Science Fiction

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This magazine is aimed at fans and creators of sci-fi and related media of all kinds. It includes all content related to the sci-fi genre and only content related to the sci-fi genre. The goal is to build a community for everyone who enjoys science fiction and related topics. This includes the obvious books, movies, and TV shows, but also original writing, the discussion of writing SF, futuristic art and designs, and the science and technologies that inspire the sci-fi genre. **Team Top 20**

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The dirty secret to making sci-fi believable (www.polygon.com)

submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Costumes seem like an obvious barometer, but the measurements may not be what you’re expecting. Rather than looking for costumes with quality, attention to detail, or uniquely inspired designs, all you have to do is look for how dirty the costumes are.

Costume weathering, the process of adding details of wear and tear like grime, cuts, and scrapes, is a lost art on most productions. The easiest place to see the gold standard is in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. Those costumes aren’t just wonderfully designed, they’re wonderfully destroyed, too. The hobbits’ cloaks start out fresh and beautiful in The Fellowship of the Ring, but by the time Sam and Frodo make it to Mordor they’re torn and faded, with brilliant greens reduced to faded grays by mottled stains set in deep from weeks of sleeping on the ground and trekking through the muck. And the same is true for the clothes of every other character; Aragorn’s leather is worn and tired from years of nomadic adventuring, a strong contrast to the brightness of Legolas’ elven-made gear or Boromir’s quasi-royal Gondorian garb.

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[–] PP_BOY_ 9 points 6 months ago

Interesting article and its something that crosses a few of my interests with film production and fashion. I remember a few years ago rubbing sandpaper and dirt on my jeans to make them look "authentically" distressed (then I got a job where I can't keep my clothes hole-free to save my life).

For all the flack that you can throw at the series, I remember the later Harry Potter movies being another great example of this. I forget exactly where I saw this, but I remember one interview with a wardrobe assistant for the last movie showing off an entire rack of about fifty versions of his being jacket in various stages of wear.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

This was the whole ethos of the first Star Wars films - Lucas made a point of getting everything look worn, to the point of having a term for it: the "used universe". Exemplified by C-3PO's whole look, Luke's clothes or even Han Solos's sweaty shirt.

It's a shame he seems to have completely forgotten this when it was time to make the prequels...

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago

I'd argue it wasn't forgotten in the prequels. Most of the characters and plot revolves around and is supported by very large well funded organizations (Republic, Trade Federation, ect) which means the clothing and equipment they have is less likely to be worn down. The same can be seen in the original trilogy with the Empire, storm troopers and imperial ships are well polished and not "used".

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

My friend pointed this out for the recent live action Avatar show. Their clothes were pretty much immaculate the entire time

[–] Streetlights 3 points 6 months ago

The water tribe costumes looked like amateur cosplay.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

I remember an old Superman comic. Trapped under a red sun, Supes is powerless, but his Kryptonian supersuit is still indestructible. Supes is bruised and battered but his clothes stay immaculate.

[iirc, the supersuit is made of Kryptonian tech and was originally blankets used to swaddle in infant Kal-El]

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

I wonder if this was the reason for my dislike of the costumes in one of the marvel Thor movies. Just remember them looking like a cheap cos player outfit made from plastic.