From July of 2016 until March of 2017, I worked as one of two assistant designers to the delightful Katina LeKerr, who has designed every season of this politically charged television show. I did 12 episodes and was credited as costume designer in addition to KLK on episode 612, although Katina truly is the designer "behind the curtain" on this show. There are many television shows where the designers are pulled in various directions by other projects but not Ms. LeKerr. She keeps a laser like focus on getting this done beautifully and as in all shows these days, with no time to spare. Her awareness of how to artfully balance the aesthetic of the show with the sometimes diverse wishes of a bi-coastal group of writers, directors and producers is a marvel to witness.
The baseline crew of producers, writers and designers on this show are extraordinary. The writing kept me at the edge of my seat as we scanned everything from treatments to the finished scripts, which were updated at lightning speeds. In my opinion, episodic shows of this nature can be the hardest sort of work in show business. My hat is off to the HL gang as they prepare to move along to an expected two more seasons, having shot down south, in South Africa and Germany before their NY stint. Our local NY costume crew were just great as well, if a little sleep deprived!
My domain for the most part on HL6 was dealing with the background performers in everything from sending out research of the look of the clothing people should bring to approving final looks. There is a long established, very limited palette to the show. Your eye is drawn to the faces of the actors as the colors are generally so muted, neutral and dark. It is television with the sensibility of a carefully crafted film. No scenery chewing via costume. Whenever I'd get the yen to add a little dash of color to someone in a crowd (if a BG artist brought something of great character, perfect for a neighborhood type), we'd do our line up of everyone who would appear together and inevitably, I'd have to swap that look out something that was perhaps less fun, but in keeping with the show's sensibility. On the rare occasion someone managed to sneak in without being approved, they would stand out, even if the tone of their clothing was simply too light and they weren't colorful at all. That's "Homeland" for you. It was our parallel universe- in our world, a female was the President Elect. Friends of mine texted me one Saturday to see if I'd meet them at a protest and I had to demur as we were dressing 450 odd people for a protest scene on the show. Can't protest because we're playing it on TV!
A small selection of some of the types we did in addition to folks in their civvies:
A gang for surveillance photos...
Prison scenes...
Waitstaff...
Many SWAT teams and uniforms, didn't photograph most because we were far too busy on those days!
Doormen, Bellhops, etc...
Blue collar worker types...
C.I.A., F.B.I....
Who sometimes are blown up in explosions...
What's a day without dressing Secret Service Officers?
Government types...
Diamond District types...
Hockey game attendees...
Presidential Address Police, Politicians, a choir whose gowns you cannot see in the row behind...
Sadr City fighters for a flashback scene...
