Tag Archives: costume

Diver´s helmet – Nautilus shape

The helmet is worth it´s own post!

Here you can see the first mock- ups we built. It´s been a long process and it´s far from being developed enough!

From our first idea of a Nautilus shaped helmet that you can fold and unfold into the realy implementation we had to build a paper model, then a cardboard one, then a plastic one and finally the real prototype from clear plastic and metal sheet. It´s been such a tedious process because each section of the helmet has a slightly different length, that doesn´t change consitently. That means there was quite a few try and error going on. There is probably a method of how to solve this mathematically, but I am such a hands on person… so I didn´t try to hard to do the math.

side view finished vest and helmet (protective coat still on); basic wire frame structure for O² pack, that holds up helmet
side view finished vest and helmet (protective coat still on); basic wire frame structure for O² pack, that holds up helmet

I attached two bend metal parts – the first and the last – to give the helmet enough rigidity to hold it´s shape on it´s own. It´s put together only with two M5 bolts and nuts, plus counter nuts and washers. Not quite the prettiest solution yet. One side though will be hidden in the end, since we are planning to attach an oxygen hose to it.

The helmet looks great! It´s really big, but that also means the actor´s head can move freely. The only problem really is that it is quite fragile. It likes to pop open if the actor isn´t careful with it. Since the single parts of the helmet just lock into to next bigger one by being trapped – the sometimes slip apart. Wich is not so great during a play. What it actually means is that I´d like to built the helmet again. Much more acurate and precise with a locking system. I´ll post my solution ideas soon.

 

Bubble Machine for the Diving Suit

We are planning to incoporate a bubble making machine into the oxygen tank in the back that is suppose to release soap bubbles from time to time. The bubbles are suppose to simulate CO2 and other waste gases that are being realeased.

One funny example that I just found – way after we had this idea! – is this:

Lady Gaga bubble dress

For implementing our idea we already got a functioning bubble machine. Next goal is to get it running via Arduino. We experimented quite a bit with it. Once it´s running we´ll show you how we got it to work!

Diving Suit Design Approach

While making drawing these various designs of the Crew Member´s diving suit I tried to visualise certain parts:

_ very technical suit versus much more organic looks

_ to incorporate the glowing ‘energy lines’ into the suit

_ gadgets such at the oxygen tank, foldable nautilus shaped helmet and weapon

 

The final costume design is not yet determined, but after talking to team WISEHA we were able to decide on certain features that Captain Nemo and his crew have in common. The clothes must be made from the same kind of fabric and texture. Also the basic suit is going to look the same – meaning a onsie! The characters will differ from one another through all the additional attachments on the garment.

Due to these decisions the final design is shaping and I will post news on that soon!

Costume Diving Suit Crew Member

We choose to create a diving suit costume for a crew member.  They have different tasks on the Nautilus.

Ideas: 

+ we imagine the costume to have a helmet that can be opened by the actor

+ oxygen is supplied by a tank on the back of the actor

+ the tank is illuminated

+ the costume will possibly include a weapon of sorts

+ the costume will feature sea creature elements as a main theme

2014-05-14 13.12.22

Technical features:

– body illumination via el wire and led

– actuated helmet with speaker for voice output

– illuminated tank with bubble machine

– weapon with illumination and/or sound

scan_erste skizzen kostüm-1 kopieren scan_erste skizzen kostüm-2 kopieren

 

Costume Ideas for King Ubu

Charles_III_of_Habsburg_SMOKING

What is royalty all about? Usually they crave for power and riches and are kind of terrible people. King Ubu is exactly one of them. He finds pleasure in the suffering of others.How can such a person look like on stage? The image above is the first I came up with.

He looks like a typical king and is quite fat. On stage I imagine him making this specific body movement when becoming angry- throwing his arms back vigorously, which will make his sleeves excerpt smoke. Basically shaking out the smoke.

My second idea is based on a modern society fashion statement – the classic suit and tie look.The created moodboard for this costume is showing several men in suits, and other details, props etc. If you want to see it, please contact me directly (I won´t post it here, due to image copyright laws). King Ubu in this idea is wearing a very sharp looking suit. It fits well, looks expensive and shows his status in society. But some details are just wrong! He is not used to that kind of power and looks: for example is he wearing worn out sneakers and tennis socks with his suit; instead of a nice leather briefcase he is carrying a golden toilet seat.

 

Idea Smoke Costume King Ubu

Idea 1:

  • Fog produced by an ultra sound fog machine
  • Fog gets then distributed via tubes
  • an advantage is that those devices are very cheap
  • the disadvantage is that they only create a myst like fog

ultraschallvernebler

 

Idea 2:

  • Fog created by dry ice
  • also fairly cheap
  • without a pressure driven distribution system fog would also be myst like

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