I have to take a deep breath when I want to think about how to start this post. Bones of Crows was everything. I will edit this later, all I can say now is, I feel like I can finally post about this one. It was everything for me to initially read, then read for character and first breakdown, the start of it all- I had to go for walks, I had to take time. I suppose when I think about it, I had to go for walks and take time throughout the entire production.
PRE-PRODUCTION
Starting this epic journey was so emotional, any filmmaker will tell you, that first read, the first moments of your imagination taking off with the words on the page….Marie Clements is a powerful writer. I am so honoured to be part of her crew, part of the creatives who put the word to monitor. I started seeing the costume changes, and realizing the scope of the project was overwhelming at first. I was so happy to have Yolonda Skelton join as Assistant Costume Designer was perfect. The two of us embarked on not only this film journey, but I also convinced Yolonda to leave her world as an educator in the school system, to becoming a full-time Costume Designer. I am so proud to be a part of her growth as a filmmaker.
The team grew from our coordinator, Tinthi Tembo, to our Truck Supervisor and Tailor/Seamstress/Builder Trina Jarnbrant. We were plugging along amidst covid taking over sets all over. Then things went sideways, the last Sunday of my prep, I lost Trina as my Truck Supervisor because of covid protocols. We had 7 days to find a replacement! When Trish called to let me know I lost Trina as Truck, I was hyperventilating in the bathroom at my sisters. Day (minus)5 — still no Truck Supervisor, or Set Supervisor, Yolonda and I land in Kamloops to lose the trucks spot in the city to have it relocated to set with no power and Yolonda discovers the costumes exploded all over and she is in the middle of no where miles away trying to pull the mess apart alone. Just a Team of Three. Day (minus)3 — we found Bernard Chantyman, a Master Builder of Powwow Regalia, he joined our Prep Team! Day 0 – only 4 people onset for the costume team, myself, Yolonda, Tinthi and Bernard. Thankfully Shannon Wilson joined the team as Buyer in Vancouver.
That afternoon, we have Lisa Meeches and her family of 2 join our Prep team, she literally saved me. She arrived with two sewing machines in hand and support team, she knew I needed her. Tleko tleko Lisa, forever in my heart. We stayed up all night, getting it done, custom regalia for several cast. I do hope Lisa gets her patent to her moccs pattern! #nike
Day 1
We started with 1930’s Pow Wow, and we did it. We completed custom created Cree Regalia for: Michelle Thrush, Glenn Gould, Summer Testawich, Sierra Rose McRae, with beautiful hand-made, original Cree regalia on loan from Doreen Manuel, game on! It was a sight.
Media Coverage
March 30, 2023 – ET Canada
https://etcanada.com/news/981145/powerful-bones-of-crows-trailer-sees-cree-matriarch-survive-canadas-residential-school-system/
Day 2
Day two was the day we all cried. Oh wow, I just teared up thinking about this day. We filmed the children being removed from their family. The earth shook, the ancestors were present.
Day 3
We went all the way back in time to the 1880’s, this was a major breakdown day for us all. Ok turn! *bam*bam*bam*poof*poof*DIRT*poof*poof*bam*bam*bam NEXT! We had about 4 hours to complete everyone’s costumes and apply breakdown and get it looking on point. I thought the scene was brilliantly powerfully sad. I love the work done by the talented Trina Janbrant – she created the vest and jacket from a photo of the real Trueman Quinn. I think we made a TRUE match!
Day 4
This day!! We were filming away from basecamp and the walkies just weren’t connecting so this was a tough day getting all my actors ready, I even found one in his trailer when he was supposed to be long gone! I am so thankful for every human pulling forces together!! Gerald Auger was so kind and generous to allow us to rent his handmade regalia for the rest of the Chiefs, the scene looked brilliant.
Then we had the beautiful scene with Aline (Grace Dove) and her mother January (Michelle Thrush) and there was an issue with the hair/wig and the wind, and in a flash, we added the beautiful scarf, which I think adds to the overall look of her costume change.
Day 5
Oh day five is when Shannon Wilson, Transpo Rob and Zachary Daniels saved the day! I had a fitting with Lorne Cardinal the day before and had NO JACKET for his scene that would work. I took the fitting photo and remarked that the jacket would be replaced.
I then called Shannon and let her know the problem and she activated and bought two jackets from Filson’s. Then she brought them to the production office in Vancouver and that’s when the amazing Zac Daniels drove said jackets to Hope, BC and then Transpo picked it up in a rounder from Kamloops. Say what?! I opened the trailer door on Day 5 and there was a banker box, I lifted the lid and brought them over to Lorne’s trailer, knock knock, and placed the jacket it in his closet and shut the door, then fell over. Scene looked great. That’s why I thank the entire team, we all stood up for one another and all had each other’s back. Thank you Transpo Team, there is no way I could have accomplished what happened on the screen without your help. Our Team of Four is plugging along.
Day 6
I don’t want to talk about day six. Day six was inside the barn.
Day 7-12
I like Day 7, it was fun dressing the Teens, and this day, we started working onset with Angus Macfayden. The television series part starts. That’s the thing with Marie Clements, she was able to work the script into two working animals, a feature film and a television series and all we had to do was follow the call sheet 😉 It’s the series, so I won’t get into these days yet.
Day 12
We go inside. These are the days where I wasn’t going to participate in my job as Costume Designer at the monitor. I firmly took self care and let the Producers know, I cannot go inside this school. My family attended this school. I would do my job, and get the cast ready in the IRS uniforms, but, I cannot go to set with them. The Producers understood completely, to which I will forever be grateful I didn’t have to go inside. But this is the day I called my Uncle Charlie Thompson. I was being challenged with the IRS costumes, and decided to let my Uncle answer the question. I called him up and put him on speaker phone and asked him, “Uncle, the team wants to ask a question, how dirty did you get in your uniforms?” He laughed and said “We never did, you’d get punished.” He closed with this, “Niece, remember this, Cleanliness is next to Godliness.”
Day 13
They made me go inside today. It was an issue over the breakdown on the nightgown Aline was to wear while standing on the post. I had one broken down from having run away. Marie wanted a cleaner one, we debated over it and I explained why it was so broken down. Trish came and got me from the trailer and I explained I did not want to have the memory of walking in that school, so she took my hand and I closed my eyes and she led me to Marie, who thankfully was in the kitchen. We went with the cleaner version and I ran out the side door.
Day 14
Having to prepare an actor to do some of the work we did was awful. It makes me cry right now thinking about the work we did.
Day 15
Nothing horrible was filmed today.
Day 16
Jessica Kalan joined us today. And we had some special effects happen today.
Day 17
Drone day! UGH! Most of our wardrobe pieces were rented, and children’s vintage 1930’s were hard to come by let alone have doubles available! I was able to match enough for a drone way up, and I told them that. And when you watch, it does colour match. But the closer you got, the more you can see they aren’t the same jacket, especially for YOUNG ALINE’s jacket.
Day 18
Some scenes take a few people in order for it to work.
To be continued
june 18, 2023
Our Crew
Lead Costume Designer: Carmen Thompson, Prep, Day 1-57, Wrap
Costume Designer: Jessica Kalan, D16-57, Wrap
Assistant Designer: Yolonda Skelton, Prep, D1-57, Wrap
Costume Coordinator: Tinthi Tembo, Prep, D1-57, Wrap
Tailor/Custom Builds/Military Uniforms: Trina Jarnbrant
Alterations/Custom Builds: Erica Bluhm
Buyer: Shannon Wilson, Prep, Day 1-57, Wrap
Truck Costumer/Breakdown Artist: Shannon Tauber, D5-57, Wrap
Breakdown Artist: Ashandra Block
Set Supervisors: Emma Irvine & Madison Douglas D13-57, Alison Yanota D5-13
Background Coordinator: Jared Lim
Indigenous Consultant: Joleen Mitton
Costumers: Aline Gilmore, Jason Pillay, Isabel Poulin, Fiona Raavita, Alejandro Rojas, Annie Shelestynski, Anna Haebler, Singer Valerie Smith, Erika Watchhorn, Valentin Moulias, Mackenzie Dunham, Ash Lorraine, Joshua Langston, Michelle O’Reilly, Varya Olyunina, Ashandra Block, Courtney Bone, Sophia Dishaw, Aurora Cyr, Juan Duarte, Janessa Guliker, Sydney Richards, Sara Perrier, Mitch Meeker, Sran Mardookhi