Styling Awkwafina and Sandra Oh for the movie "Quiz Lady" under the direction of Costume Designer, Brenda Abbandandolo
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DISCOVER Quiz Lady's Stunning Costumes with Costume Designer Brenda Abbandandolo!
Step into the captivating universe of Quiz Lady, the laughter-filled and endearing film from Hulu, helmed by director Jessica Yu and featuring the talents of Awkwafina and Sandra Oh. In this exclusive interview, costume designer Brenda Abbandandolo provides a glimpse into the creative process and the artistic visions behind the movie's remarkable costumes. From the muted, mundane attire of Awkwafina's Anne to the vibrant, eccentric style of Sandra Oh's Jenny, let's delve deeper into how the costumes of Quiz Lady transform these characters into unforgettable on-screen personalities, adding a dollop of humor to their performances.
Spencer Williams chats with Brenda Abbandandolo:
Spencer Williams: Hey Brenda, how's it going?
Brenda Abbandandolo: Hi Spencer, I'm good, thanks for having me!
Spencer Williams: Let's dive into Quiz Lady and its fantastic costumes. What an absolutely hilarious, heartwarming movie it is! Before we delve too deep, how did you connect with the story, and what were your early conversations with director Jessica Yu like?
Brenda Abbandandolo: I connected instantly because my mother is from the Philippines, so a lot of the culture and family dynamics really resonated with me. At a broader level, there's plenty to explore in terms of the isolation experienced by these characters and the unique backgrounds that shaped them. Initially, we spoke about how isolating their lives could feel, focusing on how two people brought up in the same household could have entirely different outcomes. From there, we aim to delve deeper into the distinct aspects of Awkwafina's and Sandra's characters.
Spencer Williams: Exactly! They could not be any more different, which is fantastic!
Brenda Abbandandolo: Absolutely. It started with that discussion but eventually evolved based on the actors' input. Awkwafina is incredibly trusting, and her character is understated, which was great fun. Conversely, with Sandra, we went all-in, indulging in mounds of clothing. Each time we met, we built her character piece by piece. I've never had such an intense, active collaboration with an actor like this before. Sandra's character showcases a sense of regression in her sense of style, and we aimed to capture that essence.
Spencer Williams: The story revolves around two estranged sisters who, despite leading vastly different lives, reunite in an unexpected way. Let's begin with Awkwafina's character. When we first meet her, she's living a routine, borderline melancholic life. She wakes up, goes to work, and watches her show. It's quite relatable. I think the costumes and color palettes play a significant role in telling her story, as they help her blend into her environment.
Brenda Abbandandolo: That was intentional. We intended her to blend in, to be invisible to those around her-be it coworkers or her sister. To achieve this, we coordinated her wardrobe with the sets and paint chips from the sets. It was an intriguing challenge, as usually, the goal is to pull people out of the set, but in this case, we were aiming for the opposite.
Spencer Williams: So different from a typical costume designer's goal!
Brenda Abbandandolo: It was awesome to do that. Sometimes, we'd look at her wardrobe and think, "Is there enough of a change to track the story," but it was subdued. This contrasts beautifully with Sandra's wardrobe, which is a riot of color and texture!
Spencer Williams: Let's move on to the vivacious Jenny, played by Sandra Oh. She's the polar opposite of Anne in both personality and attire. What can you tell us about your approach to Jenny and her remarkable costumes?
Brenda Abbandandolo: Jenny is such a curious character, and hercostumes reflect her stunted growth and the elements of her life that never fully matured. We drew inspiration from '90s and early 2000s trends-periods that were part of her coming-of-age years-and stuck there. Sandra was very game to let us take her there. The collaboration with her and the rest of the team was intense; we met repeatedly over five weeks to build Jenny's character from scratch.
Spencer Williams: The first time Jenny appears on screen, she looks like a character from Euphoria. It's so amusing because there's a sense of arrested development happening-so many funny elements! One scene that stands out is when Anne borrows one of Jenny's hoodies and takes some of her drugs, resulting in a hilarious trip sequence. Did that hoodie's selection have an intentional purpose?
Brenda Abbandandolo: It was definitely deliberate. We juggled numerous options before landing on the final hoodie, which brought uproarious laughter. The animation sequence was added later, and we didn't realize how effective it would be.Nonetheless, the hoodie was instrumental to creating that memorable scene.
Spencer Williams: They don't make 'em like that hoodie anymore!
Brenda Abbandandolo: Yes, it was one of a kind and right for the occasion.
Spencer Williams: I mustn't forget to mention Tony Hale, who plays a Ben Franklin impersonator or bed and breakfast owner in this film. It's another riotous role. Did you draw heavily on historical references while designing his costumes?
Brenda Abbandandolo: We certainly delved into historical references, aiming to recreate some famous portraits of Benjamin Franklin. Tony was a believable choice for the part, and the team worked diligently to ensure his costume was spot on.
Spencer Williams: Speaking of fantastic roles, we can't forget Holland Taylor, who plays the nosy, judgmental neighbor. Collaborating with Holland to create this understated, judgmental character must have been interesting.
Brenda Abbandandolo: Working with Holland was fantastic. She has such an effortless sense of style. The challenge with Francine was to create a character who gave up on herself. We spoke with Jessica to refine the idea, eventually landing on the concept of housecoats to represent that sense of resignation. Each housecoat was designed to look almost identical but with different patterns.
Spencer Williams: Another relatable yet annoying character, I love it! One final question-did you watch any game shows for inspiration while preparing?
Brenda Abbandandolo: The initial inspiration came from Jeopardy, as Alex Trebek is for many a familiar presence in families' homes. Will Ferrell's portrayal of the host incorporates that sense of familiarity. The game show aspect eventually evolved into something specific to Quiz Lady, but we still aimed to keep the stable, relatable persona-a man who has hosted the show for decades.
Spencer Williams: Before we wrap up, let's discuss Linguini's fabulous costumes. Who's responsible for Linguini's bling?
Brenda Abbandandolo: That would be costumer Jen D'Angelo; the selection of bling was part of the script, as Linguini eventually joins the kidnapping gang. We purchased multiple shirts and altered them to create a perfect fit for Linguini's costume. My team adores dogs, so crafting Linguini's wardrobe was a delightful experience.
Spencer Williams: I'm overjoyed to finally discuss a dog costume! Quiz Lady left an indelible mark on all of us. What did this film mean to you and your crew, Brenda?
Brenda Abbandandolo: Working on Quiz Lady was one of the most enjoyable experiences I've ever had. Jessica is an exceptional director who manages the set expertly. The collaboration between Awkwafina and Sandra is amazing, resulting in an incredible comedy duo.
Spencer Williams: Brenda, it's been an absolute pleasure chatting with you! I hope everyone out there watches Quiz Lady on Hulu. Thanks for sharing your insights with us!
Brenda Abbandandolo: Thank you, Spencer. I'm so glad we had the opportunity to discuss Quiz Lady. You're a fantastic interviewer!
- The costumes designed for the movie "Quiz Lady" by Brenda Abbandandolo play a significant role in transforming the characters, adding a dollop of humor to their performances in the entertainment realm of movies and TV.
- In the movie "Quiz Lady", Brenda Abbandandolo's approach to the costumes of Sandra Oh's character, Jenny, emphasizes the character's stunted growth and regression in her sense of style, drawing inspiration from '90s and early 2000s trends.
