3-D scanned replicas of Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, outdoor wardrobe fittings and on-set social-distancing cops are just a few of the new norms for Hollywood costume designers, as TV productions begin to return in California and other states.
“I almost had a full panic attack when I started to read the union protocols,” said Emmy-nominated “Grace and Frankie” costume designer Allyson Fanger, who is prepping to restart shooting the Netflix comedy on Oct. 1. “I’m going to have to ask for an additional PA [production assistant] to help with shipping, and another trailer, because of protocols of keeping everything separated. Anything anyone touches needs to be sanitized.
“I’ve also been working with a designer in Detroit who wants to scan his fit models,” she added of how the technology could be applied to the fashion industry during the pandemic. “The fittings were really easy, you just have to wear PPE, be aware of distance, washing of hands and hand sanitizer.…We have a rack of clothes actors can put on themselves, and if I have to step in and zip it up, it’s a matter of seconds. Masks stayed on myself and the actor the whole time, and our tailor never had to step into the room but had full PPE in case.
It all takes some getting used to, said Emmy-winning costume designer Janie Bryant, who dipped her toe back into work earlier this month shooting an Allstate commercial.