January: Whats New

Having finished working on Russel Crowe’s The Water Diviner last month and on the verge of completing our work on Crimson Peak. Here is what we have and will be working on this month on both TV and the big screen.

4 Once again there’s not much we can say on this but it has been confirmed strike back, strikes back with its anticipated 5th season. Strike Back is about The actions of ‘Section 20’, a secretive unit of British military intelligence. A team of special operations personnel conduct several high risk missions throughout the globe.

gods-of-egypt-movie-posterSiam Costumes are pleased to announce that we will be working on Alex Proyas’s Gods Of Egypt. Alex Proyas has proven himself as a talented director time after time, with well received films such as Dark City, I Robot and Knowing, known for his highly compelling concepts, Gods Of Egypt is set to be another classic. We can’t give away that much at the moment but what we do know is that it will be staring Gerard Butler alongside Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Geoffrey Rush, the story is about a common thief joins a mythical god on a quest through Egypt. We may have to wait a while as currently it is set for a 2016 release.

2013: Theatre and Opera

Now 2013 has came and gone and 2014 is now amongst us, we have the time to reflect on what has been yet another great year. In this post we will purely be focusing on our stage work, that saw its premier this year and a sneak peek into whats to come next year. From finding love in  Nazi occupied Rome or deep in the jungle of the unknown, occupied by dinosaurs and other inscrutable beasts along with many more memorable stage moments of 2013.

1.King Kong-Live on stage

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Based on the 1930’s instant classic,King Kong live on stage tells the tale of how beauty killed the beast in an engaging musical form, It received a great reception, praised for being visually stunning with an all round very talented cast, winning many awards including “Outstanding Theatrical Achievement”, “Best Sound Design”and “Best Costume Design” which was awarded to Roger Kirk. Originally being booked from june to July however due to its well deserved success, it has  been rebooked for a third time taking the show all the way to february 2014.  The producer Carmen Pavlovic of Global Creatures told The Times that she anticipates launching a second production of King Kong in 2014, with a third to follow in 2015. Plans have been announced to bring the show to the United StatesEnglandSouth KoreaGermanyJapan and the Netherlands. So for any one who didn’t get the chance to witness King Kong on stage do not worry, the 8th wonder of the world may set sail for overseas.

2.The Force of Destiny: La Forza Del Destino-Opera Australia

The Force of Destiny, Opera Australia

La Forza Del Destino:The force of Destiny is an Italian opera by Giuseppe Verdi. The libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on a Spanish drama, Don Álvaro o la fuerza del sino (1835), by Ángel de Saavedra, 3rd Duke of Rivas. Presenting Verdi’s most notorious prelude, as Leonora and Alvaro are destined to be with one and another despite her family’s disapproval. They are set to become a one even if it means running away, although they end up far from their desires as they are caught amongst the tide of war. You are invited into a journey of honour and passion merging with vendetta and death, in this historical classic. The Force of Destiny received reviews such as; “This thrilling new production uses the powerful iconography of Spain in richly detailed sets and costumes. An all-star international cast is led by Svetla Vassileva”.

3.The Wizard Of Oz -North American Tour

Wizard of Oz, Mirvish Productions Toronto

The Wizard of Oz is a musical based on the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, with a book adapted by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams. The musical uses the Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg songs from the film and includes a variety of new likeable songs and additional music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and additional lyrics by Tim Rice. Starring Danielle Wade as Dorothy, who was chosen by the Canadian public through the very popular CBC TV‘s reality show “Over The Rainbow”, the national tour features the same award-winning creative team from London and Toronto so we can expect another implausible instalment.

4. Tosca-Opera Australia

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Opera Australia’s Tosca, Puccini’s riveting drama of a stimulating  combination of love, jealousy and sacrifice.Director John Bell, joins forces with award-winning set designer Michael Scott-Mitchell and costume designer Teresa Negroponte in this pure, unforgettable show. The setting of Tosca as we originally knew was the French invasion of Rome in 1800, director John Bell smoothly adapted it to a Nazi controlled Rome, a very bold move that proved to be an admirable call; “His deeply felt updating of the action to 1943 Nazi occupied Rome is both appropriate and striking, bringing what can seem a schlock costume drama into sharp focus and reminding us of how Puccini’s issues of freedom, love, jealousy and tyranny still resonate today.”

5. Carmen-Opera Australia 

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Carmen is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on a novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. You take the director Gale Edwards alongside costume designer Julie Lynch then you have the perfect combination to revisit the exciting world of Carmen. In this breathtaking production from Opera Australia, following the downfall of Don José, just another soldier who was seduced by the seductive, attractive, fierce Gypsy, Carmen. Jose without a second thought abandons his childhood love and his regiment, blinded by what he believes to be love, although Carmens fallen for a captivating toreador Escamillo, Jose is pumping with rage and is looking to take revenge for his broken heart.

Upcoming Next year

Wether metropolitan Opera premiers (February 2014)

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Werther is an opera (‘Drame lyrique’) in four acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Édouard BlauPaul Milliet and Georges Hartmann, based on the Germanepistolary novel The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, based partly on fact and Goethe’s own early life. Jonas Kaufmann stars in the title role of Massenet’s sublime adaptation of Goethe’s revolutionary and tragic romance, opposite Sophie Koch as Charlotte. The new production is directed and designed by Richard Eyre and Rob Howell, the same team that created the Met’s recent hit staging of Carmen. Rising young maestro Alain Altinoglu conducts. Set to make its debut on February next year.

 

King and I (September 2014)

The_King_&_I_Photo_courtesy_of_Opera_AustraliaThe King and I is a musical, the fifth by the team of composer Richard Rodgers and dramatist Oscar Hammerstein II. It is based on the 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon, which derives from the memoirs of Anna Leonowensgoverness to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in the early 1860s. The musical’s plot relates the experiences of Anna, a British schoolteacher hired as part of the King’s drive to modernize his country.This now legendary production of The King and I won the triple crown of awards: The Tony, the Drama Desk and the Outer Critics Circle for Best Musical Revival. Further Tony and Drama Desk awards included Best Scenic Design and Best Costume Design, and a Laurence Olivier Award nomination. Much-loved Australian actress and four-time Gold Logie winner Lisa McCune plays English governess Anna Leonowens, while internationally acclaimed opera singer Teddy Tahu Rhodes takes on his second musical theatre role as the King of Siam. Set to open at a Gala performance on 10th of September.

2013: TV releases and whats upcoming

As the year once again draws to an end and 2014 is almost amongst us, we take the time to reflect on what has been yet another great year. In this post we will purely be focusing on T.V realises this year as well as a sneak peek into whats to come next year. From media warfare between the two biggest Australian television and newspaper empires to solving mysteries and murders with a doctor as well as many more memorable TV moments.

1. Dr Blake Mysteries

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Doctor Lucien Blake, who returns home to Ballarat in 1959 to take over his late father’s general medical practice after an absence of 30 years. Doctor Blake is a keeper of secrets and a solver of mysteries.

We made several suits for Dr Blake played by Craig Mclachlan, which he appears in them more than often

 

 

 

 

2. A place to call home

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Set in Northern New South Wales in the period following World War II, it follows Sarah Adams, who has returned to Australia after twenty years abroad to start a new life and ends up clashing with wealthy matriarch Elizabeth Bligh. Mainly focusing on the social change of the 1950s.

1940s-50s shirts is something we have made several times before, such as for Gangster Squad and Captain America. So it is no wonder why we are asked to make dozens of shirts for this production .

 

 

 

3. Madonna: MDNA Tour

madonna MDNA tour epix june 22 Madonna returns to stadiums and arenas for her ninth tour, and the highest grossing tour of 2012.

We very pleased to be able to make costumes for this music tour as compared to Movies, theatre, opera and TV its not something we do as often. We made many costumes for the male backing dancers and musicians.

 

 

 

 

4. Power Games: The packer-Murdoch Story

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Power Games is about the making of Modern Australia through the eyes of competing media moguls. Spanning 1960 to 1972, Power Games takes us behind the scenes of Australia’s newspaper and television empires. Inside the Packer family, Sir Frank controls the family business with a mix of generosity and terror.

For this hit sequel to the power games series we made everything from 2-3 piece suits, shirts, ties, jackets, waistcoats from all of the main cast to waiters and other extras.

 

5. The mentalist

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A famous “psychic” outs himself as a fake and starts working as a consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation so he can find “Red John,” the madman who killed his wife and daughter.

We were asked to supply some authentic Thai Fabric from our stock as well as a few garments such as Sarongs.

 

 

 

 

SNEAK PEAK INTO NEXT YEAR:

If you have been following us that you will know that we are currently working on Russel Crowe‘s director debut “The Water Diviner” which is set to be realised next year and Guillermo Del Toro gothic romance ” Haunted Peak” which won’t reach the big screen until 2015. Lets not forget…

The Knick

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Clive Owen takes on the role of Dr John W as we take a look at the professional and personal lives of the staff at New York’s Knickerbocker Hospital during the early part of the twentieth century. Not much has yet been realised on this upcoming TV series however its due for a 2014 realise so watch this space.

We made around about 100 costumes consisting of Shirts, Waistcoats and Jackets.

Next time we will be reflecting on our stage work, from theatre and opera.

2013 Movie releases: From Siam to Hollywood

As the year once again draws to an end and 2014 is almost amongst us, we take the time to reflect on what has been yet another great year. In this post we will be focusing purely on the movies we have worked on. Whether its fighting off Ninjas in Japan, Uniting with the gods and saving the world, Being held captive on the Thai/Burma Border by Japanese soldiers, Taking down one of Los Angeles most notorious Gangsters, Stealing treasure off a Dragon and many more memorable stories.

The Following are films that we worked on the year before however saw there release this year:

1. Gangster Squad (January 11th 2013)

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The area is Los Angeles and the year is 1949, the notorious Jewish gangster Micky Cohen; who is short in both height and temper, though his organised crime empire is at large and due to this he has taken over the city. An undercover crew of police officers led by a determined sergeant, do everything they can to take down the boss and not exactly by the book.

It was our first time working with the wonderful costume designer Mary Zophres who has worked on classic after classic from “O brother where art thou”, “Catch me if you can” and “No country for old men”. Although it wasn’t out first or second time working the costume designer assistant, Terry Anderson who has worked on hit films such as “3:10 to Yuma”, “Inception” and “J.Edgar“. We worked with Terry a year before on “Captain America” where we made a load of 1940’s suits shirts footwear etc which is why when we got the order for Gangster Squad it was something we were very familiar with,we ended up making again Suits, Overcoats, Shirts and Ties.

2. The Wolverine (26th July)

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After trying to live a somewhat normal life among ordinary people, out of the blue Wolverine is summoned to Japan, where he meets an ex Japanese soldier, who he had saved during the war however he is now sitting in his death-bed on top of a multi million business. Wolverine is offered the one thing that he deemed indefinite by most but impossible for him, that being death. He finally gets to face his demons.

Once again it was our first time working with costume designer Isis Mussenden who did an amazing job on the Narnia trilogy. For The Wolverine we made the Ninjas outfits that you see when Wolverine is captured by these fiends . They also appear when the leader of the Ninja’s fights alongside Wolverine in the finale fight scene.

3. Thor: The Dark World (30th October)

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It’s been two years since Thor was last with Jane, a lot has happened since then. The leader of the dark elves has managed to get his hands on a weapon that could destroy earth as well as the Asgard empire. Thor is forced to team up with his once arch-enemy, blood bound brother Loki  and Jane discovers a wormhole that will change everything.

We supplied Footwear for this hit sequel.

 

 

 

 

4. The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug (13th December)

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The Dwarfs and Hobbits are it again as they continue their quest and venture deeper into the unknown, this time without the great wizard Gandalf, where he has disappeared off to? only time will tale. Bilbo must now prove his worthiness and fulfil his agreement as a burglar and steal off the last remaining dragon on middle-earth, Smaug.

We supplied haps  of Haberdasheries, Footwear, Trimmings, Fabrics and Jewellery, which will also be featured on the final instalment of the highly anticipated trilogy.

 

 

 

 

 

5. 47 Ronin (25th December)

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A band of samurai set out to avenge the death and dishonor of their master at the hands of a ruthless shogun.

We supplied fabric for this fantasy action packed blockbuster.

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. The Railwayman (26th December)

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The Railwayman based on the autobiography of Eric Lomax, who was one among thousands of prisoner of war, forced to build the railway between Thailand and India. After making a secret radio to inform and warn other prisoners, Eric is tortured, beaten and isolated. It is not until after the war when he meets Patti and falls in love. With her help and support , she enables him overcome his traumatic past. However the past is never that far away, when he meets up with his comrades the whereabout of the man who took him so near to deaths door is known and Lomax is elected to reap revenge on savage sadistic adversary

It was our first time working with the  designer Lizzy Gardiner who was the youngest designer to win an oscar for costume, and rightly so “Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”was an amazing piece of work on an almost non-existent budget.. This was the largest amount of costumes we made for a movie last year, with hundreds upon hundreds of Uniforms, shirts, footwear and headwear  for both the Japanese/Allied  soldiers, Officers and prisoners. So we look forward to Boxing day where we finally get to see how our costumes look on the big screen.

 

 

 

Next time we will be looking at the costumes we made for Movies and T.V series this year however won’t be realised until next year or the year after.

From the Horror’s of Love to the Horror’s of war

For the last month Siam Costumes have been creating the garb for the likes of witches, wizards and ghosts and other spine chilling character’s clobbers that have been hovering around the workshop.


However for most people halloween is over and done with but for Siam Costumes the mother of all halloween’s is only about to begin





Thats right Guillermo Del Toro is already starting his next feature film, this time he is venturing into the world of the unknown with highly anticipated Gothic Romantic Horror “Crimson Peak”. Which is about a young author Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska: Alice in Wonderland) discovers that her charming new husband is not who he appears to be.


Starring Charlie Hunnam who was the leading actor in Del Toro’s recent blockbuster Pacific Rim. Could this be the start of a partnership in the veins of Tim burton and Johnny Depp or Martin Scorsese and Leonardo Di Caprio? Its not just the director and leading actor who are teaming up for the second time in a row, the renowned costume designer Kate Hawley who also worked on Pacific Rim will be working with Del Toro once again.


We cant give away too much just yet, as its early days however, I can say that at the beginning of October Siam Costumes were contacted by “The Crimson Peak production”, and have been asked to make at least 3 of the leading cast members costumes.






2014 will witness the centenary since the outbreak of WW1 and subsequently there has been a flurry of films and TV productions commiserating around this very dark time. The consequences of these events still haunt us to this day.


 so its no wonder why new zealand born and australian raised oscar winning  Russell Crowe has decided to choose the Gallipoli Campaign for his directorial debut as well as playing the leading role with “The water Diviner”.


Although the story line at the moment is rather scant unless your in the known, so far from we have been told the film is to be filmed in both Australia and Turkey. The story is centered around Australian father who travels to Turkey just after the battle of Gallipoli as he tries to locate his three missing sons.


Siam Costumes have been commissioned to make uniforms for the Turkish Soldiers. 

 

Although Siam Costumes have made uniforms for the WW2 American “saving private Ryan”, Japanese “The Railwayman”  and  Nazi “Inglorious Basterds” military soldiers on previous movie productions . The Turkish WW1 soldiers will be somewhat new to the workshop.

 

We welcome our latest member to the team

Around about two weeks ago we were joined by Michael sloan one of americas most renowned pattern cutters/fitters, having worked on films such as The curious case of Benjamin Button, Alice in wonderland and Lincoln. He has worked alongside some of Hollywoods finest costume designers from Joanna Johnston too Colleen Atwood, as well as years working at La Opera and what a pleasure it is to welcome him.