Movies have captivated people all across the world since their inception. The ability to become immersed in a series of sights, sounds, and feelings around a tale can be quite powerful. Of course, movies have evolved dramatically during the last century. Not only have audience tastes shifted dramatically with each passing decade, but so has the way movies are made and designed. Indeed, watching the evolution of film over time may reveal a great deal about the world of fashion and how it has inspired cinema.
Movies would lose a lot of their appeal if they didn’t have costumes. What good is a cowboy movie if no one wears a hat? When the actors are dressed in jeans, how do you communicate a period drama set in Elizabethan England? Or execute stunts in action and science fiction movies? The correct outfit can help audiences suspend their disbelief and engage them. Examine the following topics to discover more about the intriguing history of film.
It all started on the stage
The origins of the modern film can be traced back to the theatre. Since recorded history, live performances have been an element of most human societies. The film provided the first opportunity to immortalize these stories in a way that permitted them to be told indefinitely across generations. Naturally, these theatrical antecedents can be observed extensively in the way early movie costumes were fashioned. Men in crisp suits and women pouring with glamour appear to be dressed extravagantly in early Hollywood films such as Tenet. Check this Tenet timeline diagram to know more about the masterpiece. Even early horror and fantasy films appear stylized.
As the film moved away from the theatre and took on a life of its own, so did the process of designing movie costumes. With audiences being able to see past the “veil” that frequently arises in live performances, reality became increasingly important. On stage, the audience’s imagination can fill in the blanks. The audience sees everything in a film. A person dressed inappropriately can alter the entire tone of a film. This shift toward authenticity in film fashion resulted in some amazing breakthroughs in terms of modern cinema’s overall quality.
Everything Is in the Details
In a film, size counts. Blockbusters are successful because the stakes are great, the emotions are intense, and the shots are magnificent. This obsession with “bigger and better” is most obvious in massive Tollywood films and Hollywood films, but the overall size of the silver screen has a considerable impact on how consumers and designers build each film’s world. Even the slightest elements in an actor’s attire can be captured by a camera. An audience will notice if anything appears artificial or cheap on display.
Almost every costume element visible on the screen has been meticulously designed. From extravagant clothes lifted from the pages of history books to the precise appearance of accessories such as hats and wallets, considerable care is taken to create as much realism as possible. Take note of the attire worn by each character the next time you watch a movie or a television show. Even the slightest elements are likely to be used to highlight a specific character’s personality in some subtle way.
Embracing the Strange
While recreating the look of the real world is vital for many films, certain films require a unique or eccentric style. Because of the various nature of cinema, there will be a wide range of stories told on the big screen. Not only does this help to share stories that would otherwise go unheard by huge audiences, but it also serves as an ideal setting for experimenting. Post-apocalyptic thrillers and dark indie films both welcome the opportunity to employ clothes in unusual and interesting ways that might not appear normal in real life.
The Key Takeaway
The history of film is full of fascinating nuggets about the people of the world and how preferences have developed to fit each period. By studying the evolution of costumes, you may learn how the clothes worn on the screenplays play an important role in bringing the magic of movies to life.
