Breakdown In Film

October 03, 2022

Breakdown In Film

The art of breakdown; a way to create damage, distress, and weathering to your costumes. However simple it may seem, breakdown on film requires a lot of thought , process, and artistry. In the costume department, you may even find a separate costume artist specializing in breakdown. Most of them start up as a trainee in the wardrobe department and learn the techniques from their peers over the years. The tools and product they use may seem strange at first but the results you get are remarkable. 

 

Breakdowns are a necessity in the industry to show struggle, destitution, the results of accidents, fights, and everything imaginable the characters have been through (not to mention zombie apocalypses). Those aspects need to be shown through their appearance for the story to be realistic.

 


As the film industry grows, more and more products are added to the market to fill their needs. At wotever inc, we will help you pick the best products possible for your project. Our staff has accumulated knowledge they have learned from the film industry professionals so feel free to come in store to pick their brains!

Products

Breakdowns are a necessity in the industry to show struggle, destitution, the results of accidents, fights, and everything imaginable the characters have been through (not to mention zombie apocalypses). Those aspects need to be shown through their appearance for the story to be realistic.

 

Up your gore game with Mind Warp Productions' fantastic line of locally made, costume friendly blood products. The blood of choice for productions including Hannibal, Bitten (season 3), 12 Monkeys TV, Saw 2-7, and Saving Hope (seasons 1 and 2).

 Tools

A variety of tools can be used to distress and weather clothing. Sole ruffers, kitchen graters, wire brushes, sanding blocks, and steel files have been found to be popular amongst costume departments as a way to distress clothing. As for weathering and aging, clothing/leather dyes and tea bags are the go to products. 

Here are some tips and tricks from the industry:

 

If you want to create ripping in your costumes, sanding blocks are perfect for your curved edges like knees and elbows. For flat surfaces, steel files/rasps, kitchen graters, wire brushes, and sole ruffers are the go to tools. They are easy to use and make your costumes look realistic! 

Some everyday products may also be more useful then you might think. Tea bags are perfect for creating sweat stains and to alter the color of your clothing. Grab a spray bottle and got to town on your costumes. To make them look aged, turn to dyes and leather polish. They make great looking grease stains. For a fresh sweat stains, use baby oil!

Washing and Cleaning 

What about when you are done with your project and need those stains out? At wotever inc., we sell whatever you may need to remove and get rid of stains. Come get your laundry detergent, specialized stain removers, foam shaving cream (great to remove blood) or x-tinguisher odour eliminator.

Shop at www.wotever-inc.com or come see us in store at 11 dickens street, toronto, ontario.

Contact us

 Contact us at (416) 461-1033, email us at info@wotever-inc.com, or follow us on social media! And don’t forget to visit our store in-person or shop online to see our massive selection of proudly Canadian products.