‘Oz the Great and Powerful’ Costuming Offers New Portraits of Lead Characters
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Walt Disney Studios has provided us with new looks of the main characters of its upcoming production, Oz the Great and Powerful, in theaters March 8, 2013. Nearly 2,000 individual costumes were created for the film by designers Gary Jones and Michael Kutsche, including those you see here belonging to Oscar Diggs/Oz (James Franco), Glinda (Michelle Williams), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Theodra (Mila Kunis).
Costume designer Gary Jones worked closely with both director Sam Raimi and actor James Franco to conceive the look of Oscar Diggs aka Oz, saying, ‘In preparing Oz’s clothes, Sam had a very clear idea what he wanted. I had met with James as well, and we were all heading in the same direction, which was terrific.’
Jones’ research for Franco’s tailoring took him on a journey that had nostalgic meaning for the veteran costumer, who has a history with Ringling Bros. ‘Our story begins in a circus, which is the most period-accurate part of the film,’ the longtime designer says. ‘We researched everything from the largest circus to the poorest, most downtrodden carnival entertainers from the turn-of-the-century to the Dust Bowl. We covered the period between 1880-1930 in our research. Having worked with the Ringling Bros. circus was an added joy because I loved that experience. So, to have another moment with a circus was really terrific for me.’
‘For Evanora, the ruler of Emerald City, the starting point was looking at the architecture of the city,’ Kutsche says. ‘I really wanted her to not just be some person in this place, but to actually be this place. The shape and color of her wardrobe actually reflect the architecture and feel of Emerald City, which was Art Deco inspired. So, by resembling and reflecting that, I could make her more of a mighty being that stands out against all the other citizens, and the other witches as well.’
In defining the pair of opposing enchantresses (Evanora and Glinda) through wardrobe design, costumer Jones describes his approach: ‘The witches are very clearly light and dark to contrast good and evil. We used a mercury green color, all having to do with Robert’s Emerald City design, to portray Evanora. Glinda, of course, is basically a white, pristine kind of girl in the story, and we created three different white dresses or gowns for Michelle’s character.’
Michelle Williams liked the transitions that Glinda’s costuming took during the course of the story. She says, ‘When we first meet Glinda, she’s more demure, cloaked in these very delicate fabrics. Then, as the battle dawns, she has a wardrobe change and appropriately suits up in something that is tougher, like fairy-princess armor.’
When we first meet Evanora’s little sister, the bewitchingly beautiful and vulnerable Theodora, she is wearing a Victorian-styled riding outfit, with a large-brimmed red velvet hat that Kutsche devised when he sat down to give life to the character in his concept sketch.
‘It’s in a fantasy world while still being a period piece in a way,’ Kutsche says. ‘So, I looked at fashion around 1900 when they had some pretty crazy hats. Theodora’s look is almost like a patchwork of different periods that makes it look like no distinct period. And that’s what I guess gives it this slightly fantastical feel.’
In comparing the sister witches Evanora and Theodora, costume designer Jones states that ‘one of the first times that the characters appeared together, you realize that they do have similarities in the cut of their clothes, but not at all in the feeling of the clothes. They’re two completely different worlds. Mila’s Theodora is a little more on the sporty, physical side, while Rachel’s costumes for Evanora are a little more of a reigning empress.’
‘The character goes through transformations with her costumes,’ Mila Kunis adds. ‘When you meet her, she’s very demure, very quiet, very sweet. She falls in love with Oscar and when you next see her, she’s in this big, beautiful ball gown.’
In addition to the principal cast, Jones and his staff of 60 costumers, seamstresses, textile artists, dyers and agers also created the clothes for all the diverse inhabitants of Oz, such as Quadlings, Munchkins, Tinkers, Emerald City citizens and Winkies.
In devising the shape and color palette to best reflect and define these assorted Ozians (most of whom were extras with no dialogue), Gary Jones chose to characterize the mood of these divergent groups through their clothing. Before putting thread to needle or dye to fabric, the Oscar®-nominated designer and his key collaborators (assistant designers Jessica Peel-Scott and Gali Noy and wardrobe supervisor John Casey) spent hours researching fashion trends from various periods. As Jones explains, ‘We needed to create the world that these characters live in, much as Robert Stromberg did with his sets.’
‘While our research was concentrated on the turn of the 20th century,’ Jones relates, ‘our costume designs came from both that historical point-of-view while reflecting a more contemporary style, a fashion point-of-view having to do with what our eye sees today, in 2013, as fashionable and attractive.’
‘In Glinda’s world, that of the Quadlings and Munchkins, these are the happy people of Oz,’ Jones states in describing the mood of the inhabitants and how that guided his choice of wardrobe colors. ‘They’re butchers, bakers, and the like, who toil in the normal ways of life. A rather happy, simple group of folks, who we defined with bright colors and pretty clothes. To contrast that, in Emerald City, we’re faced with people who are doing work under duress, under the thumb of the wicked Evanora. Therefore a little more repressed, more buttoned up. So we made their clothes in strong, jewel-tone colors [rich reds and greens and blues] but in a very formal and stylized way. Of course, with a little hint of extra green because of Emerald City. And the more ominous blacks and grays as well to portray that repressed mood. They have some of the same shapes that the people who live in Glinda’s world do, but they’re more conservative in every way. The people who live in Glinda’s world are all in pale pastels, earth tones, cream colors. Even their shoes and hats.’
As for the Winkies, ‘They are the guards at the palace in Emerald City,’ Jones describes. ‘They work for Evanora, one of the evil people in our movie. Their military-styled costumes were inspired by Russian and Prussian uniforms. All the Winkie outfits were made for people who are six-foot-nine or taller. So we had an army of 50 people who were around seven-feet tall. And — if seven-feet tall was not enough — Sam wanted us to enhance these soldiers by adding approximately another eighteen to twenty inches in height with feathered hats. They’re also Prussian in feeling and were made from felt, wool and black, iridescent feathers.’
Categories: Movies Tags: Cinema, Costumes, Costuming, Films, James Franco, Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis, Movies, Oz, Oz the Great and Powerful, Rachel Weisz, Wizard of Oz
‘Oz the Great and Powerful’ Character Descriptions, Fun Facts (Part One)
Walt Disney Studios has provided us with an official list of character descriptions (more or less spoiler-free) and what they have dubbed ‘Fun Facts: Part One,’ which gives some additional insight into the creation of the prequel of the classic L. Frank Baum series of books.
Debuting in theaters on March 8, 2013 and directed by Sam Raimi, Disney’s fantastical adventure Oz The Great and Powerful imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved wizard character. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot — fame and fortune are his for the taking — that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity — and even a bit of wizardry — Oscar transforms himself not only into the great wizard but into a better man as well.
OFFICIAL CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
OZ (OSCAR DIGGS) (James Franco)
Oscar Diggs, aka Oz, is a small-time magician who takes his magic act on the road as part of a traveling circus in the Midwest. A man with dubious ethics, Oz is a handsome, charming charlatan who is skilled at smooth-talking his way out of problems. When he is hurled into the magical Land of Oz, Oscar faces a fight-or-flight dilemma that holds the fate of a kingdom in the balance, forcing him to decide what kind of man he truly is before it is too late.
FRANK (Zach Braff)
Frank is Oz’s assistant and right-hand man — he’s the money handler, costume mender and prop wrangler for Oz’s magic act. Frank is put upon and underappreciated but is Oz’s only friend.
THEODORA (Mila Kunis)
Theodora is a beautiful, naïve witch who is protected by her powerful sister Evanora. Theodora only wants peace to come to the Land of Oz and truly believes that a prophesied wizard will arrive someday to restore order.
FINLEY (Zach Braff, voice)
Finley is a winged monkey that accompanies Oz on his journey. Finley doesn’t have a high opinion of Oscar and lets him know it. Ultimately he becomes a loyal ally and helps Oz discover his true self.
EVANORA (Rachel Weisz)
A witch to be feared, Evanora is Theodora’s over-protective sister. With her penetrating gaze, she exudes a powerful presence and has positioned herself as the royal advisor and protector of Emerald City.
GLINDA (Michelle Williams)
Glinda is a good witch who rules over a peaceful kingdom of simple, kind folk. Beautiful Glinda is not only a compassionate and benevolent witch, but also a fierce protector of her people. Though Glinda sees through Oz’s façade early on, she knows genuine goodness lies within and helps Oz achieve his true destiny.
CHINA GIRL (Joey King, voice)
China Girl is from the village of China Town, where everything, including the inhabitants, is made of china. When destruction befalls her land, the brave, resilient China Girl encounters Oz and they strike up an unlikely friendship.
KNUCK (Tony Cox)
Knuck is a dour, unsmiling Munchkin, who, as the Herald of Emerald City, announces all the visitors. Despite his cantankerous demeanor, he is loyal to Glinda and thus reluctantly becomes Oz’s ally.
WINKIES
The Winkies are the formidable, spear-carrying, 8-foot tall, uniformed guards of Emerald City under the command of Evanora.
QUADLINGS
The Quadlings are inhabitants of Glinda’s kingdom. They are kind-hearted, simple country folk who are mostly farmers.
TINKERS
The Tinkers, who live in Glinda’s kingdom, are tall, thin, old men with long, white beards and elfish ears who can build anything. What they lack in stamina they more than make up for in ingenuity. They are led by the Master Tinker, who Oz finds the perfect foil for his plans.
MUNCHKINS
The Munchkins are giggling, happy little people, who live peaceful lives singing and making pretty clothes. Though they don’t have a care in the world, they are loyal to Glinda and do their best to help her if and when she needs them.
FILM FUN FACTS (PART ONE)
- Disney’s Oz The Great and Powerful imagines the origins of the beloved wizard, who debuted in author L. Frank Baum’s first book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Baum, who wrote 14 novels between 1900-1920, all set in the fantasyland he so vividly created, never fully portrayed the wizard’s background. Oz The Great and Powerful is a cinematic prequel to Baum’s books, offering a unique movie-going experience. Although some of the characters in Oz The Great and Powerful are familiar from L. Frank Baum’s books, they have been reimagined, plus there are many never-seen-before characters in the film, such as China Girl and the Quadlings.
- The fantasy world of Oz The Great and Powerful was brought to life by Academy Award®–winning production designer Robert Stromberg. In all, Stromberg designed 24 full sets plus several partial sets, bringing the total to around 30. Stromberg created such iconic sets as the famed Yellow Brick Road and Emerald City, all freshly designed and imagined, along with such highly anticipated, new designs as the witch’s Throne Room, the Whimsie Woods (where Oz meets Theodora), the Dark Forest, which introduces Glinda the good witch in the story, and China Town, whose inhabitants are made up entirely of porcelain.
- James Franco, who plays Oscar Diggs (aka Oz), had to learn magic tricks in order to accurately portray his small-time, circus magician character. He came to set two weeks early so he could work with Las Vegas magician Lance Burton. Working every day, Franco learned tricks involving doves and fire as well as how to pull objects out of hats and how to make things levitate.
- The production hired German artist and illustrator Michael Kutsche to bring the witches’ looks and worlds, as envisioned by production designer Robert Stromberg, to reality. Kutsche conceptualized the witches’ costumes as well and serves as a costume designer on the film along with Gary Jones.
- Costume designer Gary Jones and his team embarked on an ambitious project to clothe over 1500 actors, from the smallest Munchkin to the tallest Winkie, over a 23-week period. For the principal characters alone (Oz, Theodora, Glinda and Evanora) there were well over 200 pieces.
- James Franco has only one costume in the film — the three-piece suit that Oz is wearing when he is hurled away from Kansas. But veteran costume designer Gary Jones carefully researched the era from 1880-1930 to design the perfect suit. He then met with Franco in New York City to show him vintage photos from the turn-of-the-century that ultimately inspired his final design—a black cutaway suit.
- There are over 3,000 props used in Oz The Great and Powerful, with 1400 of them manufactured specifically for the film. These do not include the 5000 coins Prop master Russell Bobbitt had made especially to fill Oz’s treasure chest. One side of the coin is stamped with an image of the Yellow Brick Road and on the other side there is an image of author L. Frank Baum.
- Greensman Dan Gillooly was very resourceful in finding natural elements in the Detroit suburbs that would enhance the sets in Oz The Great and Powerful. Scouting the area, he came across an orchard full of dead peach trees and used the limbs to create the spooky Dark Forest. Another find that added to the texture and vibe of the Dark Forest were thistles, which came from a nearby field he found in his countryside ramblings.
Categories: Movies Tags: Cinema, Films, Films Cinema, James Franco, Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis, Movies, Oz, Oz the Great and Powerful, Rachel Weisz, Sam Raimi, Wizard of Oz, Zach Braff
‘Minnie’s Wizard of Dizz’ DVD Details Released
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has now confirmed our initial report about an as-of-yet unannounced special musical episode of ‘Mickey Mouse Clubhouse’ titled ‘Minnie’s the Wizard of Dizz
After being swept up in a big wind, Minnie and Pluto end up in the silly but spectacular land of Dizz. It’s an amazing place with rainbow trees, butterfly bows, and friendly ‘Chipmunchkins,’ but what Minnie wants most is to get home. Together, Minnie and her new friends Scarecrow Goofy, Mickey the Tin Mouse, and Donald the Lion set off to ask the wonderful Wizard of the Pink Crystal City to make their dreams come true. But look out! Sneaky Witch Pete wants Minnie’s magical, sparkly pink shoes, and he’s got a few tricks up his sleeve.
Included on the DVD along with the special episode are two other ‘Mickey Mouse Clubhouse’ episodes, ‘The Golden Boo-Boo’ and ‘Goofy’s Gone,’ as well as ten episodes of the short form series, ‘Minnie’s Bow Toons.’ In addition, the DVD will include a free download of the Minnie Bow Maker digital book app.
‘Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie’s the Wizard of Dizz
Categories: DVD/Blu-Ray, Television Tags: Animation, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Minnie Mouse, television, The Wizard of Oz, Wizard of Oz
‘Oz the Great and Powerful’ Triptych Panel Features Munchkins, Flying Monkeys and More
Featuring flying monkeys, the China Girl (as portrayed by Joey King), a munchkin and other fantastical creatures, Walt Disney studios have provided us with the right-side panel of a triptych for Oz the Great and Powerful, with a promise that the final panel will be released next week.
Oz The Great and Powerful imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot — fame and fortune are his for the taking — that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry — Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.
Oz the Great and Powerful blows into theaters on March 8, 2013.
Categories: Movies Tags: Cinema, Films, James Franco, Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis, Movie News, Movies, Oz, Oz the Great and Powerful, Rachel Weisz, Sam Raimi, The Wizard of Oz, Wizard of Oz
‘Minnie’s the Wizard of Dizz’ on DVD on February 5
‘Minnie’s the Wizard of Dizz
Apparently, and agreeably so, it will be a ‘Mickey Mouse Clubhouse’ special which will presumably be announced and air on Disney Channel and Disney Junior ahead of its DVD release. One could surmise from the title that this will be a take on the L. Frank Baum The Wizard of Oz series. The popular children’s series has already tackled Alice in Wonderland with its ‘Adventures in Wonderland’ episode.
Also lending credence to theory and adding a bit of suspicion to the subject matter and timing is Walt Disney Studios’ own Oz the Great and Powerful prequel to the series of books, which will bow into theaters a month later on March 8, 2013.
We will provide more information on the ‘Minnie’s the Wizard of Dizz’ special and DVD as it becomes available to us.
Categories: DVD/Blu-Ray, Television Tags: Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Minnie Mouse, Oz, television, Wizard of Oz
‘Oz the Great and Powerful’ Triptych Gives First Look at Wicked Witch of the West
Yahoo! Movies has exclusively debuted the first of three panels featuring the witches featured in Saim Raimi’s Oz the Great and Powerful set to open in theaters nationwide on March 8, 2013.
While there are, of course, four witches in the land of Oz, the Good Witch of the South never quite gets her due, so the triptych instead focuses on the remaining directions, beginning with the Wicked Witch of the West. Y! teases the figure represented in the piece is unknown, but we can’t help but notice a striking resemblance to Mila Kunis — who portrays Theodora — moreso than Rachel Weisz (Evanora) and certainly not Michelle Williams who plays the good witch (of the North) Glinda. Just sayin’.
Oz The Great and Powerful imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot — fame and fortune are his for the taking — that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry — Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.
Categories: Movies Tags: Cinema, Films, James Franco, Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis, Movie News, Movies, Oz, Oz the Great and Powerful, Rachel Weisz, Sam Raimi, The Wizard of Oz, Wizard of Oz
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