I'm going to post pictures of all the costumes on my facebook page Lolidragon97. I designed all the costumes so check it out. I'll be uploading them soon. I already have Cypress's costume draft on my page.
Chapter 6: Dressing Room Drama
There's a lot of work to do before the cameras are even taken out. Once the table readings finished, they had to get fitted in costumes, hair and makeup.
The studio resembled a huge garage. It was literally one big room with curtains as changing areas. Misaki got a first glimpse at the entire cast all standing around in the studio.
"You're over there," Honoka said, pointing to a dressing table with her name tag on it.
They weaved through all the people and Misaki sat in the swivel chair. The table held a thick leather portfolio as well as a whole table of hair accessories, makeup, and hair products.
"I'm so excited," Erika said, clapping her hands together. "I can't wait to see what your look will be."
"Is this is?" Misaki asked, picking up the leather folder.
"It most certainly is," a voice said.
A tall woman in a long black dress walked over to them.
"My name is Margret," she said, shaking hands with everyone. "I'm a costume director for Red Rider. You can open the folder. It has the sketches."
Misaki carefully opened the folder on her lap. Her finger gently slid out the drawings.
"They're beautiful," Misaki said.
The style of clothing was an edgy medieval feel especially the Rider costumes. Misaki's color palette was soft pinks, deep purples and reds.
"Why don't we get the costume fitted first," Margret said, pulling over a rack of garment bags. "This is the costume you start out in," she said, unzipping the bag.
It was a plain cotton dress in a pale rose color with gray leggings underneath. The pale rose dress had worn leather elbow patches and a braided belt. Misaki stepped behind the curtain and got changed out of her button down shirt and shorts into the overly warm costume for the weather.
"This is hot," Misaki said as Margret wrapped a knit wool scarf around her neck.
"Well, it is has been winter for sixteen years," Margret said, smiling. "Here are the shoes," she said, producing gray boots.
Misaki sat in a chair and laced them up. Subaru and Margret then had some conversation about her hair to go with the costume.
"I'm going to do wavy hair," Subaru said, spraying some things into Misaki's hair. "It's going to look a little messy but a good messy."
Using a comb with a point on the other end, Subaru sectioned a strip of Misaki's hair away from the rest and turned it into a braided headband look. Erika used a very neutral palette to enhance Misaki's features but not look like she was actually wearing any.
A camera man nearby took a head shot and then a full, side and back shot. Misaki was about to change when Benedict walked by.
"Stop," he said.
They all paused.
"She's not going to walk on set like that is she?" Benedict asked. "Way too clean."
"We are doing a dirt dusting for all villager costumes," Margret said. "It's harder to ship when all the costumes are covered in dirt."
Benedict nodded. "Something's still not perfect…"
Everyone watched as he paced around the accessory table and then the jewelry table. He held up a necklace but set it down, shaking his head. He picked up a pair of gold stud earrings.
"I want these with the spring costume," he said, putting it on the table.
Margret nodded. "Next costume is the winter one. It's what Marina wears when she wakes up in the Rider village."
Because it was winter, this costume was thicker. It was a dusty purple color with a gray underdress. It had a wide animal skin looking belt with boots of a similar color. To keep even warmer there was fur trim around the bottom of the dress, neck, sleeves and a headband.
"I'm dying…" Misaki said.
Satsuki started fanning Misaki with a folder. "Don't worry," she consoled. "Once we get you out into the cold, you'll be glad this costume is warm."
"The hair is simple in this one," Subaru said. "Just get rid of the braid."
When winter turns to spring, everyone changes costume. Marina's spring costume had a princess style to it. The raspberry colored fabric was altered into a short version of a gown. The skirt ended at the knees with sturdy tan leggings underneath. The princess features were the slightly puff sleeves and the slit on the dress that peeked the tan underdress underneath. The square neckline was also lined with a braid which was common in medieval clothing. To finish the look, there was a thin dark brown leather belt around Misaki's waist.
Shoes for all the young girls were the same, dark brown leather boots that laced up to the knee. Misaki tugged on the sturdy boots and walked around in a small circle.
"I like these shoes," she said, standing on her toes and then rocking back on her heels. "Do I get to wear the same ones as a Rider?"
Margret nodded. "The spring costume is a whole new look for Marina. She's started to grow in confidence and leadership skills. Here," she said, opening a case with a simple gold circlet.
"I actually do kind of look like a princess," Misaki said as Subaru fit it into place on her brow.
"Don't forget the necklace and earrings," Erika added, helping Subaru put them on for Misaki.
The necklace was very important. It had a circular pendant with the royal crest in red. It was how Derek first discovered Marina to be royal. When Cypress finds it later, she realizes it can summon an enchantress who can provide wisdom. However, according to legend, only a leader's blood can summon the enchantress. Cypress cuts her palm and drips blood onto the pendant but nothing happens. Marina then offers to try and when she summons to enchantress the villagers find out she's the lost princess.
"According to the sketch, Marina has a braid on the side. Makeup has a bit more color in the face. Some peach blush should make her look more alive," Erika said.
"How many more costumes?" Misaki asked, stepping behind the curtain again after notes and pictures were taken.
"Three!" Honoka said. "Be patient."
"I am patient," Misaki said, undressing and handing the costume to Margret who hung it up. "I was just wondering!"
It was finally Misaki's favorite costume, the Rider outfit. The other clothes were made of linen, cotton, suede or crushed velvet but the Rider's outfit was made of leather pieces sewn together with red thread. Since Marina was best known as the red Rider, her outfit was accented with red. Her belt was also red which hung a dagger. Her cloak was also red which fit the red Rider look.
The new Marina was a lot edgier. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail and then braided into four braids. She kept the same circlet however.
"So cool," Satsuki said, clapping when Misaki drew her sword.
"Hey, that's supposed to be mine," Takumi said, appearing out of nowhere.
"Gah!" Misaki said, jerking away. "Where'd you come from?!"
"Two stations down," Takumi said, pointing. "They're looking for a longer cape."
"Ah," Misaki said.
She playfully swung the sword around.
"Wrong," Takumi said, shaking his finger.
"What do you mean wrong?" Misaki asked. "I took sword fighting for Sparrow."
"Uh uh," Takumi said, taking the sword from her. "The piratic style of fighting is much different. The sword you even had was different was it not?"
Misaki nodded. Her pirate sword had been longer and a lot thinner.
"Do you know the difference then?" she asked.
Takumi smirked. "Matter of fact, I know a little. The pirate fighting is called swashbuckler which is more like fencing. The choreography for Red Rider is more similar to medieval dueling."
"Well aren't you a know it all," Misaki said. "Now give me the sword."
"Come and get it," Takumi said, holding it over his head.
Misaki was nowhere near as tall as Takumi and jumping wouldn't have gotten her any closer. Instead of making a fool of herself, she just turned around and ignored him.
"Fine," she said. "Take it."
She felt an arm grabbed around her waist and lift her in the air.
"Put me down!" she exclaimed. "Put me down!"
Everyone around laughed as Takumi finally set her down. What was even more embarrassing was when they saw the videographer.
"Behind the scenes," Honoka said. "How cute."
"Ugh!" Misaki exclaimed. "How embarrassing."
"Well, I see the chemistry has gotten better," Benedict said, clapping them both on the shoulder. "But we still have more costumes to go through," he reminded them, chuckling. "I can't wait to get to movie going!" he exclaimed, walking away.
Misaki tried on several gowns for the last scenes and then got fitted for her coronation gown for when Marina is crowned queen. The details of the dress weren't done yet because they were filming the coronation scene as one of the last scenes so there was still plenty of time.
It was lunch time and everyone took a break. Misaki changed back into her regular clothes and sat on a random crate to eat her turkey and veggie sub.
"Is this seat taken?" Takumi asked, sitting beside her.
"Well, you kind of already sat down," Misaki pointed out.
Sakura joined them too.
"I am getting fit for a wig- whitish blonde," she told them. "I only have one costume that I've been trying on all morning. But anyways, there's so many layers. It's almost like those Asian robes people used to wear. The makeup's a pain too. They're mixing facet glitter with body lotion to put on me. It's a pain to apply but when the light shines on me, it looks like I'm glowing. How cool is that?!"
"Very cool," Misaki agreed.
"Hi, may I sit with you guys too?" Vivian asked.
"Uh sure…" Misaki said. "Pull up a crate."
"I'm Vivian, in case you forgot," she said, cheerfully. "I am in LOVE with the Rider costumes. They are so hot!"
"You're costumes are probably all cooler than mine," Misaki agreed.
"Psh…of course not," Vivian said. "That coronation gown is going to be a show stopper. I think it's just that our character has different styles. I'm more of a tough bad ass and you're soft romantic but bad ass when the war starts."
Misaki nodded. She liked Vivian. She was just as bubbly as Sakura and very easy to talk to. Her personality was bright, down to earth and simple unlike other celebrities who were always deviating. During lunch, Takumi didn't say much. He just quietly ate his lunch and answered when someone directly asked him a question.
The videographer came over with a man dressed in a suit. He wanted to interview different members of the cast.
"Misaki, are you excited about this new role?" he asked.
Misaki nodded. "Definitely," she replied. "The costumes made it feel all so real."
"Which is your favorite?"
"Definitely the Rider costume," Misaki said to the camera. "I can't wait to learn the choreography too."
"Takumi, how does it feel to have two beautiful ladies fighting for your love?" he asked.
Takumi smiled his most charming smile. "You wouldn't think badly of me if I said I enjoyed it right?" he asked.
The man laughed. "Of course not. Misaki Ayuzawa and Vivian Sullivan, I'm sure any actor would want them as costars."
"They're both talented," Takumi agreed.
"Vivian," the man said, moving on. "Is this script any different than your other action movies?"
"It is," Vivian agreed. "I've played them all, assassins, spies, agents, ninjas, police, detectives but this character Cypress is a more interesting version of all the other parts I've played," she explained. "When you specialize in action and fighting, you're always the refined, elegant, strong, heroic girl- which Cypress is, don't get me wrong but there's something about her that makes her stand out."
"Care to explain?"
"Once we finish the movie, Cypress can speak for herself," Vivian said, sweetly.
"Last question is for the mythical Enchantress who trumps all," the man said.
"Lay it on me," Sakura said.
"Will this be your last movie?" he asked. "The news on the street is that you want to pursue singing instead."
"I haven't made my final decision yet," Sakura said. "I guess I have the best of both worlds right now," she said, lightly.
"Last question for Misaki," the man said. "You're the rising star in the industry. No one knows very much about you yet but who are you actually with? People have spotted you with costar Takumi. Is there a secret we should know?"
Misaki have a nervous laugh. "It's all professional," she promised him. "Right Takumi? Benedict wanted us to get to know each other so he assigned us to go have dinner together."
Takumi nodded. "It was homework."
"So no secret?"
"Nope," Misaki said. "Dinner hardly means anything. We're just friends."
"Of course, Tora would get jealous too," Vivian said. "You know how boyfriends get-"
"I'm not with Tora," Misaki interrupted. "I'm not dating anyone."
"It's okay," Vivian said. "There's nothing embarrassing about dating. We're all mature adults."
"But I'm not dating him," Misaki said.
The corner of her eye she saw someone furiously writing things down on a notebook.
"Tabloid trolls..." Misaki thought to herself.
That was what she called those nosy reporters. They always hung around, hoping to eavesdrop on something to blow up into a headline. A tabloid troll once made a whole headline about her "lame" workout clothes.
"I think you two would make a great couple," Vivian giggled. "He's the romantic prince that helped you in your first big hit."
"That's not how it was!" Misaki exclaimed, standing up.
The man decided it was best to leave just then.
Vivian gave Misaki a confused look. "I didn't realize it bothered you that much. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it. Are you mad?"
Misaki sighed. "It's just been a long day," she said. "I shouldn't have snapped at you."
Vivian squeezed Misaki's hand. "It won't happen again," she promised.
"It's fine," Misaki reassured her.
"Well, time to get back to work," Vivian said, getting up. "Hey, why don't we all trade numbers?" she suggested. "Maybe we'll get a chance to hang out before we're all shipped out to New Zealand!"
"Um okay," Misaki said, handing Vivian her phone.
In return, she entered her own number into Vivian's phone. Takumi was the parade rainer who claimed he didn't mix work with his private life and left.
"What's with him?" Vivian asked, pouting.
"Don't mind him," Misaki said. "He's just like that."
After lunch, they were all fitted for armor. Misaki had never seen so many metal plates and parts. Obviously for the movie, all the plates were thinner and therefore much lighter but when Misaki was dressed in full armor, it was pretty hard to move quickly.
"That's why you have to keep it in shape," Honoka observed as Misaki moved around not as quickly or lightly as before.
"I do keep in shape," Misaki argued. "I go running with ridiculous sunglasses on."
"You could get a trainer. All the stars are into that."
"But they're so expensive!" Misaki exclaimed.
"I know I handle most of your paychecks," Honoka said. "But you should know how many zeroes are on the end of those checks."
Misaki gave a sheepish smile. "Not my lifestyle…" she simply said.
Takumi walked over to Misaki's station while his costume assistant went to get the final pieces of armor.
"I would keep my distance from Vivian Sullivan," he said in a low voice.
"Why?" Misaki asked. "She didn't mean it before. A lot of people think I'm with Tora. It's a common misconception."
"If you say so..."
"Takumi," Misaki said. "We act in movies but our lives aren't movies. There's not as much drama and backstabbing as you think. Our lives are actually not that dramatic or interesting. You're too careful."
Takumi smiled slightly. "Must be me then," he said.
"Okay everyone, that's a wrap!" Benedict yelled. "We'll see you in New Zealand!"
Everyone applauded. Sakura gave Misaki a big hug.
"We're finally going on set!" she squealed.
Misaki couldn't help but laugh too. "I can't wait!" she agreed. "New Zealand…you better watch out for the Riders."
"And the Enchantress!" Sakura added, giggling.