Costumes and Props Analysis of My Product

Costumes and Props Analysis

Costumes

First Rough Cut/Idea

Butlers Outfit – (Only arms seen, white gloves, suit jacket):

• This would match the mise-en-scene of the mansion setting. Only the gloves would           be seen in shot adding a sense of mystery as to who the character was. Instantly the audience would be able to see that they were in a higher NRC social grade area as the white gloves would indicate a butler. The gloves also carry a sense of cleanliness and potentially an air of value about the setting, the gloves could be for handling delicate, valuable items.

Suit x 2– (Black Jacket, Suit Trousers, Black Tie – only sides seen)

• Only the suit arms with cufflinks would really be visible, this would be because I would not want to reveal any characters to my audience. The visible aspects of the suit would be enough to cement the high class impression that the butler initially gives. A suit connotes power and status, a life of leisure and importance. Because the suit would be tightly cuffed the lifestyle would be more important than leisurely.

Second Rough Cut/Idea which ended up being final product

Casual Outfit, Shirt and jeans with trainers – (Only hands seen in opening titles)

• The hands are uncovered which is greatly different to the butler’s gloves, they connote a much more relatable, casual character. The shirt and jeans not seen again add the image that this character is an average man.

Suit – (Black smart trousers and black boots only seen)

• Carries the same connotations as the suits discussed earlier. Adds a sense of higher status and class for the character. The audience could assume that this is the main character. Authority is created with the use of the boots, they walk authoratively towards the door and the boots and trousers are both black, a colour associated with power, death and authority. 
  
  

Props

First Rough Cut/Ideas

Car – The silver Audi connotes a sense of a higher status, its colour emphasise the serious nature of the driver and its sleek exterior and interior add to the idea of a more wealthy character

Piano – The piano is used to synergise with the music but to also introduce subtly a new character, a piano connotes the idea of a cultured person, depending on the song. It also suggests a creative person, as music is synonymous with creativity.

Knife Sharpener – This adds a sense of menace and introduces the idea of another hidden plot below surface level. A sharpener is traditionally used by kitchen staff and the butler uses it but in a dark room with a extreme close up on the sharpener it can have foreboding connotations.

Candle – Used to highlight to idea of a more traditional higher status setting with a candle. Also used symbolically as potentially religious imagery linking a character to religion. A candle also connotes the idea of hope and survival which is hinted at when it is blown out.

Matches – Used to light the candle, connotations of sparking an idea, or the violent creation of something

Knife – Heavily connotes a sense of foreboding, the way its represented is that although its being used menially it has an undercurrent of menace

Chopping Board – Used for the knife to chop things as to not damage the table

Ham Hock – What the knife is cutting, perfectly ordinary item but can also suggest murder – the idea of cutting flesh

Plates and Cutlery – Highlight the dining setting and the supposed normality of the setting

Dining Room setting (Tables, Chairs, pictures, Shelving) – emphasises the normal occasion

Second Rough Cut/ Final Product

Car - The silver Audi connotes a sense of a higher status, its colour emphasise the serious nature of the driver and its sleek exterior and interior add to the idea of a more wealthy character

Piano - The piano is used to synergise with the music but to also introduce subtly a new character; a piano connotes the idea of a cultured person, depending on the song. It also suggests a creative person, as music is synonymous with creativity.

Computer – Used to create the digital shots of stock markets, associated with a nerdier lifestyle but the stocks suggest a mathematics undercurrent. Also suggests intelligence, being able to understand the graphs and use the computer effectively

Laptop – Similar connotations of the computer except more practical and suggests that the user is more active, on the move. Less powerful than a computer suggesting it is needed for more practical than graphical reasons, this could narrow down the user’s job.

USB – Used to show data being taken from the computer in a clear way, suggests that the person is safety conscious as they are not using a Peer to Peer File Transfer Protocol, they are not sending it online suggesting that they are doing a nefarious action.

Glass – Used to hold the rum, the shape of the glass, a small brandy glass suggests that the user has a higher status, the markings on the glass says that it is from a chateau suggesting that this person travels abroad and enjoys finer liquors.

Rum Bottle – Contrasts to the fancy glass, cheap supermarket own rum, suggests a level of low income but had higher income in the past due to the glass. The amount that is drunk could suggest levels of alcoholism, an important factor that could be holding him back

Dining Room setting – Where the laptop is and the majority of the interior shots take place. This setting is serene and not ostentatious but also not low rent. This suggests that the house owner is in the middle band of the NRC social grade. This matches with the idea that he used to be wealthy as stocks can be a lucrative business but why is he living in an understated home?

Book – Adds to the culture of the character, shows that they are knowledgeable and take in knowledge from various sources

Highlighter – Shows an interest in the topic in the book and articles, adds to the passion for stock markets. The way things are highlighted draws attention to them and a highlighter is used as a reminder to look at this again or to add gravitas.  This could suggest that the thing being highlighted are important and because there is more than one highlighted object which brings a sense of investigation

Paper/News articles – Used to add to the stock market theme. It shows that the problems go across into digital and print media which means that they are big issues.

Envelope – Used to store the USB inside, this suggests that the USB is being posted or given to a recipient. Because it is in an envelope which is designed to hide the content adds to the idea of a nefarious items being associated with the USB.