The role of props and costumes

First of all I’d like to tell about props and their meaning in our scene. The most important props in the first scene are photos, posters and newspapers about Marilyn Monroe which covered all wall of Detective’s office. These pictures actually gave us the understanding that that film about Monroe without any words. Just pictures and posters of her fame, then tracking to photos of Marilyn fall and her death. So we are telling the Marilyn story without any words. Moreover with help of another props item as Suspect Board we underline that this is office of person who investigating this case and trying to find out the links between public people who were familiar with Marilyn and some criminals of 50’s.
In addition to this we covered another wall with documents and reports in which Detective wanted to find any regularities.
A laptop was used as only thing which actually refers to our modern day to ensure the viewer that this office exists in our days. Finally, an ashtray with smoked cigarette used to represent a stereotype view on Detective profession who are always smoking.
Next scene. Scene of 50’s so all props were chose thoroughly to make, firstly, the exact copy of the stage like in Monroe clip ‘Diamonds are girls best friend’ and secondly – to make the filming backstage look like as we are really in 1950’s.
So we bring old-fashioned Director Chair and Producer chairs. With these chairs the problem appeared when we realised that we don’t have any Director’s chairs the day before shooting; however our Media teacher Guy managed to find them so they were put in a scene and were exactly as we hoped. Another 50’s props were made by our group as old-fashioned camera and red love hearts for dancers as they had in original clip and, of course, make-up for all dancers and Marilyn Monroe actress.

Then the costumes were chosen only for second scene because we didn’t have any people in Detective office scene. Gaby and Heather managed to find a necessary costumes in Theatre department so all dancers wore black suits and the filming crew team had different colours suits because we the filming crew in 50’s wore suits but to differ them from dancers we have them not black one’s.
Monre’s costume caused lots of difficulties because we tried to find exactly the same costume as she had in the clip so for entire week we phoned to different agencies and shops to find them and, finally, Gaby found it – Marilyn pink dress, elbow length gloves, necklace and rings and one of the main parts – curly haired wig so at the beginning of shooting itself we had a stage which looked like from the ‘Diamonds are girls best friend’, 5 guys who had been in black suits and Monroe with all her make-up and dressing and then all filming crew who were exactly as they should be in 50’s.