Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post but my travel expenses were covered to a trip to California to visit this set and various ABC/Disney experiences.
Last month I went to on the set of Agent Carter! I felt VERY VIP (yep that is a double VERY) when the Marvel Security guards followed us around the entire time with their big muscles to make sure that I didn’t take pictures or get out of hand. Who knows maybe I would have felt the need to photo bomb a hot set!? I even got to learn the secret code name for the set (to this day I am not sure I can share that information). If you like Marvel you know that this is a HUGE deal! While I was on set I got to visit the several different parts of the set, I met in the costuming room (which was super neat) and then I interviewed Hayley Atwell who plays Agent Carter!
The Costumes:
Costume Designer Giovanna “Gigi” Ottobre-Melton
Los Angeles native and Emmy award winning costume designer Gigi developed her keen eye and sense of style at an early age. She attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, where she received her degree in design. The elaborate costumes featured in period films influenced her significantly, and inspired her to pursue a career in costume design.
Her work spans the entertainment industry; from feature films to television including series such as the upcoming ABC series “Marvel’s Agent Carter”, TNT’s “Mob City,” CBS’ “Numbers,” NBC’s “My Name Is Earl,” WB’s “Jack & Bobby,” CBS’ “The Handler,” and the NBC series “Providence,” for which she won an Emmy for costume design.
I learned some cool things while meeting with the designers:
- Replacing costume sleeves is pretty popular and “sometimes 4 sleeves just aren’t enough”.
- Vintage fabric can rot at the cleaners and if it does they have to get rid of it.
- We passed around a waistband and discussed how they have to rebuild it to keep vintage looks.
- Sometimes you have the dead AND alive costumes.
- HERO: the first time you see the costume on camera.
- About 85 costumes/outfits per episode.
- They have to dispose of bloody clothes in a special way.
Checking out all of the costume boards! Photo Credit: Marvel
Gigi and the Red Hat! It doesn’t get better than this?! Photo Credit: Marvel
Agent Carter’s dress in the last week’s episode! Photo Credit: Marvel
Photo Credit: Marvel
The Set:
We walked through the entire set, it was really cool! We visited the costume room like I mentioned before and then we were in the office (at SSR), we visited the diner, interrogation rooms, and more! It was one of the coolest sets I have ever visited. I know I might be biased because it is Marvel AND Agent Carter but it was seriously so detailed. Even the files on the desks had details on them!
Talk about attention to detail:
- The office set was based on pictures of offices from real time.
- Outside window really looks like New York (it is like a slide screen).
- During the scene in the pilot where Agent Carter walks into the office and the phone lady says “Love the hat”, those phones were rented.
I am sitting AT Agent Carter’s desk!
Hayley Atwell:
We met with Hayley Atwell on the SSR office set! She was so beautiful and in costume! Her accent was awesome and we were able to pass along a few questions and answers with her! Time was really limited as she was in the middle of filming! We asked her questions about what it was like to take on the roll, we learned about her getting the part, and we even asked her questions she couldn’t reveal. A huge portion of our interview she discussed the fashion from the 40s era and how nice it was to not just have nice clothes, but clothes that are custom tailored to fit you. It is so nice to be able to wear outfits from that time! We joked about having her wink once for “yes” and twice for “no”…as she opened her eyes really wide without blinking. We all chuckled! She had so much class and was absolutely stunning!
All images photo credit: Marvel!
Watch ABC at 8pm CST TONIGHT!
“Time & Tide” – As Agent Carter closes in on Howard Stark’s stolen technology, Peggy’s secret mission could unravel when the SSR arrests Jarvis and a secret is revealed, on “Marvel’s Agent Carter,” TUESDAY, JANUARY 13 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I did cover the film as press on an all expense paid trip to LA by ABC/Disney. All opinions are my own.