Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1178754
Fall 2019 The Costume Designer 79 BFN - WORK Compiled and written by: Bonnie Nipar, bnipar@cdgia.com Stacy Ellen Rich, lastace@mac.com Encore! Dallas Alums in Beauty and the Beast New member CD Shon LeBlanc, with CD Darryle Johnson and ACD Christine Cover Ferro assisting, wrapped up the first season of Encore! for Disney+ in late July. Each of the 12 episodes followed a new set of alums going back to their high school to remount their high school musical ... in five days! "It was like doing summer stock on steroids," exclaims LeBlanc. Filming took them to Texas, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, Florida, Wisconsin, Kentucky, as well as several schools in Southern California. Some of the plays were revived with cast members who are now in their sixties, but it didn't stop them from tap dancing their hearts out. Others had suffered setbacks in life, one participant was tragically in a hit-and-run accident, leaving him in a wheelchair. From previous experience working with dis- abled actors, LeBlanc knew the right questions to ask to facilitate the costume changes, down to adding zippers to cowboy boots. After the choreographer worked out a lively dance routine à la wheel- chair, that performance was the hit of the show. "Stories like this were our Camelot moment," says LeBlanc. "We touched their lives, and they touched ours." All three design team members, along with their crew from 705 and several locals throughout the country, are currently striving to get the Rodgers and Hammerstein catalogue out of their heads! Even though the script was more violent than most of the other films she usually works on, CD Denise Wingate did not take on Unhinged just because of the costumes. "I really wanted to work with the director Derrick Borte who has a riveting film coming out called American Dreamer. On top of that, I really responded to the script, how this particular story resonates about the society we live in today. What makes people crack or become 'unhinged' and go on violent rampages?" Supported by the lead female, a talented young actress from New Zealand, Caren Pistorious, star Russell Crowe put a lot of thought into his character and delivered a layered perfor- mance. Wingate continues, "Russell was fantastic to work with. It was a real treat to see his process and have long discussions with him about this particular character and the state of our world at the moment in our current political climate with America's opioid de- pendence, ageism, and the loss of jobs." Utilizing an unusual location, offices and stages for the production were set up in an abandoned Macy's in Kenner, Louisiana. "Working in a huge vacant department store was strange, but it offered plenty of fitting rooms," laughs Wing- ate. "But I found it disheartening that 50 percent of the stores inside the mall were shuttered. It made me realize the fragility of brick and mortar stores, which we rely upon for our jobs when we need something ASAP." The weather was the most difficult part of shoot- ing in Louisiana. Not only was it very hot and humid, but every day, production had to shut down for storms and lightning delays. Not very productive for a film where 80 percent is exteriors. "All this being said, I did have a really wonderful crew, including CDG mem- ber Derek Sullivan as my costume supervisor, and I would shoot there again anytime." Susan Thomas, Denise Wingate, Derek Sullivan, Thayer Abaigael, Isaac Fenter (L to R) IN FOCUS BOLDFACE NAMES