Enrich Hollywood movies with costumes

Kym Barrett’s skills as a costume designer have propelled her from the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Sydney to the film sets of Hollywood.
It was at NIDA that Kym met director Baz Luhrmann, who engaged her as wardrobe assistant on his debut feature ‘Strictly Ballroom’ (1992) and then as costume designer on ‘Romeo + Juliet’ (1996).
Kym has gone on to design costumes for ‘The Matrix’ (1999), ‘Three Kings’ (1999), ‘Red Planet‘ (2000), ‘From Hell’ (2001), ‘The Matrix Reloaded’ (2003), ‘The Matrix Revolutions’ (2003) ‘Speed Racer’ (2008), ‘The Green Hornet’ (2011), ‘The Amazing Spiderman’ (2012) and ‘Cloud Atlas’ (2012).
Kym has also designed for the Metropolitan Opera’s ‘Tempest’, Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Totem’ and recently completed principal photography on ‘Jupiter Ascending’ in London.
For her work on screen, Kym was nominated in 2001 by the Costume Designers Guild of America for Best Costume Award for ‘The Matrix’ and won the Guild’s award for Best Commercial Costume Design in 2002. That year she was also nominated for a Golden Satellite Award for ‘From Hell’ and in 2007 was nominated for excellence in costume design for ‘Eragon’. Her work on ‘Cloud Atlas’ earned nominations from the Critics Circle and the Costume Design Guild.

How did you get involved in films?
I started to design sets for theatre productions at New England University, was accepted to NIDA in set and costume Worked as the Costume Design Assistant on Strictly Ballroom , Costume Designer on Romeo and Juliet…. Never stopped

What would you say are the key differences between designing for theatre and film?
Small intimate details ,are allow film costumes to subconsciously reveal character to an audience.
Small details are often focused around the face in a mid or close shot , close on intricate buckles on shoes, seed pearl earings , silk or course cotton ?, stitching details , handmade lace tell a story…
…..see Jane Eyre designed by John Bloomfield
The wider focus on a‘head to toe’ costume, choice of silhouette and color , seen in relation to other players, costume and their and their placement in the stage setting , are used as a storytelling device theatrical costume design.
However , Now with 3D simulcast in Opera , costume designs have to be intricate in the close ups and dramatic in the wide expanse of the opera theatre.

What’s your creative approach like when starting a new project?
I start with the story , how to invisibly weave into the texture of the costumes , color , texture , silhouette, support the arc of the directors vision and give a space to the actor to explore the where , why , who of a character.

You’ve worked on projects with different themes: sci-fi, drama, comedy, fantasy and so on - what is missing from your extensive repertoire?
Anything I haven’t had a chance to try really, I would like to do some more detailed realistic period costume.
After designing 1860s in Cloud Atlas , alongside Seoul in 2044 and a futuristic nomadic tribal island people.

I enjoyed the stimulation of a time shift , the stark change in focus throughout each day and will work on more fabric and jewelry designs after using 3D printing on Jupiter Acsending last year.

What will you be speaking about at Look Upstairs?
I have been fortunate to have worked in many countries around the world and with many talented artists and and designers
I will talk about my experience of these collaborations , which were always intrinsic to each unique design process.

Kym will be heading to Melbourne for Look Upstairs; the landmark event for Design Matters Melbourne International Design Week in April that would be great. Note Kym is speaking on day 1, Wednesday 2 April.

Look Upstairs presented by agIdeas in association with Arts Centre Melbourne — April 2 3 4, Hamer Hall

Bringing together the largest gathering of international and local design and creative leaders ever seen in Australia, this three-day design forum will take you on a journey of inspiration and insight through informative talks, discussion forums and debates. 41 speakers from 20 nations will share their insights and experience on how design is explored, developed and interpreted to achieve some of the world’s most innovative solutions. For more information on the program and to purchase tickets visit www.lookupstairs.com.au