Page 21 of The Boss I Can't Stand
“I never said they were,” X shot back. “I’ve made enoughaward-winningfeature films to know the importance of costuming.” He sneered down at her, and that’s when I knew I couldn’t stand by anymore. Big-deal director or not,no onesneered at my mother.
“Okay, that’s enough!” I said, stepping between them and holding my hands up, interrupting their stare-off. “We get it. There’s a difference of opinion here, but we don’t have time for a debate, especially when there are compromises to these things.”
X and my mother, both of them a little shame-faced, stepped away from each other as I approached the board, looking over the proposed background costumes again. There had to be a way to capture the period authenticity while still making things cinematic.
I turned to Sierra. “Maybe we focus on the accessories to give the scenes extra flash while maintaining as much historical accuracy as we can?”
She nodded. “That’s doable. We can focus on statement pieces. Fedoras and cloche hats. Maybe look at pocket watches and chains. Decorative canes. Period-appropriate handbags.”
“Great,” I said, relieved to feel the tension level in the room drop a notch.
“But…” Sierra said. “There might be a way to achieve both the flash and the accuracy with more than just accessories.”
My narrowed gaze cut back to her.Really? The tension coiled around me once more. I’d just gotten everything calmed down, and here she was stirring the pot again.
“I’m listening,” X said.
“I’m proposing we make costume doubles,” Sierra said, laying two similar designs next to each other.
I glared at her as heat burned through my chest. “I think we already have a way forward.”
“Oh, are you the head costume designer?” she said. “Sorry, I must have misread my contract.”
I sucked in a sharp breath, biting back my next words. Why couldn’t she just have said yes and dialed up the accessories on the costumes? “That sounds like a lot of extra work, requiring time you don’t have,” I said, reminding her of the agreed-upon timeline. “It’s just not feasible.”
“Not for all the scenes,” Sierra agreed. “That would be too much. But what if we use it just for the key scenes or the establishing shots that need a more cinematic feel? Think about when they’re in the speakeasy, for example. Imagine that first shot…we dial up the colors and patterns on the background costumes.
We use jewel tones and metallics that will be eye-catching and dazzling on-screen. Create costumes that have the same vibrancy to our modern eyes that the fashions would have had to people back then.
Then as our hero and heroine enter and become the focus, we shift the background costumes into more period-appropriate colors. Same exact costumes, but more muted, automatically drawing the eye toTommy and Evelyn. I can work closely with the art department to maintain a consistent color palette.”
“I like it,” X said, nodding.
“It’s…interesting,” my mother agreed.
“I really don’t think there’s time to create two sets of costumes,” I repeated, massaging the ache in my temple.
“We can make time,” X said.
Absolutely not!“We’re still waiting on Tommy and Evelyn’s wardrobe. You’re really telling me you can get all this done in less than eight weeks?”
“I think it’s doable,” Sierra said. “And I’ll prove it. I’ll mock up a version of one of the costume doubles by tonight, and I won’t even pull my assistants away from their work to do it.”
“Good,” X said. “Let’s see how that turns out, and we’ll make a final call tomorrow.”
“Works for me,” my mother said. “I’m happy to weigh in once we see the finished product.”So glad it works for her, I thought sarcastically.
Sierra turned to me, one delicate eyebrow arched. “Well?” she said.
“Fine,” I relented, “but if it doesn’t work, we’re scrapping the entire idea and going back to focusing on the accessories.”
“Don’t worry,” Sierra said, stepping close. “It’ll work. Remember, you’re paying me for my expert consultation after all.”
I barely managed to refrain from rolling my eyes sure that between my mother and Sierra, I would have a head full of gray hair before this movie was finished.
9
SIERRA
