Elements and Performance Criteria

Character costumes may include:
animal
fantasy
science fiction
inanimate objects, eg fruit, furniture, flowers

Research materials for character costumes may include:
books
photographs
film, video
the Internet
digital images
coloured design illustrations
technical drawings from other productions
sketches

Adaptation of clothing styles for performance may require consideration of:
context
suitability to performers physique
material types/constraints
components
construction methods
budget and time constraints
performance demands
maintenance and storage
lighting

Relevant colleagues may include:
designers
technical and production staff
performers

Performance requirements may relate to:
movement
quick changes
continuity
lighting
special effects
use of body doubles/second cast
special considerations
use of harness on performer during performance

Health and safety issues may include:
the need for body cooling
effects of different materials on the body
possible allergic reactions

Underpinning skills and knowledge

Assessment must include evidence of the following knowledge and skills:

sources of information on character costumes
features of the more commonly required character costumes and construction techniques used for these, including animals and food
use and properties (such as weight, pile, grain, and pattern shapes) of the different fabrics, materials and patterns which may be used for various character costumes
sources and suppliers of materials, fabrics and trims which might be used in character costume construction
numeracy skills sufficient to allow calculation of measurements, including ratios and percentages
effective communication and interaction with performers and others during the preparation and making of costumes

Linkages to other units

This unit has linkages to other costume units and combined assessment and/or training with those units may be appropriate, eg:

CUECOS09A Develop and apply knowledge of costume

Critical aspects of evidence

The following evidence is critical to the judgement of competence in this unit:

ability to create character costumes using techniques and materials specific to character costume
knowledge of the range and type of character costumes that may be required by a production

Method and context of assessment

The assessment context must provide for:

practical demonstration of skills through the production of character costumes for a production

Assessment may incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of essential underpinning knowledge, and might include:

evaluation of character costumes produced by the candidate in relation to quality of construction
oral questioning/interview to assess knowledge of character costume range
evaluation of drawings/sketches or specifications developed by the candidate
portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate
Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands and the needs of particular groups (eg people with disabilities, and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties such as speakers of languages other than English, remote communities and those with interrupted schooling).

Resource requirements

Assessment of this unit requires access to:

costume designs or specifications from which the candidate can work
materials and equipment used to produce character costumes

Communicating ideas and information
Researching information (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Making suggestions for construction methods (2)

Planning and organising activities
Selecting and preparing appropriate materials and equipment (2)

Working with others and in teams
Liaising with colleagues on costume requirements (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Taking measurements (1)

Solving problems
Responding to exacting performance requirements for costume (2)

Using technology
Using tools and equipment (1)