THE TWO is a short film directed by Jairo Garcia that tells the story of Leo (Tom Martin), a lonely man whose idealized love for Emma (Laura Frenzer) draws him into a Heaven’s Gate–inspired cult.
Designing costumes for this movie allowed me to combine the passion for character study, costume history and color psychology. Particularly, all of Emma's looks include a purple element to reflect her devotion to the cult, culminating in a solid purple shirt matching the purple of the ritual shrouds.
My design also features Leo and Emma as their younger selves in the 70s, for which I studied student photo albums from that period.
In the later 90s scenes, the cast are wearing distinctive buttoned shirts (a reference to the Heaven's Gate exit interviews) with an older Leo being the only one to stand out in his poorly-fitting sweater - a symbol of his doubt.
The final scene of The Two shows the entire cast in black buttoned shirts and pants and white running shoes, echoing the ritual uniforms of the Heaven's Gate members.
Costume pitch sheet for The Two by J. Garcia | Costume design by me A.K. 2019.
Tom Martin as Leo and Laura Frenzer as Emma in The Two, dir. by Jairo Garcia, DP Derrick Chen, 2019
The last supper. Production shot of The Two based on the Heaven's Gate cult , dir. by Jairo Garcia, DP Derrick Chen, 2019. Starring (left to right): L.Frenzer as Emma, T.F.Walsh as Wade, T.Martin as Leo, C.Rose as Bonnie, D.Haft as Marshal, W.Anders as Gale.
Thomas F. Walsh as Wade and Laura Frenzer as Emma in The Two, dir. by Jairo Garcia, DP Derrick Chen, 2019
Sheila-Joon Azim as Amy in the exit interview | The Two by J. Garcia (NYU TISCH, 2019)
The farewell. Production shot of The Two based on the Heaven's Gate cult, dir. by Jairo Garcia, DP Derrick Chen, 2019. Featuring T.Martin as Leo
THE LAUGHING CLUB (2018) was a short comedy by playwright Liz Maestri, presented through the Williamstown Theatre Festival Directing Studio and directed by Victoria Gruenberg.
In this story, two yogis avoid their personal problems—and the increasingly alarming reality —by practicing laughter exercises, while a literal apocalypse is happening outside. My design concept for the costumes was to find a combination of colors and patterns that were simultaneously 'happy' and 'alarming', as well as help shift the mood to a more dramatic under red lights (an element of the play).
The Laughing Club design concept, AK 2018
The Laughing Club. Short plays starring acting apprentices at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, 2018
The Laughing Club. Short plays starring acting apprentices at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, 2018
The Laughing Club. Short plays starring acting apprentices at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, 2018
This MAMMA MIA!-themed music event was part of the LATE-NIGHT CABARET performances at the Williamstown Theatre Festival (2019) that I did styling for. The overarching theme was the blue-yellow color palette honoring ABBA's home country Sweden, as well as resort-style elements referencing the Mamma Mia! musical and movies. I worked with the acting apprentices to find looks that would fit the mood and reflect their individual personalities. We had a lot of fun making this one happen!
Late-night Cabaret at the Williamstown Theatre Festival (2019) featuring the season's acting apprentices.
Late-night Cabaret at the Williamstown Theatre Festival (2019) featuring the season's acting apprentices.
Late-night Cabaret at the Williamstown Theatre Festival (2019) featuring the season's acting apprentices.
Late-night Cabaret at the Williamstown Theatre Festival (2019) featuring the season's acting apprentices.
Late-night Cabaret at the Williamstown Theatre Festival (2019) featuring the season's acting apprentices.
