Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare and maintain costume items, and dress performers, throughout any production within the cultural industries.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.

Application of the unit 

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to dress performers for any production within the cultural industries and undertake relevant preparatory tasks. Wardrobe personnel in the process of learning more advanced costume production skills may undertake this role in other contexts where there is a dedicated job role of 'dresser'.

Prerequisite units 

Nil

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Prepare to dress performers

1.1. Interpret production or other documentation  accurately to determine relevant costume requirements

1.2. Ensure that costume and accessory labels are accurate and securely attached and re-label where necessary

1.3. Ensure relevant costumes , items and accessories will be available at the appropriate location at the appropriate time, ensuring costumes are handled with care to minimise damage

1.4. Organise all costumes, accessories and any duplicates required into a line up to meet the requirements of the production schedule/running sheet

1.5. Make costumes available to performers in sufficient time to allow for their dressing to meet the call

1.6. Secure all costume items and accessories to minimise theft or damage before, during and after the production 

2. Dress performer ready for call

2.1. Assist the performer to dress and change costumes in accordance with design , performer and production requirements , with minimum damage to costume

2.2. Treat performers with tact and sensitivity to ensure their personal privacy is maintained

2.3. Conform with performer requests relating to costume requirements or accurately communicate these to relevant personnel 

2.4. Complete dressing of performers in time to meet their calls whilst giving due attention to the care requirements of all costume items

2.5. Check costumes to ensure that they fit securely, are comfortable for the performer and meet the production requirements

2.6. Promptly identify any problems and take appropriate action to rectify

2.7. Observe production etiquette and protocols throughout the dressing process

2.8. Use all equipment safely and in accordance with any manufacturer instructions throughout the dressing process

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• communication skills sufficient to relate with performers during dressing
• literacy skills sufficient to read and interpret production documentation, costume labels and costume care instructions
• negotiation skills sufficient to deal with conflict situations
• numeracy skills sufficient to interpret measurement charts
• planning and organising skills sufficient to manage time effectively

Required knowledge 

• etiquette and protocols in relation to the dressing of performers
• film and television production schedule terminology
• format and meaning of production documentation used by dressers
• machine and hand sewing and methods of altering costumes
• OHS legislation/regulations that affect the dresser (hygiene&use of equipment)
• principles and techniques of costume construction and fitting
• properties of different fabrics, and how they should be handled
• properties of different types of costumes and how they should be handled

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

Evidence of the following is essential:

• ability to accurately interpret dressing requirements and to dress performers to meet those requirements within workplace realistic timeframes and without damage to costumes
• application of organisational skills to facilitate efficient preparation for the dressing process.

This unit of competence applies to a range of industry sectors. The focus of assessment will depend on the industry sector. Assessment must be customised to meet the needs of the particular sector in which performance is being assessed. Assessment should only address those variable circumstances, listed in the range of variables statements, which apply to the chosen context.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment must ensure:

• access to a range of equipment as listed in the Range Statement of this unit
• access to costumes, production documentation that specifies dressing/costume requirements and performers to be dressed
• access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required
• the use of culturally appropriate processes, and techniques appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of learners and the work being performed.

Method of assessment 

The following assessment methods are appropriate for this unit:

• direct observation of the candidate dressing performers and making relevant preparations
• oral questioning/interviewing to assess knowledge of issues to be considered when dressing performers, including care requirements for particular types of costumes
• review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate.

Guidance information for assessment 

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

• CUECOS303A Modify, repair and maintain costumes.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Production or other documentation  may include:

• call/running sheets
• confirmation of receipt and dispatch notes
• continuity reports/checklists
• costume breakdown lists
• costume design
• costume plots
• descriptive costume checklists
• hire agreements
• manufacturer specifications/instructions
• measurement charts
• memos of instruction
• production schedules
• scripts

Costumes  may include:

• accessories
• character costumes
• contemporary wear
• dance wear
• female, male and child costumes
• hard and soft sculpture costumes
• millinery
• period costumes
• tailored costumes

Production  may include:

• commercials
• documentaries
• feature films
• filmed events or performances
• live events/entertainment/performance
• live or pre-recorded television productions
• music video
• short films
• stage performances
• television productions of any type (e.g. music, drama, comedy, variety, sport)

Design , performance and production requirements  may include:

• continuity
• continuity aids (labels, photographs, polaroids)
• costume requirements:

• daily
• for the run of a production
• scene by scene

• particular performer issues
• production environments:

• dressing room
• on location (interior, exterior)
• outside broadcast
• soundstage
• stage/theatre/venue
• studio

• repairs (hand/machine sewn, patching)
• special fitting requirements/security of fitting
• special handling
• stocks (e.g. brush, dry-cleaning fluid, dulling spray, glues, safety pins, starch, water sprays)
• timing and speed

Relevant personnel  may include:

• costume production staff
• designer (costume, production)
• director (photography, technical)
• extra
• floor manager
• head of department
• performer
• producer
• supervisor
• technical and specialist staff
• wardrobe department personnel

Unit sector 

Competency field 

Visual communication - costume

Co-requisite units