Working on a TV commercial for the UK

What role did Agent Costume play in the making of the Foster’s Gold commercial for the UK?
Here’s a clue: It has something to do with the set.

The art director rang a friend of AC and asked them to make a very special swishy lamp for the set he had just designed. He’d found something similar in a European furniture catalogue, they couldn’t find anyone in Australia who stocked them, and the cost of the lamps and the shipping was going to cost a bomb, also, time constraints were workng against them.
Unfortunately, or rather fortunately for me, our prop-maker friend was already gainfully employed building and making sets and props for another filming gig, so he referred me! Something along the ines of “I’m sorry mate I’m busy, but, if it’s a fabric construction of anykind, call Elisa, she can do anything, she’ll sort you out”

And so I recieved a phone call.
A few conversations and emails later, I was off, banging all over the town of Sydney fabric sourcing, looking for the best qualities needed for the job, fire retardant, light diffusing, something that would emit a glow and not expose the light bulbs within. With samples in hand, we tested them all and finally picked the best one.

The director had already designed the lamp and had the support structures built by a set making company, and my job was the fit the structures with the fabric lamp shade. I made a sample out of a less expensive fabric and tested it on the frame work a few times to get the right pattern, then i went out and bought about 15 metres of fabric.
They needed 6 lamps and they were each over 2 metres tall.

Then they were simply cut and sewed together. After devising a way of attaching them to the frame, using precut clear plastic strips and a stable gun, I took the shades to the studio and proceeded to staple them to the frames. Ingenious!
a litle twist and ualla! The shades were complete.
We flicked the switch and marvelled at their creamy wedding cake icing smoothness. Good enough to eat!

I had some time left so I helped to set up the other lighting ready to hang. Unfortunately I couldn’t stay to work further on set. I had some stilt walking costumes to complete for another gig.

have a look at the finished result.

http://youtu.be/XwP1JSmVDSA

Can you believe this was filmed in a shed at Fox studios?
All the concrete furniture, the light fixtures, the lamps, bar and tables were made up especially and set up in a shed with a big green screen in the background. I think you’ll agree, the result looks like the real thing.
Amazing.

The making of Foster’s Gold

I’m sure you’ll agree, the set wouldn’t have been the same without those iconic glowing lamps.

And would you believe, after all was said and done, set up and pulled down, I got to keep one! The other 5 found homes pretty quickly. Its a big fixture for such a small apartment I nearly said no, but it creates a wonderful sophisticated ambient lighting, the place wouldn’t be the same without them.

custom made lamp, by agent costume

[box type=”tick” style=”rounded” border=”full”]For any fabric based set making, sewing or costume enquiries, contact Agent Costume in the form below.[/box]