TFMS 375

Costume Design for Stage and Screen

SPRING SEMESTER 2016
Department of Theater, Film, & Media Studies, St. Marys College of Maryland

Location: Montgomery Hall 163

Time: T,TR 10:00 11:50 AM

Instructor: Spencer Potter

Office: Montgomery Hall 156 (inside costume shop)
Phone: 240-895-4444
Email: smpotter@smcm.edu
Office Hours: M,F 12:20 2:30. W 1:20-2:30 or by appointment

Course Value: 4 credits.

Course Fee: $50
Course Prerequisites: TFMS 131, 171, 216, 275 or instructor consent.

Approach
This course is taught with a combination of lecture and studio practices. Course activity will include lectures,
demonstrations, studio/lab time, group discussions, and group critiques. Students will work on a project for
each area of design, scenery, costume, and lighting. Additional assignments will focus on developing
understanding of design elements and principles. Students will base these designs off of a play, or plays
from the list on Blackboard. Above all, costume design for stage and screen is about telling stories through
characters and their appearance. Visualization and imagination are key. The further a student pushes his
or her understanding, the more interesting the discussions and designs.

Students will gain a basic knowledge and practice of specifics elements of costume design, including color,
line, mass, shape, and texture; and principles of design, including, harmony, sequence, and balance. From
that point, the class focuses on characterization, stylization, and the development of and understanding of
design as a tool to express themselves and their vison of a script. The class is also designed to introduce
students to the rendering process and to improve their drawing skills. The textbook will be used in class but
will also serve as a reference and resource for students when working independently.

Course Description & Objective

This course centers on the elements and principles of design, and introduces the design student to the
visualization of character analysis through the medium of costume design. It introduces the student to the
design process, including historical research, and to formal costume renderings

Students will gain basic skills related to costuming and costume design for theater and film. Students will
apply sketching, drawing skills, and elements of design in order to develop clothing choices for film and
theater characters. An understanding and visualization of character will be realized through research,
clothing analysis, and appropriate textile applications. Students will learn how to design costume plots and
charts, how to manage budgets, and how to prepare for portfolio presentations. Students will be required
to participate in a design-related production crew during the semester. This course includes a lab fee.

Instruction Materials

- Textbooks:
REQUIRED: The Magic Garment: Principles of Costume Design. 2nd ed. By
Rebecca Cunningham.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Character Costume Drawing: Step-by-Step Drawing
for Theatre Costume Designers. by Tan Huaixiang ---
- Rendering paper (watercolor paper or Bristol board at least 8.5x11 )
- Pencils (suggest a variety of lead hardness 8B 6H, and mechanical pencils for details)
- Kneadable eraser and vinyl eraser (electric eraser highly recommended)
- Watercolor kit (lemon yellow cadmium yellow, cadmium red, aluziarn crimson, ptahlo blue,
ultramarine blue, hookers green, burnt sienna, burnt umber, raw sienna, yellow ochre, black,
white)
 - Palate
- Assortment of brushes
- Colored pencils (recommended)
- Fine tip markers (recommended)
- Gel pens (white, recommended )
- Other color media youd like to experiment youd like to experiment with.

Attendance
Consistent attendance is expected. 3 absences will result in a full letter grade drop. Every 2 absences after
3 will be a full letter grade drop. This class begins promptly at the scheduled time. Reasonable
accommodations will be made for emergencies and school excused absences. Accommodations are not
exemptions. For school excused absences, please contact me at least two weeks prior to make
arrangements.

Late Work
Assignments are due on the date specified in the class schedule, and late assignments will have a grade
reduction of points at the instructors discretion. Please note that assignments are due in class; if handed
in later in the day, they are still considered late. For an excused absence, assignments are due prior to
absence for full credit. Exams may be made up only if the absence is excused by the professor and will
require documentation.

Crew Assignment
An essential part of learning about theatre design and technology is the experience of working on a fully
mounted production. Students will have the opportunity to complete a total of 30 lab hours working in the
areas of scenery, costume, lighting, and run crew for this semesters mainstage productions. While this
might seem a drudge, the excitement of being part of a team and bringing a story to the audience, most of
them your peers, is one of the most rewarding and broadly applicable experiences in theater education.
Crew sign up sheets will be available for certain production roles. Otherwise, you will log your hours with
either the costume or scene shop. Crew assignments are graded based on hours accomplished as well as
on the basis of attitude, productivity, and reliability.

Assignments

Full assignment descriptions and supplemental materials are available in the corresponding folders on
Blackboard.

Grading
Assignments grades will be based on the following criteria on a scale of 1-5 from effective to less
effective.
General Assignments Design Assignments
o Organized o Clearly Defined concept or
o Neat approach
o Ideas and claims clearly o Research
supported o Skill Improvement
o Complete thoughts and o Process
sentences o Presentation
o Demonstrates understanding of o Organization
assignment objective o Justified choices
o Final Product

Grading scale
A 93-100 B+ 87-89 C+ 77-79 D+ 67-69 F Below 60
A-90-92 B 83-86 C 73-76 D 60-66
B- 80-82 C- 70-72
 Assignment Points Grade % out of 100
Designer Inspiration 20 20%
Script Worksheet 20
Character Analysis 20
Character collage 20
Word Personified 20
Elements Examples 20
Sketch Journal 20
Crew Participation 60
Project 1 40 20%
Project 2 40 20%
Project 3 40 20%
Final Project 40 20%
Totals 360 100%

Extra Credit
Extra credit may be earned by attending TFMS Film Series Screenings and productions. In order to
receive points, students must submit a four page double spaced critical analysis of the film/play to
blackboard. See http://www.smcm.edu/tfms/2015-fall-film-series/for screening times and details. 20 points
per paper.

Please use the following guidelines:

Cite the title of the film/play briefly state background context/information,

Formulate thesis in the introductory paragraph,
Indicate the main ideas presented in the film/play, form topic sentences from each main
idea and develop into paragraphs,
Use signal phrases ("according to" or "as explained in the movie/play") to illustrate you
are summarizing the view presented rather than your own
Do not summarize the plot,
Discuss the central themes objectively.
Briefly discuss your personal reactions in a paragraph prior to the closing paragraph
o Adapted from
(https://www.mdc.edu/wolfson/Academic/ArtsLetters/art_philosophy/Humanities/h
ow_to_write_an_analytical_essay.htm
 Class Schedule

Date Topic Lecture Assignments Due next class unless

otherwise noted
T 1/19 Intro, Course Intro. Costume Designers Designer Inspiration Due 1/6
Process Read Ch. 1
TR 1/21 Theatre org. & Designers Roles Read pp. 35-42
T 1/26 Present Design inspiration Find and read play
presentation, select play(s)
TR 1/28 The Magic Garment Read pp. 15-35
T 2/2 Script and Character Analysis for Script Worksheet and Character
Design Analysis Due 2/11. Read pp 118-130
TR 2/4 Psychology of Dress Character collage Due 2/11
T 2/9 Word Personified Continue work or word Due 2/11
TR 2/11 Present Character Collage and Word Read Ch. pp. 67-77 pp.99 -112
Personified.
T 2/16 Elements of Design Elements of Design Review Elements Examples Due 2/18
TR 2/18 Figure Drawing Body Sketch Journal Due 2/25 use pp. 148-
164 as reference
T 2/23 Face, Hands, Feet Sketch Journal
TR 2/25 Researching and Presenting. Pp. 47- Read/Research Project 1
67
T 3/1 Project 1 Project 1 Script discussion / studio Sketch 3 characters
TR 3/3 Studio Day Develop renderings
T 3/8 Studio Day 80% complete Complete Renderings
TR 3/10 Present Project 1 Read/Research Project 2
T 3/15 NO CLASS
TR 3/17 NO CLASS
T 3/22 Project 2 Project 2 Discussion/Studio Sketch 3 characters
TR 3/24 Studio Day Develop Renderings
T 3/29 NO CLASS
TR 3/31 Studio Day 80% complete Complete Renderings
T 4/5 Present Project 2 Read Research Project 3
TR 4/7 Project 3 Project 3 Discussion/Studio Sketch 3 characters
T 4/12 Studio day Develop Renderings
TR 4/14 Studio day 80% Complete Complete Renderings
T 4/19 Present Project 3 Read/Research Final Project
TR 4/21 Final Project Studio Day
T 4/26 Studio Day
TR 4/28 Studio Day 80% Complete
FINAL Friday, May 6 2:00 4:15 pm

CLASS SCHEDULESUBJECT TO CHANGE

 Important Dates

Jan 19 Classes begin

Jan 19 29 Schedule adjustment and late registration
Feb 1 12 Add/Drop period
Feb 12 Last day to change grading options
Feb 15 Mar 25 Withdraw from a course
Feb 18 Last day to withdraw from half-semester courses
Feb 26 Last day to remove an incomplete
Mar 14 Midterms due
Mar 14 Mar 21 Spring break
Mar 28 April 1 Academic advising week
Mar 29 No classes advising day
Mar 30 April 8 Registration for fall semester
April 1 Last day to withdraw from courses
April 11 St. Marys project deadline
April 29 Last day of Classes S
May 4 Reading Day
May 5 -10 Finals week
May 11 Grades due for seniors
May 14 Commencement
May 16 Grades due

Policies

Academic Misconduct
Academic Misconduct includes: cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty; furnishing
false information to any College instructor, official, or other office with an intent to deceive; forgery,
alteration, or misuse of any College document, record, instrument, or identification. Academic misconduct
is subject to disciplinary action pursuant of the Code of Student Conduct. Penalties will be based on the
policy and procedures outlined in the Student Handbook.

Disabilities ADA Accommodations

It is the policy of St. Marys College of Maryland not to discriminate against any individual on the basis of
handicap or disability in matters of admissions and educational activities, and programs and services, in
accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
as amended, and applicable state law. Upon request and as required by law, the College will provide
reasonable accommodation to a qualified student with a disability. The procedures for requesting an
accommodation and processing those requests are contained in the student handbook (pp 19-21). For
more information please contact the Office of Academic Service: phone (240) 895-4388, email
academicservices@smcm.edu, web www.smcm.edu/academicservices/ada/

FERPA The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (The Buckley Amendment) regulates the
maintenance, confidentiality, and accessibility of students educational records. This Act protects the
privacy of students by providing them with certain rights regarding specified records. The complete text of
and information about the Act are available in the Registrars Office and the Office of the Dean of
Students. Disciplinary records are covered by this Act and, therefore, are available to the student for
inspection. Incidents will result in the development of a student disciplinary file in the name of the referred
student or student organization. The files are retained in the Office of the Dean of Students, except for
academic misconduct files which are retained by the Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs and
Dean of Faculty. (Student Handbook: Article I, Section 4, pg. 4)

Writing and Speaking Center

The Writing and Speaking Center, located in the Library Annex, offers free consultations in writing and
speaking for students at all levels and in all disciplines. No matter what youre writing and no matter where
you are in the process (generating ideas, drafting, revising or proofreading), the peer tutors in the Center
can assist you. These tutors are friendly students and also excellent writers with special training as writing
and speaking consultants. They would not grade or correct your papers; instead, theyd coach you and help
you become a better writer. Similarly, the tutors are also trained to help you plan and practice presentations
and other speaking assignments. I encourage you to use the Writing and Speaking Center as much as
possible. You can make a one-time or repeating appointment with the Center by visiting their website,
www.smcm.edu/writingcenter, and clicking Schedule an Appointment. At the same website, you can find
helpful resources on many writing-related topics.

Email and Blackboard

Every student is issued a student email account which is the official means of [College] communication...
Email will also be used to notify students of certain emergencies, pending conduct action, and school
closings due to inclement weather. Most faculty and staff rely on email to communicate with students. It is
the responsibility of each student to maintain and check their SMCM email account regularly. Students are
accountable to know information disseminated through the SMCM email account. Failure to read College
communications sent to the SMCM email account does not absolve the student from knowing and
complying with the content of these communications (Student Handbook p. 24). Blackboard is the main
instruction tool of this course. All relevant information and supplemental materials will be accessible there.
Assignments due through electronic submission on Black Board will not be accepted via any other means.
Black Board will be regularly updated and is the best way to monitor your grade and attendance record.
Please consult Blackboard before making inquiries about grades.

Inclement Weather
Inclement weather procedures are in effect seven days a week, including weekends. Depending on the
circumstances, the College may remain open with a liberal leave policy in effect, or the opening of the
College may be delayed, or the College may be closed. The College website will have the latest weather-
related closing information. Resident students will also receive a voice mail message through the Colleges
phone system with closing information. Students should check the College web page for information
regarding a delayed opening or closing of the College. Whenever there is a question, the Office of Public
Safety (240-895-4911) will have the most up-to-date, accurate information (Student Handbook pg. 29). In
the event of College closing or class cancelations lecture notes, Assignments, and any other course
materials normally distributed in class will be sent via blackboard. Students are expected to read notes,
assigned readings, and complete assignments in order to be adequately prepared for the next class. Unless
weather warrants emergency preparation or evacuation, students should consider weather days as days
on
Photo and Portfolio Disclosure
I will be taking pictures and samples of student work for use in my teaching portfolio. Allowing me to
feature your work is voluntary. If youre uncomfortable with you and/or your work being photographed,
please let me know. The purpose of my teaching portfolio is to document teaching effectiveness for my
CV and academic career.

I have received, read, and understand the nature of and requirements for

TFMS 375

Name: (please print) ____________________________________________________________

Signature_____________________________________________________________________

Date: _________________________________________________________________________