L’OFFICIEL speaks to the costume designer about outfitting characters like Orson Welles, Marion Davies, and more Hollywood figures in David Fincher’s ‘Mank.’
Sophie Shaw
December 8, 2020
L’Officiel
In Netflix’s newly released Mank, Hollywood’s latest movie about the movies, glimpses of the era’s glitz and glamour are thrown amidst the alcohol-sodden life of screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman), or Mank, as he works on what would become his and Orson Welles’ magnum opus, Citizen Kane. For Costume Designer Trish Summerville, she wanted to show a piece of Hollywood history through an honest portrayal. “I don’t want to do a pretend version of what Hollywood should be,” Summerville tells L’OFFICIEL.
Like many buzz-worthy films in history, excitement for Oscar-contender Mank built thanks to a key name tied to the project: David Fincher. The exacting director was a draw for Summerville, who previously worked with him on Gone Girl and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Everything else—like doing a period piece, filming in black and white, and working with an all-star cast—was a plus from there, according to the designer.
The Fincher Analyst 