Busy Bee's

As usual Siam's Little Helpers have been busy at work, with more than one production at once costumes have been flying out of the workshop, from WW2 uniforms,1900 mens frock coats and suits to traditional Siamese costumes.

Here you can see Rampai one of our pattern cutters, cutting out some fabric for the WW2 uniforms.

I've caught Sak by surprise as he's constructing one of the men's WW2 tunics, best leave him to it.

Gorya and Nok supply the finishing touches to the traditional Siamese costumes.

Patiently waiting, almost ready.

Sebastian sorting out the financial accounts.

Alexander working on the social networks and marketing.

Not entirely sure what sing is trying to accomplish here, but that's all for today.

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.

 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.

Siam 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

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 States, England, South Korea, Germany, Japan 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

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

The Wizard of Oz  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

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 

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)

Werther is an opera (‘Drame lyrique’) in four acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Édouard Blau, Paul 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 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 Leonowens, governess 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 to come

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

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 byCraig Mclachlan, which he appears in them more than often

2. A place to call home

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 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

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

A famous “psychic” outs himself as a fake and starts working as a consultant for theCalifornia 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 onRussel 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

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)

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)

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 feinds . 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)

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)

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)

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)

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.

Company Cribs: Siam Costumes Part 3

Last and not least, we will be having a look at the third and final building of Siam Costumes. By now you should have a gist of what to expect,and  as promised we will have a look into our stock room unfortunately due to privacy policies we hold with our clients, we won't be showing you anything that we are working on currently. Shall we begin?

We shall skip the ground floor, as it's the other side of the workshop which I mostly covered on the last post. As we make our way to the second floor here is a brief sample of our zip stock, the reason why they are placed here is because these are the most commonly used zips, also if you notice we have Saddam Hussein looking over them for safe keeping.

Here is some of our tens of thousand buttons, bought from all over Asia mainly being Hong Kong. Almost every production we have worked on consist of at least one of these buttons.

Here is half of our military insignias, mainly consisting of Nazi WW2 insignias from Inglorious Basterds. As well as a load of braiding, and trimmings which comes in handy more often than not, especially for light entertainment productions.

Some more buttons and buckles, this half is made up of wooden and plastic buttons.

The firs room holds thousands of fabric samples , from stores all around Asia but once again mainly Hong Kong and China. Sorry about the mess I swear there was a time when it was all neatly organised, and those boxes ,yes you guessed correctly those are filled with hundreds more fabric samples.

The reason why we have a room dedicated to these store samples, is because before they were placed in boxes and Darryl tends to remind us " I hate having things in boxes, you just can never find what you are looking for" which is a fair point. Having the samples placed on the wall, in fabric categories I.e wools and Velvets…allows us and the clients to easily navigate our way through and find the suitable fabric.

Don't worry Its not what It looks like, Siam Costumes aren't secretly part of a racist cult. These are arm bands from which movie? Seabiscuit? Seriously thats your answer, I've already mentioned the film one or two times, "Inglorious Basterds".

Oops sorry to interrupt, didn't know this kind of party was going on up here. Ill leave you guys to it.

This room is packed with more fabric, mainly the heavy rolled ones. Also a lot of our light entertainment such as fabric used for Theme Parks, is later stored within this room.

Here is a collection of our unique ties, thats right i said unique, we have hundreds of plain black and white ties stored away in the cupboard. However these beautiful ties are very unique in each design.They have also previously been used in several 1930-50s productions.

Onto the last room of the tour, and what  room is more worthy of an encore than the stock room. This room is where we store a lot of our samples and prototypes of previous and upcoming productions.

You may remember this from a previous post. Its The Hollywood Letter characters from Universal Studios Singapore, Hollywood dreams parade.

One of our several prototypes from Tarantino's classic remake Inglorious Basterds.

A prototype from an upcoming WW2 production, so remember where you saw it first.

A sample from Opera Australia Carmen.

Any super hero fans? You may recognise this costume although the scenes they were worn in were very dark for obvious dramatic reasons, they are the vest's that the ninjas wore in this years The Wolverine.

The curtains are closing, and I'm afraid this is the official end of the tour. It was pleasure showing you around and giving you an insight into our workshop but I'm afraid we have a lot of work to get on with. Thank you and Good Bye.

At least some one is pleased to be leaving the workshop.