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Post by NicoleMarie on Aug 25, 2005 10:57:09 GMT -5
'Law & Order' Stars Warned Over Police CostumesActors on hit US crimes shows Law & Order and CSI: NY will face arrest if they are spotted carrying police costumes to and from work. The change in the city's laws became apparent when two actors were taken into police custody and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) has called for an official statement to prevent further misunderstandings. SAG spokesman Seth Oster said, "It has become increasingly clear that the city has revised its existing policy that allowed professional actors to purchase and carry police costumes to production jobs. We have asked the Mayor Michael Bloomberg administration to promptly communicate its new policy so that actors will not be penalized for going to work carrying a tool of their trade in the belief that their actions remain lawful." --- My first reaction was to laugh, my second was to think why didn't someone inform the actors before they were "arrested"? I wonder who the two actors were. Third thought, why would the actors take their costumes off the set in the first place? I hope I put this in the right place! I thought it might get some costume discussion going. I think their costumes look "TV-ish", especially the gold shields they wear. Or as Stabler (SVU) once called it, his "tin"!
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Post by Metella on Aug 25, 2005 11:52:22 GMT -5
Well, we know there is a real world reason for Erbe to wear high heeled shoes & boots ..... but no reason whatsoever for Eames to do so! Also, I do think her tops are not something a person in her position would wear as a daily matter.
Yes, why would the actor's be carting their costumes? and 2 - why does something slung over the shoulder consistute impersonation? or whatever? Nuts and Nut-so.
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Post by NicoleMarie on Aug 25, 2005 13:41:47 GMT -5
When it comes to crazy clothing choices, Eames has nothing on Benson (SVU)!!
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Post by Summerfield on Aug 25, 2005 18:28:26 GMT -5
Yeah, what NicoleMarie said. No one would confuse Benson or Eames for professional police officers! Is it me, or do they always look dressed for a hayride or a trip to the gym?
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Post by LOCIfan on Aug 25, 2005 19:04:00 GMT -5
I suspect the headline of that article ("L&O Stars Warned Over Police Costumes") is a bit misleading... The actors wearing the full-out police uniforms that I think they're referring to here are the background actors playing the uniformed cops. The stars of all the L&Os and CSI:NY (I think) are plain-clothes detectives and don't really always wear costumes that identify them as cops. They certainly don't flash their badges in every scene, they don't wear them on chains around their neck in every scene, etc... But a uniformed officer's costume would not only include the NYPD blues, but also the badge, nightstick and service weapon -- all fake, of course, but real-enough looking.
I can understand not wanting a bunch of actors/civilians running around with all the clothes and accoutrements necessary to impersonate a police officer. And, like NicoleMarie, I find myself wondering why any actors would be carrying their costumes to and from work instead of returning them to the costumer at the end of the day...
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Post by LOCIfan on Aug 25, 2005 19:09:12 GMT -5
As for Eames' tops, I think they're a shout out to rom!
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Post by Cassie on Aug 25, 2005 19:24:33 GMT -5
I find myself wondering why any actors would be carrying their costumes to and from work instead of returning them to the costumer at the end of the day... A few years back, there was an advertisement of some kind for a Law & Order extra. What I remember, it was suggested to bring two changes of clothes, in case they wanted to use the extra for a courtroom scene or maybe a street scene. Could it be these aspiring actors, are responsible for their own wardrobes? And if they have their own uniform, do they have a better chance of getting the part?
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Post by LOCIfan on Aug 25, 2005 21:20:25 GMT -5
Good point, Cassie. I can see extras who're going to appear in street clothes being responsible for their own wardrobes, but any time a uniform is involved, I would think that for the sake of consistency all the uniforms would need to be exactly the same. It would look kind of weird if two officers were standing next to each other and were wearing different -- even slightly different -- uniforms. L & O is generally pretty good about getting set/costume details accurate. But, who knows...
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Post by Patcat on Aug 25, 2005 23:13:35 GMT -5
Yea, I think we're talking about extras.
Re. Benson and Eames, I read a critic somewhere who wrote that they're the only two television cops who actually look like they could kick some criminal's rear.
Patcat
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Post by Techguy on Aug 25, 2005 23:46:57 GMT -5
I can understand the concern if "civilians" walk around wearing official NYPD uniforms. Locally where I am there have been several cases of women being sexually assaulted by lowlifes posing as cops. According to several victims, these poseurs wear what appears to be a police uniform, and would follow a woman driving a car alone, stop her car, flash a phony badge, ask her to get out of her car, then assault her. Scary stuff.
Back on topic--I also question what is the need for actors to carry a police uniform off the set, unless the actor owns one and uses it for auditions or as an extra. So, exactly how easy is it for someone to acquire an official or official looking police uniform and/or phony badge? Seems like there should be some sort of control or regulation of something like this.
ETA: *Snicker* (which will be just as effective as gun control laws have been keeping guns away from criminals) *Snicker*
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Post by Summerfield on Aug 26, 2005 13:37:30 GMT -5
Maybe there was some thievery? Who's to say, someone in wardrobe doesn't pilfer costumes from time to time? Perhaps that was the reason for the crackdown.
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Post by Sirenna on Aug 27, 2005 22:27:49 GMT -5
I think it's some post 9/11 angst and just general police vigilance rather than thievery. LO:ci costumes and set do seem pretty realistic.
I agree that extras have to provide their own clothes and props. I do think it would be difficult to be consistent in this pretty crucial (for a detecive drama) detail unless wardrobe was overseeing this. I suspect the actors take their costumes home with them, whether or not they are their own, to practice with...
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Post by Cassie on Aug 28, 2005 9:48:42 GMT -5
exactly how easy is it for someone to acquire an official or official looking police uniform and/or phony badge ?
Google search will help you www.1starmy.com/searchproducts.aspI believe in LOCI and SVU, not sure of what episodes the detectives have made comments, that criminals have gotten handcuffs and badges from mail order catalogs. Its easy
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Post by Techguy on Aug 28, 2005 22:12:21 GMT -5
Cassie, thanks for the reply, but now I see I miscommunicated, as I intended my question rhetorically with a healthy dose of sarcasm. I suppose I should have embellished it with a snicker type emoticon to get my point across more clearly.
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Post by BegToDiffer on Aug 29, 2005 10:08:47 GMT -5
We have two law enforcement supply stores, both right in my neighborhood. I know they insist on proof of employment to purchase items, including a purchase order from the city. However, one of them did have a break-in and uniforms were stolen. Since the other one sells weapons, you must be buzzed in just to enter the store and they are not open to the public. Then you still have those army/navy type stores, that probably sell uniforms that could resemble that of the police, and I'm sure they don't care who buys what.
Don't the studios have rules about wardrobe? You would think that professionals wouldn't be taking stuff home, but who knows?
RE: Eames (and Benson) clothes. Not much "reality" there. It seems that even when working undercover, Goren dresses down, but Eames looks like she always does. Early on, Eames dressed more professionally, what happened???
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