Avatar costume creator spills beans

Unlike the rest of the Avatar audience, Claire Prebble could don her 3D glasses and watch the movie with a unique sense of satisfaction - she helped create it.

The 24-year-old artist from Golden Bay, near Nelson, is relieved at finally being able to talk about the film on which she worked for almost three years.

"I couldn't even say the name of the movie for a while," Prebble said. "I had to keep everything a secret from my friends and family for years and it's really nice to be able to share it."

Avatar, the 3D epic that has so far grossed more than NZ$1.5 billion worldwide, is now the No. 2 movie of all time. After just 22 days in theatres, it was second only to James Cameron's original monolith, Titanic.

Prebble created costumes for the film as part of Weta Workshop's creative teams in Los Angeles and Wellington. She designed and made Na'vi weapons, accessories and clothing and made textures and samples for the digital artists to replicate.

"They can see how it moves and looks in real life, and that makes it easier for them to create it onscreen," she said.

"When I saw the work created digitally, I was blown away by what an incredible job they had done. Seeing it come from me and then seeing it on the big screen, it looked very much the same."

Some pieces took her weeks to make. She obtained materials for her creations from around New Zealand and overseas, including possum skin, feathers, harakeke (flax), semi-precious stones, crystals, dyes and beads.

Prebble left school at 13 to concentrate on her passion, having entered her first costume in the World of WearableArt at age 8. She won the Supreme Award in 2004 at 18 - the youngest winner so far.

WOW was the springboard into her career. Richard Taylor, Weta's co-founder and creative director and also a WOW judge, offered her the job on Avatar three years ago.

She has also worked on the film Prince Caspian.

Prebble said she wanted to continue developing her skills in costume construction. She is working on another film - but it is, of course, secret.

- © Fairfax NZ News