To Change Clothes or Not to Change Clothes at DVinfo.net

Brock Burwell · March 9th, 2016, 12:56 PM

I am currently putting together a video modeled after the video below. It has the same basic idea (an interview with b-roll on top of it). I shot a lot of footage with my talent earlier this week, but I still need to shoot more footage to finish up the video. My question is this - should I ask the talent to wear the same clothes or would it be better to have them wear something different to mix it up a little.

For consistency's sake, I could have her wear the same thing but if I have her wear something else, would that seem like it was more "professionally" made as it may look like it was shot over more than one day?

Suggestions?

Paul R Johnson · March 9th, 2016, 01:01 PM

Same clothes gives you huge benefits in the edit - cutaways, filler shots and out of time edits.

Greg Smith · March 9th, 2016, 03:22 PM

If the subject's clothes stay the same throughout the movie, nobody will notice or think anything of it. If outfits are changing from shot to shot, that will be glaringly obvious to many viewers, and will pull them out of the story / mood / information you're trying to present, at least momentarily, each time it happens. I would never do it just to "mix it up," but only if genuinely motivated -- to represent a different day (where this matters to the story), the character doing a different type of activity, etc.

In short -- have them wear the same clothes unless you have a VERY good reason why that would be unrealistic.

- Greg

Brock Burwell · March 9th, 2016, 03:27 PM

OK great advice guys. I'll make sure they are wearing the same outfit. Appreciate it

Jon Fairhurst · March 9th, 2016, 04:43 PM

It depends. If the context changes, clothes often change. Let's say the person wakes (pajamas), goes to school (street clothes), swims (trunks), crafts glass (overalls), and gets an award (tuxedo). On the other hand, the day in the life might be from walking onto campus, taking classes, eating lunch, studying in the library, and going home (street clothes).

The context might vary with the story. In the interview, when the person in the interview says, "Last winter, I..." Well, they should be wearing a jacket rather than board shorts in the simultaneous shots. Even if they say, "Just yesterday...", then the clothes should be slightly different. You can minimize the change by using similar shades and tones, but don't make it look like the person slept in their clothes.

Bottom line: story is king. :)

Brock Burwell · March 10th, 2016, 07:14 AM

Good advice. I'll keep that in mind

Paul R Johnson · March 10th, 2016, 02:34 PM

Think of it like the option of a cut or dissolve - one means the same time, the other means time has passed. Changes in costume/clothing usually follow the same rule.

March 9th, 2016, 12:56 PM	#1
Brock Burwell Major Player Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 385	To Change Clothes or Not to Change Clothes I am currently putting together a video modeled after the video below. It has the same basic idea (an interview with b-roll on top of it). I shot a lot of footage with my talent earlier this week, but I still need to shoot more footage to finish up the video. My question is this - should I ask the talent to wear the same clothes or would it be better to have them wear something different to mix it up a little. For consistency's sake, I could have her wear the same thing but if I have her wear something else, would that seem like it was more "professionally" made as it may look like it was shot over more than one day? Suggestions? Farewell WVU from Kelli Snedegar - YouTube

March 9th, 2016, 01:01 PM	#2
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,015	Re: To Change Clothes or Not to Change Clothes Same clothes gives you huge benefits in the edit - cutaways, filler shots and out of time edits.

March 9th, 2016, 03:22 PM	#3
Greg Smith Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 86	Re: To Change Clothes or Not to Change Clothes If the subject's clothes stay the same throughout the movie, nobody will notice or think anything of it. If outfits are changing from shot to shot, that will be glaringly obvious to many viewers, and will pull them out of the story / mood / information you're trying to present, at least momentarily, each time it happens. I would never do it just to "mix it up," but only if genuinely motivated -- to represent a different day (where this matters to the story), the character doing a different type of activity, etc. In short -- have them wear the same clothes unless you have a VERY good reason why that would be unrealistic. - Greg

March 9th, 2016, 03:27 PM	#4
Brock Burwell Major Player Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 385	Re: To Change Clothes or Not to Change Clothes OK great advice guys. I'll make sure they are wearing the same outfit. Appreciate it

March 9th, 2016, 04:43 PM	#5
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Re: To Change Clothes or Not to Change Clothes It depends. If the context changes, clothes often change. Let's say the person wakes (pajamas), goes to school (street clothes), swims (trunks), crafts glass (overalls), and gets an award (tuxedo). On the other hand, the day in the life might be from walking onto campus, taking classes, eating lunch, studying in the library, and going home (street clothes). The context might vary with the story. In the interview, when the person in the interview says, "Last winter, I..." Well, they should be wearing a jacket rather than board shorts in the simultaneous shots. Even if they say, "Just yesterday...", then the clothes should be slightly different. You can minimize the change by using similar shades and tones, but don't make it look like the person slept in their clothes. Bottom line: story is king. :) __________________ Jon Fairhurst

March 10th, 2016, 07:14 AM	#6
Brock Burwell Major Player Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 385	Re: To Change Clothes or Not to Change Clothes Good advice. I'll keep that in mind

March 10th, 2016, 02:34 PM	#7
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,015	Re: To Change Clothes or Not to Change Clothes Think of it like the option of a cut or dissolve - one means the same time, the other means time has passed. Changes in costume/clothing usually follow the same rule.