Costume And Props

The costume for the cast and band members is generically reflected by the genre of ska-punk music and other underground music hybrids. Their attire will entail jeans or cropped shorts (skinny/baggy), a tight t-shirt which is either simple and plain or band merchandise (for example one of ‘Smaller Than You’s musical influences ‘The Aquabats‘ or a rock inleunce like 'Guns And Roses'),and generic sports/skating trainers such as DC's- Nike- Etnies and Vans. We are asking a few members to wear props such as, headphones and a beanie hat to add to a generic youthful ska-punk look. These props are typically seen as skater like or 'punk' as they are unglamorous and individual, and are signifiers either showing their passion for music, or showing they have no interest in the latest fashion. Although this doesn't apply to all skateboarders and punk/ska advocators/fans this is the general perspective people have of them, bands associated with this skate-punk/Ska mage are: ‘Mad Caddies‘, ‘The Specials‘, ‘Spunge’ and ‘Less Than Jake‘. The older generic British Ska image of smart suits with bowler hats doc martins were associated with this type of music in former generations and were associated with Skinheads, this image was formed by renowned bands such as ‘The Specials’ who are still as popular and influential to this music genre and scene significantly.
We are hoping for the cast and band members to look like any generic skateboarder, as well as fitting the prototype of the music and appearing to a young audience. This look is very important, as it needs to please and convince our audience they are young and talented. The audience will have their own image of what the video looks like and who will play, so we are choosing outfits and people who generically link to the music and costume of the generic conventions. This costume will hopefully emphasise and reference youth as a sub culture to the video, and by presenting the band as young teenage skaters will hopefully attract a youthful audience, interested in ska-punk.
Jake ( the lead cast member in the narrative) is going to be wearing large headphones around his neck, and all of them will often be seen with the same pair of drumsticks and one point in the narrative. This prop is fundamental to the continuity and aspect of our double based narrative as these sticks are the focus point which will be engaging our audience to watch as they are passed throughout the cast members through Norwich. Other props are ‘Smaller Than You’ posters which we are going to make as a sort of logo and signifer for the audience to be able to establish the band through, we are going to have these either dotted around the city of Norwich where we are filming) or featured in the performance based narrative, if we decide to have one.



Intertexutual References- To other bands images:


'SPUNGE'-
are a Ska-Punk band from Tewkesbury in England, and are the only band ever allowed permission by the Marley family to change the lyrics of 'No Woman No Cry' showing their successful status. This band are significant to my research into the hybrid as they are a renowned British band in the genre of ska-punk, which is one of a kind for Britain. Although they aren’t entirely mainstream they have supported the likes of ‘Green Day’ and ‘Bowling For Soup‘, both these bands being American rock/ska/punk acts. They are signed to Sucka-Punch Records and there lyrics entail songs of skanking (a generic signifier of the music), relationships and kicking pigeons!
Looking on their Myspace their influences are ‘Less Than Jake’ and ‘The Specials’ (both bands being the same influences also for 'Smaller Than You') and looking at their Myspace friends their audience demographic is from 18 to 22 and is primarily male. This band are significant as they share roughly the same audience demographic, and are like ‘Smaller Than You’, targeting a young male audience.





Their band image is what we are aiming for the outline of each cast members costume. Although the band members of ‘Spunge’ are not teenagers, they promote a good youthful message to a young audience. They were tanks, music t-shirts and basic jeans, with converse and old school sneakers like, Etnies. I especially like their bright attire as it relates perfectly with their vibrant merry and upbeat music with humorous lyrics.







MAD CADDIES:
Mad Caddies are another musical influence to 'Smaller Than You' and follow the similar image of costume we are hoping to utilise in the mise en scene of our video.