13854/The Count of Monte Cristo: Fashion!

The Count of Monte Cristo: Fashion!
Date of Scene:	16 January 2023
Location:	New York Studios
Synopsis:	Aurora shows up for fitting appointment and shares some small talk with Carmen, one of the costume makers.
Cast of Characters:	Michael Hannigan, Jeanne-Marie Beaubier
Tinyplot:	The Count of Monte Cristo

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Michael Hannigan has posed:
With casting in place, the next steps to producing The Count of Monte Cristo has started. Those who got the good news were also given a location and an appointment time to check in. The reason for the check in? Why to ensure that whatever role they have, that they look FAAAAABBBUUUULOUS....

Costume fittings have been split amongst the participating cities and New York City is one of them. Due to the division of work, that does help cut down the immediate workload for both costumers and actors alike. Yay for sanity.

As for today, the New York based extras and smaller characters are being fitted and there is a large clothing rack filled with attire of the finest (at least visual) quality. Off to the side are tables filled with hats and masks.

Jeanne-Marie Beaubier has posed:
Aurora has been filled with excitement once she landed a rather serious movei role, at least compared to the risque projects she's been involved with to date. This was an actual projection that would see proper distribution. Naturally, being a model, she was particularly curious about fitting. After all, in her day to day job, she serves more as a canvas for the clothes, and this is a circumstance where the concern is to match the clothes to her specifically. A treat.

A good sign of how excited she is about the endeavor, is that despite her reputation, Aurora actually shows up on time. She shows up in a dark skirt scattered with a flowery design to give it chaotic blotches of color and a matching top, albeit the top could probably pass more for undergarment if one was honest, for how much it puts on display. Her pumps are a contrast, however, being mostly white with red blotches of roses and lips pursed for kissing.

"Hello, hello," she offers any who cross her path as she makes her way quite jovially to her appointed station.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
The pleasant greetings do not go unnoticed. As a pleasant demeanor can be infectious, her hellos are rewarded with smiles and nods from the costumers she passes by. A woman at the clothes rack looks to Aurora as she walks by, looks to the selection and starts grabbing a few gowns. She shifts over to the table, collecting a feathered hat and a golden mask. Another assessing glance is given of Jeanne-Marie before she crouches down, pulling out two differently marked boxes.

There is a calm walk over to the curtained area that is left open. "Aurora?" The woman queries, "Congratulations on your roles. I am Carmen and I'll be helping with your fitting for today."

The woman turns, setting one dress down on the chair, "First up, we'll work on your main role." A purple gown is offered over to Aurora along with one of the boxes before she nods over to an actual door, "You can get changed in one of those rooms over there. Afterwards come back here and we'll do the markings for alterations. The matching shoes are in the box."

Jeanne-Marie Beaubier has posed:
"Oh, this production looks lavish, look at this, feathers and gold, I love it!" She practically squees at what she spots on the rack while the costumer takes out a few selections. "Thank you, I really appreciate it Carmen, I'll make your job easy, I know what it's like..." and though she likely really doesn't quite know what it's like from a costumer's perspective, she sounds genuine enough. "Aye, aye, Captain," Aurora chirps jovially as she takes the garment and the box and practically floats to the changing room, carried by her mirth.

It likely takes more than expected for Aurora to come back, as she's not quite accustomed to period wear, but she does make it out in a dressed state without help, so there's that. "This is amazing...to think women used to actually walk about like that, ha! We have it easy today." The fit is mostly there, though some trimming might be in order.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Carmen moves over to her kit to pull on a wristband ladden with safety pins. There's a slight rustle from a box before she brings out a navy colored chalk pencil. Aurora's comments regarding the outfit gets a laugh.

"Oh yes. It is fun to sometimes put on these outfits, but we certainly wouldn't want to wear them all our lives." She turns back to gesture towards the feet area which is completely hidden by dress. "One nice thing about the attire is that it completely hides your feet so we only have to really worry about if the toes stick out. With your height I think we can get away with you not having to wear heels while running."

She crouches down, getting a better view of the hem area. "Are you looking forward to the travel? I heard a few of the shots will actually be done on location and I think the Carnival scene is one of them."

Jeanne-Marie Beaubier has posed:
"I can only imagine," Aurora laughs, no doubt imagining a variety of unpleasant situations resulting from moving about in such an array of poofy skirts. "Wonderful, that's like a cheat code," Aurora grins, avoiding heels is a boon, particularly when athletics join the equation. "Absolutely, I love seeing new things, new places, new locals...where we going? Are the men there hot?" She asks in a conspiring tone.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
With the invite to gossip very much accepted, the costumer smiles. "Italy. And I'm sure there are some."

There is a pause as Carmen reaches over to her wristband to retrieve a safety pin, and bringing her hands to the bottom of Aurora's dress. "Even if there wasn't, you'll have your castmates. And my dear, I have seen who they've cast as Albert." Carmen glances up, looking to Aurora to give a delighted smile, "I think you might just enjoy that scene. And the men picked to play his friends are not bad to look at either."

Carmen reaches for another pin. "I think you might even catch a glimpse of Edmond even though he's not directly in your scene."

Jeanne-Marie Beaubier has posed:
"Mon dieu!" Aurora exclaims, "Italians are famous lovers and romanticians, I can't wait to test if it's true. Their language is so lyrical too! Now I'm really excited!"

The impish delight in Aurora's visage intensifies at the mention of potential heartthrob leads, "ooooo, are you allowed to tell?" She asks with a playful wink, "this keeps getting better and better!" She laughs at the mention of the actor she won't be sharing a scene with, "it's ok, I'll catch him to schmooze up in down time, I've got skills."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"Oh well, I don't know the actual actor's name for Albert. He was worked on by another at our location. Seems to be a new face. But oh those eyes." There's a slight squee as she recalls, likely betraying her experience level in the industry, "Casting was spot on."

Another pin is secured and another one is retrieved from the wristband. "I didn't get to see Edmond in costume. Most of the principal cast got fitted in Gotham, but I heard that Nick Drago showed up."

Jeanne-Marie Beaubier has posed:
"Ah...the best kind of vouching, no names, just the looks. I dig it," Aurora nods sagely, with a rather scholarly expression about her, though most wouldn't ever consider she has any serious past with any academic institute.

"Most of the stuff I've done in the past I was the big draw in, but then, it wasn't anything like this production. I hope I can go on to be in more stuff, with maybe bigger roles in the future...I guess my rep is a stumbling block, but hey, this is a step forward, and you're just great so I take it as a sign. You meet good people along a good path."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Carmen grins, "Thank you. This is actually my first big production as well. I mainly work with stage shows but because of the multiple city aspect they had to hire extra people." Another pin gets secured and Carmen starts to shuffle over to work on another part of the hem. "I'm loving this. So many beautiful people in one place. And the costumes are of a different experience since they're not made to be quickly ripped off for a fast scene change. Oh and the detail we get to put into the stitch work..."

There is a pause as the woman takes a deep breath, "I promise you this will be one of my best works because I hope what we do for this movie helps the both of us. I'd love to work more movies. And you make such a lovely canvas."

Jeanne-Marie Beaubier has posed:
"It's a joy," Aurora agrees with Carmen, even though it's likely she hasn't much of a clue about stitch work at all. She does giggle at the canvas allegory, "hey, I'm a model, I'm essentially a professional canvas, except stuck up designers don't really give a damn about me, they just want the best display for their work. For them I'm like a moving mannequin. So this is very refreshing."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"Hmm..." Carmen murmurs, studying the hem for a moment before grabbing another pin, "That's probably why I don't go into straight fashion. With Costume design there's at least the interaction with the wearer. Helping to create a new world of sorts."

She shifts over some more, messing with the fabric, "I don't ever want to get to that point of coldness." Carmen glances up. "Do you ever think maybe because they've so absorbed in trying to impress people that they've forgotten how to speak with people?"

Jeanne-Marie Beaubier has posed:
"It's always fun experience when it's collaborative, for sure," Aurora nods along with Carmen's words. "It's possible, or maybe they just don't care about people so much as fashion itself. Just the clothes they make, and damn the rest of us...who really knows."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"I suppose." Carmen allows, giving a sigh, "Although, imagine what they could accomplish by actually talking to the wearer. The design disasters." Smiling, Carmen pushes herself back to her feet. "Ok that should help with the running, but without revealing anything beyond the toes of the shoes. Let's see what this look like with the mask and hat."

Turning over to a table she retrieves the declared items and returns to Aurora, handing her the mask. "...What is the weirdest thing you ever had to wear?"

Jeanne-Marie Beaubier has posed:
"Agreed...I can help deliver whatever aspects a designer had in mind if they tell me upfront, if it's guess work, it's harder. For the most part, they expect you to look stiff as a board as you do your emotionless catwalk routine that's pretty much standard." Aurora shares with Carmen, grinning, "you're smarter then them."

As Aurora moves to don the hat and golden mask, she muses over the question and laughs, "easily a brown paper bag, cut out to look like some sexy tube top and skirt, it was embarrassing to wear..."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
As Aurora describes the outfit, Carmen's brow raises. "That's horrible. It makes no sense. I'd rather wear a white shirt in a rainstorm than that." The woman gives a shudder, shaking her head. "Okay. My promise to you. If I have any say in the design. NO paper bags for you."

Carmen steps back, looking to Aurora's full attire. "Oh that looks lovely." She turns around, grabbing a camera, "One moment, Let me get a picture of you in that for the stylist to reference. And then we can get started on the rest of the wardrobe."

She holds up the camera, "Say, 'Real Fabric'!"

Jeanne-Marie Beaubier has posed:
"Yeah...sometimes it feels like certain designers come up with some stuff on a dare, or maybe they just want to humiliate a specific model...like a revenge outfit of some kind. Sometime they make you were childish things, sometimes outright ridiculous like that brown bag getup, but the talented ones do make up some masterpieces."

Aurora laughs uproarously at the given promise, "I imagine no one in the time period of the Count wore that stuff, not even the beggers, so I'm sure I'm safe...still, I cherish the promise!"

True to form, Aurora shifts her posture the moment a camera is grabbed. One leg tilts at 90 degrees, while the other extends forwards, a rather sensual slant of her knee is entirely missed due to the poofy gown, but there's no mistaking the overall effect on her posture. Particularly with how she turns her shoulder to the camera, and angles her neck to provide a sultry over the shoulder look that almost seem jarringly clashing with the expected modesty of the time period. There's no doubt she's good at her craft.