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Showing posts with label Costume. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Costume. Show all posts

Monday, 22 September 2014

Ideas for Film Fancy Dress

Calling all freshers and uni students! You're starting or returning to university, stuck for ideas for those fancy dress parties and bar crawls. And what about Halloween? That's coming up soon too!
Ticket Stub has come up with some creative, cheap and quirky choices to make you look like the best movie character of all time.

Have you made any awesome film costumes? I'd love to see your creations.
Tweet @TicketStubBlog with your pictures or comment below.

On a budget? 

This is a very simple idea and you can get all the bits from Primark. The Blues Brothers (1980) are instantly recognisable and suits everyone (short, tall, fat, slim, male, female) - you can't really go wrong! 

Image: picniccinema.co.uk
Team up with a friend and get yourselves: an old white shirt, black tie, black blazer and black trousers.
The main things you'll need to complete the look will be:

The sunglasses:



And the hats:



Draw on some sideburns, (or grow them if you have time!). And that is it.
 Stand next to each other, look like you're on a mission...a mission from God and you'll be rocking to Shake a Tail Feather in no time.


Feeling adventurous?

If you have some spare cardboard boxes, the world is your oyster! You can create so many unique ideas for fancy dress - especially if want to be an object, famous vehicle or a big scale building. You could go for Titanic? Or Optimus Prime? Or maybe King Kong on top of the Empire State? Haven't quite worked out how to do that yet, but how about this one?

Andrew in the finished costume: Carl and Ellie's house from Up (2009)
A few years back, my brother attended a party as Carl and Ellie's house from Up (2009). With help from my sister, they used cardboard boxes to make the structure, held the house by a pair of braces and attached a bunch of mini balloons to the back.

The costume in progress. Made with cardboard boxes, sticky tape and lots of paper.
The result was awesome and certainly made for a truly unique costume!
To find out how to make this, head over to Louise's blog.




Time on your hands? 

If you love make up as much as I do, you'll jump at the chance to try creative, bold looks. The make up and costume from Black Swan (2010) is a great idea for Halloween, especially if you have coloured contact lenses to partner the creepy yet captivating eye make up.

Image: etsy.com

I had a go trying out one of my eyes using the tutorial below:




And this was the result:

instagram.com/helenashappenings
 It is surprisingly easy to do. Make sure you have the time to take care with the design. It definitely looks effective and I had great fun recreating it.
Complete the costume with the black tutu, corseted top or black vest along with a tiara or silver headband. If you have a black dress which fans out (as the lady in the tutorial does) then this will go perfectly together. 

Don’t have much fancy dress?

If you haven't got much and can't really be bothered to make a huge effort, how about taking inspiration from The Big Lebowski (1998)? Jeff Bridges as The Dude in his dressing gown, sunglasses, white tee and sandals - all the standard things you can easily find in a student wardrobe.

Image: warosu.org

If not Jeff Bridges, you could also go for Arthur from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005). Again, a dressing gown and pjs - just hop out of bed and you're ready!

Image: hitchhikers.wikia.com

Quirky Couples

For those who want to go for couple fancy dress, why not try something different?
I've selected the best quirky film couples. Can you think of anymore?

Dr. Emmett Brown and Marty McFly 
Back to the Future (1985)

Marty: A red puffer jacket is the key piece of Marty's outfit. Team up with a checkered shirt, denim jacket and jeans. That's right - double denim. Don't forget a comfy pair of white trainers - Converse would do nicely. Don the dazed and confused look to fully match Marty.

Doc: A white one piece would be best, if not you could get away with a lab coat. White hair is a must - a wig or lots of talcon powder or even dry shampoo (not rubbed in) will do just the trick. Make sure is big and crazy like the good man himself! Add a black belt and some tools you think the Doc would have handy. Remember to express, with wide eyes, the 'OH MY GOODNESS THIS ACTUALLY WORKS' reaction.

Image: lifebetweenframes.blogspot.com

Shaun and Ed
Shaun of Dead (2004)

Sean: Another simple costume - white shirt, black trousers and a red tie (either around your head for the look seen later in the movie or as below). Include a name tag which you can print off from Google. Make sure you have the all important 'red on you'. Include the cricket bat to attack those zombies.

Ed: You can purchase Ed's 'I Got Wood' t-shirt from Amazon. Add a pair of long shorts and comfy trainers for the basics. To make it look like you didn't just turn up in your casual Saturday outfit, pop a splatter of fake blood on the t-shirt and hold a garden spade. You can always do Ed's look at the end of the film too - a great idea for Halloween.

Image: galleryhip.com

 Tweedle Dum & Tweedle Dee
Alice in Wonderland (1951)

Take some inspiration from Neil Patrick Harris and husband David Burtka. They have some incredible Halloween costumes and include the whole family too!

Image: graziadaily.co.za
Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee: Bright and bold. Yellow shirt, blue bow ties and striking red trousers. Include the white collars (or waistcoats as above) and the adorable hats to finish off. You can easily vary certain parts of the costume - for instance you could replace the trousers for red leggings and heels or perhaps a red skirt.

Image: alice-in-wonderland.net

Mia Wallace and Vincent Vega
Pulp Fiction (1994)

Mia: Brilliant if you have a black bob haircut with a fringe. If not, you must get a wig for this costume. Pair it with a white shirt with long sleeves and cropped bootcut trousers. We only see Mia's shoes for a split second - she spends most of her time bare foot. However, if you want to save your feet, pop on a pair of gold or metallic flats. Add a dark bold lip and blood red nails to finish.

Vincent: Again, great if you have long hair to tie back in a pony. If not, go for the wig option. Simply wear a blazer, white shirt, black trousers and black shoes. To complete, add a bootlace tie. Oh, and don't forget to twist.

Image: en.wikipedia.org

The Classic Couple

If you don't want to go down the quirky route, keep it classic with one of the most iconic movie couples.

Sandy and Danny
Grease (1978)

Sandy: This is the sexy Sandy. Big curly hair, preferably blonde - if not go for a wig. For the face, a bright red lip, a subtle smokey eye and small hooped gold earrings. Don't worry, you won't have to get sewn into this outfit, as Olivia Newton John did! Instead go for black fitted leggings or disco pants. For the top half, go for an off shoulder black top and add a belt round the waist. Finish with some sexy red heels. Feeling a little chilly? Throw on a leather jacket too.

Danny: Another simple costume idea. Black t-shirt and black trousers. The main thing? The hair. Slick it back and have a comb as a prop. Again, you can always go for a wig.

Image: pinterest.com

Need a group fancy dress?

Definitely for those medic bar crawls or if you have a huge group of you attending a party together, why not try going for a group fancy dress?

Ghostbusters (1984)

A popular costume favourite. Go for all beige, preferably with some overalls but you can easily improvise. Make your own name tag and print off the Ghostbusters logo and attach to the sleeve. You can even get a badge to sew on if you want to go all out. The other important component is the proton pack. You can buy an inflatable one, but making your own is way more fun. Check out the different versions you can go for by clicking here.

Image: insidemovies.ew.com

Oompa Loompas from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)

My housemate at uni did this with her medic friends and it was hilariously brilliant. Be prepared to brave the orange make up and green wigs. White eyebrows are important too! Wear a brown t-shirt and white dungarees over the top. If you can't source the dungarees, go for white shorts and braces. Complete the costume with a stripey collar and stripey socks.

Image: telegraph.co.uk

The Addams Family (1991)

Da-na-na-na *click click*...

There are plenty of characters to chose from with the Addams Family. You could always go as one of them for an individual costume idea. Think gothic - lots of black, eyeliner and stripey tops. Key things to remember: plaits for Wednesday, bold red lip for Mortica and dark eyes and bald head for Fester.

Image: sgnewwave.com
Also, someone with very long hair has to go as Cousin Itt. Pop a pair of sunnies and a bowlers hat on top and you're done!

Image: weku.fm

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Everyone will know exactly what movie you're from with this one. Dorothy, the Lion, Tin Man, Scarecrow and Toto are the key characters. You could also include Glinda or even one of the flying monkeys! The Wicked Witch of the West is perfect as a Halloween costume in itself. The great thing about these iconic costumes is you can be creative to achieve each look. For instance, you could make the Tin Man have a modern look with a bold metallic silver eye and lip makeup. Or if you're really stuck, you can always just wrap yourself up in foil!

Image: primetime.unrealitytv.co.uk


Hopefully that has given you some cool ideas to impress your friends at your next party.

Show me your film fancy dress creations by tweeting @TicketStubBlog or in the comments below.



Monday, 25 November 2013

When Harry Met Annie

Earlier this month, I recommended Annie Hall as Ticket Stub's Sunday Classic. In the post, I mentioned the films that have been heavily influenced by Woody Allen's classic. So I thought we would look at this a little more closely...

When Harry Met Sally is one of my all time favourite films and it definitely pays homage to Annie Hall. 
I'm going to run through a few examples, which I hadn't noticed until watching the films recently.


1. Opening Monologues

Annie Hall begins with Woody Allen's character Alvy, explaining his outlook on life and his relationships.



When Harry Met Sally is interspersed throughout with short monologues by couples, talking about where and when they first met. Like Annie Hall, the background colours are similar and the characters all look, more or less, straight down the lens addressing the audience. The couples are hilarious and charming. Here is an edited version of all their stories together:



2. Annie and Sally's Costume

Annie's costume became iconic in the 70s so it is no wonder that Sally takes a leaf out of her book here in the autumnal scene at Central Park. Notice the same hats, long trousers and masculine look of the two outfits.


Image: thebudgetfashionista.com

Image: thecitrusreport.com

3. Montage

A clear homage is paid here and it was one of the first examples I noticed. Both films have montages showing the course of each relationship, through happy, sad and hilarious moments - such as Sally's fake orgasm scene and Alvy sneezing from the cocaine.



Watch the first 47 seconds for When Harry Met Sally scene:





4. Location

Both are set in New York and use the city to its full capacity in filming. From the quirky diners and small bookshops to the impressive city skyline, you definitely know you're in NYC. The concrete jungle creates a stark contrast to the sunny superficial world of Los Angeles depicted in Annie Hall.

"Well, have a nice life"
Harry and Sally say goodbye after their first meeting by Washington Square Arch

Image: christianallaire.com

"I'll have what she's having"
The most famous scene from When Harry Met Sally, which takes place at the popular diner, Katz's Delicatessen  


Image: en.wikipedia.org

"I luff you"
Annie and Alvy awkwardly confess their love to each other with the romantic city skyline in the background

Image: thirteen.org

"Love fades...God, that's a depressing thought"
As the couple argue in the intense city streets, Alvy turns to New Yorkers to hear what they have to say about love...



5. Soundtrack

It Had to be You is sung in both films.
Annie's version however, is a disaster. She sings it beautifully in the New York bar but no-one appreciates it.



In Rob Reiner's film though, It Had To Be You is sung by the classic voice of Frank Sinatra. This is a far more romantic moment as Harry finally realises that he truly loves Sally.





6. Musings on Death

We all know that Woody Allen is obsessed with this theme and Alvy certainly thinks about death a lot.
He even gives Annie books on the subject:


Harry similarly obsesses over death - "I spend hours, I spend days".
Hear what he does every time he buys a new book...



7. Split Screens

Split screens in Annie Hall happen on two occasions: When Annie and Alvy's mothers exchange conversation while at the dinner table and during both the characters' therapy sessions.



When Harry Met Sally uses split screens for telephone calls. The best one being the four way split screen with Jesse and Marie picking up each of Harry and Sally's calls the morning after:


Both these instances create comedy and are very clever in terms of timing. Yet, it is interesting to notice that the split screens in Annie Hall are always dominated by Alvy's side and his point of view whilst Annie's screen is shoved to the left hand side. It further shows how dominant Alvy is on Annie and her way of life. However, with Harry and Sally the split is even. No dominant. They are both equals and friends, which visually indicates that their relationship is more balanced and solid compared to Annie and Alvy.

8. High Maintenance 

High maintenance or low maintenance? When Harry Met Sally explores this throughout, particularly with Sally's ridiculous food orders:


It is a very brief moment I noticed in Annie Hall but one none-the-less! A very quick instance shows this difference between Alvy and Annie as they order food at a diner. Just look at Alvy's face as Annie orders.



Although both these films have many similarities, it is the fate of both relationships and the outlook of the two that differ. Harry and Sally have their ups and downs but develop a strong friendship leading to their long lasting relationship together. Annie and Alvy seem like a great match but ultimately do not see eye to eye and, as we know from the very beginning of the film, they are not destined to be together.

It is fascinating to note that the original ending of When Harry Met Sally did not have the couple getting together. This ending didn't resonate with test audiences so was scrapped. The perfect Hollywood ending. So, although there is a clear respect and homage to Annie Hall, the conclusions of both the films are widely different.