• Home
  • Behind the Crate
  • Exclusives
  • Features
  • Lists & Things
  • Looter Love
The Daily Crate
  • <<< BACK TO LOOTCRATE.COM
The Daily Crate
  • Home
  • Behind the Crate
  • Exclusives
  • Features
  • Lists & Things
  • Looter Love
Behind the Brown Coat: An Interview with Shawna Trpcic
(Fox)
Home
Firefly Cargo Crate

Behind the Brown Coat: An Interview with Shawna Trpcic

January 25th, 2017 Ash Mahtani Exclusives, Firefly Cargo Crate, Interview

The world of Firefly has a distinct visual style and a big part of that is the costumes. Each character has a unique look that beautifully reflects their personality. The person responsible? Costume Designer Shawna Trpcic, who took some time to answer a few of our questions!

Mal and Inara

Inara and Mal (Fox)

Q: Welcome aboard, Shawna! First and foremost, I gotta ask about Jayne’s shirts. The man has a surprisingly stylish wardrobe! What inspired his look?
A: I tapped into retro Chinese prints and artwork. I didn’t want anything credibly violent, so I used rainbow colors, pin-up girls and funny sayings like the “Fighting Elves” in order to contrast (Jayne’s gun) Vera and his violent job description.

Q: How do you approach designing a new costume?
A: The script is the first stop but often times there isn’t a backstory. Based on the brief description given, I create a backstory, do research to create a character board and can then present to the Producer/Director/Showrunner. For Firefly, I created boards for each new place we visited to give the general look for the rich, the poor, and working class.

Q: Were there elements of the characters’ outfits mentioned in the scripts, like Wash’s tropical shirts or Zoë’s choker?
A: It’s funny. I do not remember. It was almost 13 years ago, and also Jill Ohanesian designed the pilot and first episodes. I was her assistant. I know Zoë’s choker was what she established as a wedding ring of sorts.

Q: Do the actors have a lot of input in their costume designs?
A: For Firefly, not really. Tim Minear approved the sketches and boards and the actors generally were very pleased with the research and design.

Q: With Firefly particularly, you had the unique challenge of designing the looks for characters on different planets. How did that impact the design process?
A: The script generally helps lead the design. Like the mudder’s planet. I had to research mud farmers/miners, etc. There were the workers, the guards, and the aristocrats.

Badger's pin

Badger’s flamingo pin (Fox)

Q: We’ve heard that you like to add a pink flamingo on your costumes as a signature. When did this start and why?
A: It started with Badger. My set costumer, Cleo Mannell, saved the pin and we used it again the next time we worked. (Topher’s assistant wore it on Dollhouse.) I started playing “Where’s Waldo” and hiding them here and there. In This Is the End, it’s on a tie and in Lust for Love it’s on a t-shirt.

Q: You’ve worked with Joss Whedon on many projects beyond Firefly, including Angel, Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog and more. Why do you think you two work so well together?
A: I think it was because of my comic book upbringing. I read a lot of comics growing up and feel we shared that sense of design, colors and character development.

Q: What’s your favorite costume you’ve ever designed (in or out of the ‘Verse)?
A: Honestly, I love every costume. Each costume is character development. Whether it is a modern suit or an elaborate ball gown, it is the design process I go through to fully develop a believable persona.

Q: Do you think future spacefaring humans will wear similar clothes to the ones you designed for Firefly?
A: I doubt it. I like what the designer did for The Martian and that Tom Cruise movie where he wore the white and the planet dwellers were a high tech, Mad Max feel (Oblivion).

Q: Can you tell us anything about your next awesome project?
A: I just finished POWERS for PlayStation/Sony.  The trailer is on YouTube. I designed season two and it was super fun!

Q: Lastly, you obviously have a lot of insights into each character’s look, so do you have any advice for cosplayers?
A: I LOVE LOVE cosplayers’ interpretations of the Firefly ‘Verse and all the other films and television they tap into. The skill and attention to detail is always so impressive. My only advice is to carry on and always remember to be kind to those with different levels of talent.


Want more exclusive behind-the-scenes content from the ‘Verse? Check out the Firefly Cargo Crate
  from Loot Crate and Quantum Mechanix!

(Interview originally featured in the LET’S BE BAD GUYS issue of The Signal magazine in the Firefly Cargo Crate, May 2017)

  • Tags
  • ash mahtani
  • browncoats
  • costume
  • costume design
  • exclusives
  • firefly
  • firefly cargo crate
  • interview
  • loot crate
  • shawna trpcic
  • whedonverse

SHARE THIS ARTICLE:

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn
Next article Looter Love: Daredevil/ Punisher Beanie
Previous article 'Tetris' Tune: A Brief History of 'Korobeiniki'

Ash Mahtani

Ash has been a copywriter for Loot Crate since February 2015. He enjoys his dog, comic books, marinating various meats, and drunkenly rewatching Beast Wars, among other things. He has already heard your Pokémon joke and thought you were better than this.

Related Posts

INTERVIEW: A Quick Chat With Murda Beatz Interview
August 14th, 2020

INTERVIEW: A Quick Chat With Murda Beatz

Loot Crate Introduces a ‘Sensory Crate' For Autism Awareness Month! Exclusives
April 6th, 2020

Loot Crate Introduces a ‘Sensory Crate' For Autism Awareness Month!

BHUNNY: Frank Kozik Talks About New Figure Line from Kidrobot for Loot Crate! Exclusives
February 27th, 2020

BHUNNY: Frank Kozik Talks About New Figure Line from Kidrobot for Loot Crate!

Related Posts

Aug 14th, 2020

INTERVIEW: A Quick Chat With Murda Beatz

Apr 6th, 2020

Loot Crate Introduces a ‘Sensory Crate’ For Autism Awareness Month!

Feb 27th, 2020

BHUNNY: Frank Kozik Talks About New Figure Line from Kidrobot for Loot Crate!

Aug 8th, 2019

Loot Crate Studios Presents: EDUCRATED! Legend of Zelda Edition!

Aug 5th, 2019

Behind the Crate: Creating August’s Loot Crate DX ‘Jurassic Park’ Loot! [SPOILERS]

Recent Posts

CRUNCHYROLL CRATE: Let’s Talk About Our “Fantasy World” Crate!

CRUNCHYROLL CRATE: Let’s Talk About Our “Fantasy World” Crate!

Jan 14th, 2021
GAMING: BIG Game Anniversaries to Celebrate in 2021!

GAMING: BIG Game Anniversaries to Celebrate in 2021!

Jan 13th, 2021
Behind the Scenes: TMNT Capsule Collection Artist Austin James

Behind the Scenes: TMNT Capsule Collection Artist Austin James

Jan 12th, 2021
ANIME: The BEST Anime Intros of 2020!!!

ANIME: The BEST Anime Intros of 2020!!!

Jan 7th, 2021
GAMING: Let's Unbox November Loot Gaming! (SPOILERS)

GAMING: Let's Unbox November Loot Gaming! (SPOILERS)

Jan 6th, 2021
January 2021
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Dec    
  • Home
  • Behind the Crate
  • Exclusives
  • Features
  • Lists & Things
  • Looter Love
  • Back to top
© Loot Crate. All rights reserved.
Brought to you by the illustrious TDC staff with all the love they can muster.