bookstore....

 There's also a lovely outdoor park area near the entrance....

With a trio of fun sculptures frolicking in the grass....

 Don't miss the FIDM school bookstore as well....

Inspire an art student .. or re-kindle your own young artist enthusiasm .. with a visit to this beautiful and educational downtown spot.....http://fidm.edu/