Immersion: Effect of Costume and/or Makeup

Community Larp discussion
#1

At Armageddon 2012 I had the opportunity to ask a question of Christopher Heyerdahl, actor on Stargate SG1, Stargate Atlantis, Sanctuary, True Blood, [size=50]Twilight[/size] and others. He’s often the one who wears a decent amount of prosthetics and costume, for example Todd the Wraith in SG Atlantis.

My question was: “How much does being in, or putting on, a costume or make up help you to identify with the character and put on his persona?” I really liked his answer, so thought I’d share.

He said that costume and make up really does have an effect on his mindset as an actor. Firstly, when wearing different clothes, and especially wearing prosthetics, he feels the weight of the costume, takes a look at himself in the mirror. Effectively he becomes the character by doing so, and thanks in part to the literal weight of costume he begins to move differently, acting as a character would and not himself.

But by far my favourite part of his answer was that he knows that someone has created the character, that much work has gone into how it looks, and what it should say. His words were: “And you want to honour that, honour the character and truly act as him/her.”

I found it inspiring, and wanted to share, since I think it really applies to larp. Often we make our own costumes and characters, but there are times when others help us, or we’re playing as a pregenerated character. I think that costume and make up really help with the immersion, especially in ones own head, but more than that, that honouring who your character is designed to be is something very important.

#2

That’s an interesting thought to consciously consider with a character, the honouring of all the work that’s gone into building a character by playing that person to the best of your ability.

#3

This is why I put so much effort into my campaign characters, and why I think I do a better job roleplaying in a campaign than in a con. I try and get my campaign character’s costumes to a point where it just feels like someone else’s clothes, rather than a costume. Totally helps me get in, and stay in, the IC mindset.

Found it the same when I did a bit of acting this year as well. I couldn’t ever quite swagger the same way in my normal clothes as I did in my pirate costume. :slight_smile:

#4

I recall coming across a concept called “Embodied Cognition” - that physical things we touch influence the way we think. It seems plausible that this may have some overlap. I don’t have any links to research on the subject to hand, however.

I certainly have certain hats &/or jackets that I’ll wear to work when I know I have to get particular kinds of work done.

Oddly enough, while I use this effect to advantage in day-to-day life, it is not someting I’ve intentionally cultivated as part of my LARPing.

Something for me to consider, certainly. Thanks for passing along the quote!

#5

I also liked how Chris Heyerdahl said he ‘moved differently’. Some people who watch me rather closely have told me that I hold myself differently depending upon the character I’m playing. I was surprised by this at first, but it’s nice to note that I have a mindset and behaviour pattern that differs depending upon the character and skin I’m in.

I was thinking of you when writing this one Jackie - it’s one of the reasons I enjoy roleplaying with you. And why I enjoy roleplaying with anyone who’s put in a lot of effort. Not only are you honouring the character and the person who put in a lot of work (yourself, sometimes + others), but the person roleplaying with you does the same. Immersion is two way for me there - I’m immersed because of what I see, but also because it really honours and respects the other player who I’m playing off.

In essence: “I respect and like your work so much that I’m going to roleplay my best to show others how awesome you are.”

Don’t we usually have a better roleplaying experience all around when we edify the other players and crew?

#6

[quote=“Ignifluous”]I recall coming across a concept called “Embodied Cognition” - that physical things we touch influence the way we think. It seems plausible that this may have some overlap. I don’t have any links to research on the subject to hand, however.
[/quote]

Huh, so there’s a name for it after all. I’ve noticed that I do have a certain mindset I enter when I put on my uniform for St John work. It makes crash-starting into St John mode a little harder when I’m in my civvies and come across an accident.

And I noticed something rather interesting one time when I was up in Paihia keeping an eye on New Years revelers. The police had a very large team up there and we all were at one of the hotels for dinner on the 31st. When they came up in their stab proof vests they were very grim and business like, but as soon as they took those off the majority of them relaxed and started smiling.

#7

This is probably the main reason I go through all the time putting on make up for Teonn. Even the stuff people don’t see. It takes a couple of hours but helps me drop into character.

The ears and the scar are noticeable straight away, and I can feel them when I have them on. The Tattoos you can only see at certain times but I really like having specific tattoos that only the character has. Same with the lash marks, but I feel them all the time, they pull at the skin on my back and well, they hurt to put on. So that sort of stuff helps to change into character.

On top of that having a costume (as a whole) that is just for that one character, means that by the time I am ready on a Friday I already have the right mindset of a simple, kind healer.

#8

:smiling_imp:

#9

I remember reading that Andy Serkis had this experience in LOTR. He was originally engaged to just to a voice over for Gollum. But to get the right voice, he had to be all crouched over, and using his whole body to act in-character. Apparently when Peter Jackson saw this, he decided to go down the path of the blue dot movement capture technology.

I find it interesting for myself with regard to voice. I can’t really do accents, but with some characters, somehow, subconsciously, a different accent/voice emerges.

#10

I agree wholeheartedly with the things being said in this thread. The first game where I was really satisfied with how I was roleplaying was the first where I’d put the most effort into my costume. (32AR, played at Hydra this year) I was playing a French Princess, and was pretty much dripping with jewels and wearing a powder blue dress…very different to the more hard edged (and practical) steampunk costumes of the other characters. The difference was pretty marked. I’m also thinking of Bad Dreams: Trust, where the costuming wasn’t elaborate, but integral to the whole experience of the game. That visceral terror when you see someone all in black come towards you is not something I will forget!

It’s not just for you as a player, I find, but for other players as well. What we wear says a hell of a lot about our identity, and when you’re in character, it’s important to communicate aspects of that character non-verbally. Using my 32AR character, her costume basically screamed “non-combatant”, which was important for how the other players reacted to her.

Echoing Scott’s point about things that other players won’t see, as well: for the 33AR campaign game I had a scar across my neck that I hid for half of the game with a scarf…but I could feel it constantly, and it was a great reminder to stay in character.

#11

I find this too, I have spent an entire rehearsal process in Heels for this very reason (and so I could walk naturally and comfortably in them), and even just those helped a lot to get me into character!

Those are truly wonderful pearls of wisdom, thanks for sharing them rob :slight_smile:

#12

There’s a larp style that originated in Canada called “black box”, named after black box theatre. You get an empty hall and people play multiple “scenes” in it simultaneously, representing gatherings of PCs at various IC locations. When a scene ends you go join or start a new one. The players are also the crew, sometimes playing their PCs and other times playing walk-in extras. So there are a lot of quick changes of character, but people are mostly wearing black rather than costumes which makes this easier. However, they do throw on a few costume accessories so that various characters are visually recognisable.

Your comment reminded of some advice I heard about black box, that the best symbolic bits of costume to throw on are hats and shoes. Hats make perfect sense to me because they can impart a lot of information, especially for a historical game, and they’re near the face. I never particularly understood about shoes, but now that you mention it I can definitely see how wearing heels would make a difference both to how a character feels to play and is perceived.

#13

Shoes change the way you walk sometimes, and tell much about the character.

Big stompy boots make you walk with more assured steps, and suggest you move around a lot (traveller) or require sturdy footwear for your job (peasant, fighter) etc…

Delicate shoes make you walk with more delicate, mincing steps and suggest a more priviledge, sheltered life.

With more detailed costuming, I find that the footwear ‘seals the deal’. If you’ve got hero pants, they look great tucked into boots, as opposed to hanging over the edge of sneakers for example. It just finishes off the costume.

(Amusingly, I don’t give a toss about accessorising RL clothes. But costumes, you bet! :smiley: )