Faye Butterfield

Costumier

[fayebutterfield]

Final Evaluation

I feel that this project has really pushed me further than I knew I was capable of and I now know how much I can achieve when I give it my complete focus and dedication. Following from a supervision role in Concepts in context, I was ready to focus on my making skills and have the chance to work independently, planning my own schedule. At the beginning of this project it was frustrating to not have control and to constantly be answering to a production team. 

Working on a live production and having to juggle non negotiable events such as going to work and Perceptions of Performance tutorials and also attempting tailoring was a challenge. however it was a test of character and I feel stronger for it. 

I feel that there have been some difficult challenges to overcome that derive from working on a live production and working with both the acting department and an external director. I’ve also learnt how to work closely with a fellow supervisor.This has been an invaluable experience, as I now feel more prepared for third year and ultimately for industry.

There have also been some amazing opportunities and benefits to this project. I've had the chance to test my supervision on a live production, push my set and costume design which I thought I would not get to do as a maker. I also had the privileged of working on a third year final production; something that not many second years have the chance to do. We also had some amazing feedback from the team and people that came to watch.

I initially thought that I would be happy to step back from supervising next year however, I feel that I have grown in ability within the role and if I find a particular production that sparks my interest then I would definitely apply to supervise again as I feel that it is becoming one of my strengths. It is still my aim to develop my making skills too, so I will be careful when picking electives so that I get the best of my final year; I haven’t given up on tailoring either.

  I have tried in styling for photography this project which was exciting as it’s something that I’ve wanted to try. I feel that it was a success and I would love to continue to develop in this area. It’s a combination of supervision and designer and I like that it is very different to other work that I can do on the course.

Although I don't feel as though I have come away from this project with developed skills in the area of costume construction, I have definitely learnt a lot. Learning to problem solve, work within teams and understanding the process of a live production is all valuable experience that has to be lived to be understood.

Our show went up last weekend and this weekend I finished the year my watching Threepenny Opera. Watching the final outcomes of all the hard work involved, has made me excited for third year and reignited my passion for costume as I know that it all pays off at the end.

Word Count: 530

[fayebutterfield]

Indian Summer

Week 6

On reflection it's nice to look back at production week. The production has now run, finished and been moved out of the theatre. The week leading up to the shows was extremely busy and stressful, as I imagined that it would be. The final costumes were only authorised by the director on tuesday morning which gave us a tight deadline to alter the clothes as they were also needed within rehearsals. I found this difficult and we had a lot to do involving costume alteration and set painting that could only be done before or after rehearsals which meant we only had small windows of time to complete the tasks that we needed to get done.

I found this a hard battle however it is realistic to industry and I feel that I just worked even harder to achieve what needed to be done. It does involve a lot of sacrifice and complete dedication which at times is hard as I'm very ambitious and will sacrifice everything to achieve my goals, however, sometimes you do need to make time for yourself to recuperate or you will end up doing more harm than good.

The get in was on the same day as the production so it was very busy and demanding. We spent the lunch break doing a mad dash around local shops to get all the extra bits and pieces needed for the set, including food to fill the fridges with. I have definitely learnt to problem solve quickly and efficiently and how to handle changing situations.

The shows ran smoothly. In regards to costume, some velcro would be mis-matched during the quickest of the changes however there wasn't anything too visible for the audience. The zip on one dress broke however we were able to resolve the problem.

I felt vey proud to watch the live shows and to get good feedback from tutors and other audience members. I have enjoyed working on the production and I'm very grateful of the opportunity as it has been an invaluable experience.

I don't think that I can rule out supervision next year as I feel I am developing my strengths in this area and would like the opportunity to work or a large scale production.

[fayebutterfield]

Indian Summer

Production photos taken by Richard Budd:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151678090664739.1073741855.730754738&type=1

[fayebutterfield]

Final Learning Agreement

NAME:                                   Faye Butterfield

COURSE:                               BA (Hons) Costume with Performance Design         

UNIT TITLE:                          Independent Project         

REF. NO.:                               CSS553

WEIGHTING:              1.0     

HOURS OF STUDY:  200 Hours    

UNIT LEADERS:                   Bunny Winter/Graham Cottenden

  Project Description:

Indian Summer

For Independent Project I have chosen to work as a Supervisor on the AUB production of Indian Summer which will take place during the summer term. Working alongside another student, we will design the set and costumes for the production as well as supervising the live performances.

As a designer I will work along side the other supervisor to produce a set box and costume designs. As the costumes for this piece will be sourced, the designs will be provided in a mood board format.

During the performances I will aid in the set-up and dressing of the set. I will be responsible for the costume prior to, during and post production.

I feel that this project is a logical development from Concepts in Contexts to progress from a theoretical supervision project to a live one. I feel that it will test and refine my supervision skills. I also think that it is an exciting opportunity to challenge my design ability.

Styling

During the first few weeks of Independent Project I will be collaborating with a Photography student to style looks for a photoshoot inspired by a Fairytale. I feel that this experience allows me to explore a new area of styling for photography combined with a supervision role.  I will style the looks and then supervise on location for the shoot.

  Aims

A1     To provide opportunities for self-initiated, autonomous learning and develop the ability to plan time and work independently.

A2     To provide opportunity to study the contextual development of Costume with Performance Design.

A3     To further develop the creative, intellectual and practical applications of research and contextualisation within a self initiated environment.

A4     To propose, develop and evaluate professional aspirations through independent learning and self-management.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit you will be able to

LO1 Identify and define the context for the development of your own work towards professional aspirations.

LO2  Demonstrate an understanding of the development of Costume with Performance Design.

LO3 Demonstrate creative, intellectual and practical applications of research and contextualisation.

LO4 Demonstrate the application of organisational skills and evidence of independent learning and self-management.

Assessment Components

  A body of work consisting of a set box developed as a team and a supervision bible.

Photographs from the Fairytale Photoshoot.

This work will be supported by a reflective blog and a final written evaluation (500 words). 100%

              100%

    Each assessment requirement must be passed at a minimum grade of 40% to successfully complete the unit

  Assessment Criteria (specific criteria related to the learning outcomes and linked to the statement of generic assessment criteria matrix):          

            The level to which your work demonstrates the context for the development of your work towards professional aspirations. (LO1)

The level to which your work demonstrates an understanding of the development of Costume with Performance Design. (LO2)

The level to which your work demonstrates creative, intellectual and practical applications of research and contextualisation. (LO3)

The level to which your work demonstrates the application of organisational skills and evidence of independent learning and self-management.  (LO4

  Reference Material

  This will vary according to the needs of the individual project.  You will define Reference Material through personal investigation and consultation with staff and list it in your Learning Agreement using Harvard Referencing protocols.

  1.    Cabrera, R. and Meyers, P.F. (1983) Classic tailoring techniques: a construction guide for men's wear. New York: Fairchild.

  2.    eBay Inc. (2013) Ebay. [online] Available from: http://www.ebay.co.uk [Accessed 20/04/2013]

  3.    Maurice, L.(2007).Indian Summer. Norwich: The Morris Printing Co.

  4.    Molly’s Den (2013) Sourcing Visit. Molly’s Den, Bournemouth. [18/04/2013]

  5.    Poole Lighthouse (2013) Studio Theatre Site Visit. The Lighthouse Theatre, Poole. [18/04/2013]

[fayebutterfield]

Tailoring: Postponed

Week 6

Monday 20th May 2013

Over the weekend I emailed my tutor explaining the situation about the production having taken over form tailoring and my concerns. My tutor  has allowed me to amend my learning agreement to remove tailoring from my hand in requirements.

I am extremely disappointed that I did not get the chance to have an independent project that involved planning to make a garment of my own choice in my own time as that is what i was really looking forward. I also wanted to learn some more tailoring techniques and and use it as a test so that I could enter my final year with a clearer idea of what I wanted to learn and how I wanted to develop as a proffessional.

I found it difficult to watch the presentations of the people that has successfully completed jackets as they looked beautiful and it made me feel jealous and wish that I could have been doing the same.

However,I know that i still have next year to learn and I know that working on indian Summer has been an amazing opportunity. I would still like to try tailoring, so i see it as simply postponing it until next year.

[fayebutterfield]

Look 5

[fayebutterfield]

Tailoring

Week 5

Monday 13th May 2013 - Sunday 19th May 2013

This week has been a sad one in regards to my tailoring progress. It is now the production week of Indian Summer and as it has grown in size it has taken over completely, the nature of it being a live production means that I have to prioritise the work for the production above tailoring. I have begun to worry about the prospect of being able to complete my tailoring samples. I have not had any free time this week and I doubt that i will have any more time before hand in. This is becoming a genuine concern and I have decided to discuss my options with my tutor. 

[fayebutterfield]

Indian Summer

Show Time!

Friday 18th may 2013

8:00am meet fellow supervisor, pack up car

9:30am Arrive at Lighthouse Theatre Poole

9:45am unpack costumes and blackboard

- Hung costumes

-Oversaw placement of set and hanging of blackboard

-Tech run

- Discussions with Tutor about last minute changes

Notes Made:

Door wedge, Plant pots and poster  to dress backstage as the door will be propped open

-Chair with back to the audience and magazine rack side on to audience- too theatrical to have them all facing forward

- Purchase more food , drinks and get more more for the till

- Fix the zip on Amy's dress

-Sign for cafe door

-Add stick on spot lights inside the fridges

1:00pm break for lunch

- We went to frantically purchase al of these last bits and pieces needed before the run through.

3:00pm Run Through

4:30pm Pressed and Re-set the costume

7:00pm Dinner Break

7:30pm SHOW - opening night

9:00pm Re-set costume ready for saturday

[fayebutterfield]

Indian Summer

Thursday 16th May 2013

1 day to go

9:00am- 10:00am Arrived at uni to break down the set and clear up from painting it before the rehearsals began at 10am.

10:00am Updated the budget so far

11:00am Left for Work

5:30pm Arrived back at my fellow supervisor's house from work

6:00pm Drove the final bits of costume into university, ready for the run through.

6:30pm Last minute dash to the costume store to find additional extras now needed.

7:00pm Run Through

9:30pm Arrived back from rehearsal, with the blackboard to paint.

11:30pm Finished painting the blackboard, headed home to prepare for the show tomorrow.

[fayebutterfield]

Indian Summer Rehearsal Notes

Wednesday 15th May 2013 Dear All, Apologies this was not sent last night. We began writing sounds cues in and worked on scenes. Notes from today: General SM/Props Pen, paper and sellotape need to be hidden behind counter. Mop needs to be damp not soaking. Paper in Amy's file-o-fax. Phone set for drunk girls with Kesha on. Put another file-o-fax in Elaine's bag to fill it up. Set Coffee machine should be left open at the start of the show. Need a cut out in the front counter. Costume Need hat for Mrs Newman. Elaine's shirt needs to be sewn to jacket around arm area. Lighting No requirements. Sound Indian Abba music for pre-show. We need to add dancing queen and tannoy on to cues. Tomorrow we will run and work on cues. Thanks,

[fayebutterfield]

Indian Summer

Wednesday 15th May 2013

2 days to go.

8:30am Met fellow supervisor at university to move all set from studio theatre back into the rehearsal space.

9:00am Took costumes up to the studio to photograph and alter

13:00pm Went to several shops to return unwanted items, exchange and purchase final bits of costume.

17:00pm Returned back to uni and showed the team the last bits of costume.

17:30pm Moved all the ste into the sudio theatre

6:00pm Discovered that the rehearsal room was free all evening

6:05pm Moved all the set back into the rehearsal room

6:30pm Put finishing touches to the set

9:30pm -12:00pm Took the costume back to my fellow supervisor's house. Broke down the costumes using Fuler's earth, butter, sandpaper, a cheesgrater, cup-a soup and glue.

[fayebutterfield]

Indian Summer Rehearsal Notes

Tuesday 14th May 2013 Dear All, Today we worked on certain scenes and costume changes and ran the show. Notes from today: General We will need the mac in all rehearsals now. Tomorrow we will run at 4 again. We will also begin looking at cues tomorrow and music choices. There will be no interval. SM/Props Money needs to be set in Elaine's bag, not the purse. The big rucksack needs things in to bulk it out and things hanging off e.g. sleeping bag, water bottle. Coffee and tea pots need to be filled up more so that the girls can pour full cups. Could we get a mop and bucket. - it could be stored off stage in the 'kitchen'. Will need milk to add to coffee. Set Can the coffee machine be plugged in so it lights up? Can we try out the smoke tomorrow from the coffee machine as we may need to find alternative if it doesn't work. Costume Trousers for Elaine take too long to get on in the quick change. Alison and Sarah will carry shoes on and not wear them on entrance. Black vest top will not be work throughout, she will put it on after Sarah. Are we still getting pearls for married woman? Emma will wear the same shoes as Steph as there is not enough time to change. Still need coat for Steph. Need rings for tomorrow. Lighting No requirements. Sound No requirements. Tomorrow we will work technicalities out and run it. Thanks, Assistant Manager

[fayebutterfield]

Indian Summer

Plan for Wednesday 15th May 2013

As it stands, this is a basic overview of tomorrow, however, I have learnt to take each day as it comes.

08:30am Move set back into rehearsal studio

9:00am Finish altering Costumes

Collect advance form and apply for the final one.

Return any unused costumes

Purchase or exchange final items of costume

Continue with set box if there is time.

5:00pm Move set back into studio theatre and finish painting

[fayebutterfield]

Indian Summer

Week 5

Tuesday 14th May

3 days to the performance.

Itinerary:

8:30am Myself and fellow supervisor met at the studio theatre to move all of the now primed set back into the rehearsal room.

9:00am Prepared all of the costume ready to show the director and artists.

10:00am Discussed costume with production team, agreed alterations to be made, final costume desisions and last few items to be purchased.

11:00am- 4:00 pm Altered Costumes

4:00pm-5:30pm Watched run through of the play.

5:30pm Moved set into the studio theatre ready to paint.

6pm- 9pm Set painting, two top coats of paint. (Melissa Cooke was a truly appreciated extra pair of hands)

Weekly Reflection

Set designers, Costume designers, Alterations, Scenic artists and Costume supervisors, I feel that we are truly being challenged during this production, it is an amazing experience that i never thought would have been possible.

Today has been an exhausting day as set painting is a physically demanding task, especially when we are carrying all of the set backwards and forwards between two rooms but it has developed my respect for scenic artists, who's truly vital contribution to set I had never really stopped to appreciate before.

it was apprehensive before showing our items of costume to the director and artists as I was very much aware that we do not realistically have anymore time to go sourcing, especially when so much of our time is now devoted to set painting.

I had a huge sense of relief when the majority of our ideas and costume choices were approved by the director and artists. there were a few bits and pieces to be returned or swapped but nothing major. A few of our costumes required altering to aid the fast-paced changes which we began work on straight away. It was nice to get back in the costume studios and actually sew again as it feels like it's been along time!

The alterations took a lot longer than I had thought however we did do our best and had the majority of the work done for the run through. The director was thankful and even seemed impressed in what we had achieved. This left me feeling happy as for the last few weeks I feel that i've been working hard to create work that I'm proud of and it's nice to know that it is being acknowledged.

Watching the run through was useful as it highlighted a few areas of costume and diferent changes that might require us to make a few improvements. This is something that I will discuss and act upon omorrow with my fellow supervisor.

The set needed more coats than we had anticipated and therefore we will have to paint again tomorrow evening which does eat into our time. This is frustrating as our time is very precious and we can only paint the set between 6pm and 9pm in the evening which impacts the other tasks that we need to complete. I find that not being able to plan my own time is very difficult and at times stressful and difficult to handle. however, I do know that experience is a fairly realistic representation of the problems and situations I would encounter in industry and therefore the biggest challenge for me is not the problems themselves but learning how to overcome them and trying not to loose sight of my own goals or feel defeated during the process.

i look forward to the new challenges that tomorrow will bring.

[fayebutterfield]

Rehearsal Notes Monday 13th May 2013

Week 4

Monday 13th May 2013

Dear All, 

Notes from today:

Today the girl's worked on specific scenes and we did a run. The running time was 1 hr 14 mins.

General 

The run tomorrow will be at 2.

SM/Props 

Money needs to be set in Sam's pocket. 

Set

The blackboard needs the menu written on it. 

Tomorrow we need to mark the tables as they will be in the space. 

Costume

It would be good to work on the quick changes so if we could have all costumes, shoes and bags for tomorrow that would really help. 

We now only need one phone case for Vic.  

Lighting

No requirements. 

Sound

No requirements. 

Tomorrow we will work on individual scenes and do a run at 2. 

Thanks, 

Assistant Director

[fayebutterfield]

Indian Summer

Monday 13th May 2013

4 days to go.

9:30am Met fellow supervisor at wilkinsons to buy paint, however there wasn't anything useful so we decided to try boscombe later.

10:00am Year group meeting about the presentations next week.

11:30am Tutorial with our Tutor

Updated current budget

Discussed budget with the Stage Manager and Producer, cleared up some confusion.

Trip to Boscombe to buy paint and Talk to the Catering company about hiring their fridges.

5:00pm- 8:30pm Set painting

Today was quite a frustrating day as it felt like we were really busy yet didn't quite achieve that much. 

It had been discussed during last week's production meeting that the set would be primed by monday so that we could put the top coats and decoration however we arrived to find that this had not been completed. We had also agreed that, as the director wasn't in rehearsal on monday that we would bring all of the costume in on tuesday so that he could approve it. Likewise, as they would not need the set for a run we had asked if we could paint the set during the day. We had to keep going back to ask if we could get the set yet which ultimately wasted a lot of our time and theirs, that could have been better spent. In future we will just agree to take the set after rehearsals so that it is not an issue.

We received a few messages throughout the day asking to see costume. This was frustrating as it made me feel like we weren't doing our job properly as we weren't proving them with what they needed. I feel that this was unfair as we had previously agreed to bring costume on tuesday. I understand that they wanted to  practice quick changes however, if the director has not approved the costumes it would have been wasting their time to practise with costumes that may well then be changed the next day. I did explain this to them but it is very frustrating as I feel it makes me seem unhelpful and stubborn and it's in my nature to say no to people, especially to those with more authority,however I feel that this experience is teaching me that sometimes it's okay to say no and stand your ground as long as you can support your reasoning.

[fayebutterfield]

Rehearsal Notes Friday 10th May 2013

Friday 10th May 2013

Dear All, 

Notes from today:

We did a run and it is currently running at 1 hr 15 minutes. 

General 

No requirements. 

SM/Props 

Vic will now come in with a mobile phone. 

Set

We may need to cut a window out of the front counter to store props. This is not confirmed but if you could come into rehearsals on Monday and speak to the director about it that would be helpful. 

  Costume

Steph leggings stay on on for Vic, rather than wearing jogging bottoms, as it is a very quick change.

We also need trainers for Vic that are easy to slip on and off quickly.  

Lighting

No requirements. 

Sound

No requirements. 

  On Monday, the girls will run lines, do character work and work certain scenes. 

  Thanks,

Assistant Director