Unveiling the Mastermind Behind Sweet Tooth's Unforgettable Live Action Look: Exclusive Interview with Twisted Metal's Costume Designer, Liz Vastola

Highlights

Liz Vastola, the costume designer for Twisted Metal, discusses the challenge of adapting a pre-existing art form while staying true to the show's vision and story.

When designing the game, decisions are made on which elements to maintain from the original and where to incorporate new elements, utilizing the script and characters as a basis. For instance, Sweet Tooth's costume was painstakingly handcrafted.

Every character in Twisted Metal possesses an individualized design that showcases their personality and expression. In order to distinguish and enhance their narratives, the villains, Raven and Agent Stone, were dressed in distinct colors that set them apart from the other characters.

Anthony Mackie and Stephanie Beatriz lead the cast of Peacock's post-apocalyptic comedy series, Twisted Metal, which is based on the popular video game franchise from the 1990s. Joining Mackie and Beatriz are Thomas Haden Church, Neve Campbell, Richard Cabral, AEW's Samoa Joe, the voice of Will Arnett, and others.

During an interview with Game Rant, costume designer Liz Vastola shared insights into the process of bringing this project to life and the challenges of adapting an existing art form. Vastola discussed the unique designs of various iconic characters from the series, such as Sweet Tooth, whose costume was meticulously handcrafted.

GR: How much of the design process was remaining truthful to the Twisted Metal games, and how much was testing the bounds of what you could do to make it your own?

Liz: It's a challenging task. When working on projects that have a rich backstory and history preceding the current one, the showrunners, such as Michael Jonathan Smith in our case, the script, and the cast become our primary sources for guidance. Our main focus is to ensure that we stay within the boundaries of the current project and do justice to the story we aim to tell.

One of our initial steps was determining the specific elements from the various Twisted Metal games since 1995 that we wanted to remain loyal to in terms of appearance and characterization. Once this decision was made, we delved even deeper to understand which game's aesthetics we would draw inspiration from and why. Subsequently, we identified which characters, based on the script, could potentially deviate from these expectations. This process allowed us to establish a foundation for the desired look. Naturally, introducing new characters to the story requires a significant amount of creativity and innovative thinking.

Sweet Tooth served as our starting point. Having a clown as our starting point allows us to explore the implications of his existence on new characters. It forces us to consider the limitations and opportunities that arise from this unique world. In terms of costume design, it opened up the possibility of incorporating vibrant colors and visually captivating elements while still adhering to the aesthetic of the late 90s and early 2000s.

Result: Sweet Tooth's costume may seem minimal at first glance, but it is actually quite intricate. The entire ensemble, from the mask to the boots, was painstakingly handmade. The gloves, although found objects, were transformed through extensive painting and aging. When faced with the challenge of replicating a costume from a digital realm, the key question we asked ourselves was, "How does the human body function while wearing this costume?" Fortunately, we had the advantage of cut scenes that depicted individuals acting out the storyline. This provided us with a valuable reference on how the human body moves within the different versions of Sweet Tooth's attire.

Sometimes, when faced with a project where the existing story lacks depth or realistic elements, tough questions must be answered. For example, "Where did he come from? How did he find all these pieces?" In order to tackle these questions, one must consider the location of the sewing machine. Based on the information we have, which is that he has been living in Vegas, it felt plausible that he would have access to a customizable clown mask. The harness was specially crafted by a leather smith, with the intention of giving it a belt-like appearance. The pants were designed to have an industrial and edgy look.

To maintain authenticity and adhere to the time period, it felt fitting to create the mask using traditional methods. We enlisted the help of an incredibly talented individual named Sam Hill to hand sculpt the form, create a mold, and pour a special silicone. This approach was favored over utilizing 3D printing technology. The boots were custom-made to match the specific look we desired, drawing inspiration from Twisted Metal: Black. We knew we wanted to use a specific type of leather and desired additional height. Since it was crucial for Sweet Tooth to be exceedingly tall, we decided to construct the boots instead of purchasing ready-made ones, despite both Joe and Anthony already being tall.

Liz explained that each individual character in the game has well-tailored costumes that reflect their personalities. She revealed that they took inspiration from the way people in this world, who don't have the safety of a walled-in city, interact with each other and spend a lot of time alone. When these characters meet others, they express themselves and make it clear who they are and what they're all about. This is true for characters like Amber, Watts, anyone in the convoy, and even Quiet. Liz believes that this approach to character design closely resembles the way characters are encountered in video games.

When you start up the game, you're presented with the option to either select your character, who appears on screen instantly, making it up to you to decide if you want to embody their persona, or you can customize their appearance by changing their outfits or acquiring different skins. This principle mirrors the essence of this show. Rather than encountering individuals dressed casually in jeans and t-shirts, they demonstrate a true sense of self in their fashion choices. Their indifference towards others' opinions is truly refreshing.

GR: The villains' attire is incredibly eye-catching. Both Raven and Agent Stone stand out with their distinct color choices. Was it your intention for their palettes to make them noticeable?

Liz: We were very conscious of assigning specific colors to characters. Raven is particularly interesting because everyone knows her as a gothic teenager. I knew it would be surprising to see her in a clean, stylish white, creating a calm and enticing appearance to attract John. It had to be a part of the deception. As we uncover more about Raven's true identity, we wanted to bring her back to her black, gothic roots, but with a touch of luxury.

The Stone color originated from his days as a young police officer, when he wanted to incorporate that unique shade of blue that was commonly seen in vintage or earlier versions of law enforcement uniforms. Growing up in New York, he vividly remembers the cops wearing that distinct Parisian blue. After researching about the Topeka, Kansas police force in the 80s and 90s, he discovered that they also had a similar color. Although the shirt he wears now may not be the same as when he was younger, it still carries the legacy of his law enforcement background.

When we learned that Thomas Haden Church wanted to sport a silver flat top hairstyle, we instantly knew that combining it with the blue color and the glasses would create the perfect look for our protagonist. On the other hand, the members of his team, the lawmen, were added gradually to his crew. This idea stemmed from certain big box stores where employees are simply required to wear the same color, regardless of where it is on the outfit. We were drawn to this concept because it could effectively undermine his authority.

GR: How does Twisted Metal compare to some of the other projects you’ve worked on?

Liz: I enjoy working on projects that engage in self-reflection and have their own history in various art forms such as comic books and video games. Whether it's being involved in a series or a set of sequels like The Purge, I appreciate collaborating with other creators who have worked on specific characters. It's not an easy task, as there are logistical and creative challenges to overcome. You need to honor the existing legacy while also believing in your own creative voice.

The most challenging aspect is the pre-existing audience expectations. Twisted Metal is intriguing because it differs from Daredevil and Jessica Jones in various ways, but one similarity is that people have actively participated in those stories. Jessica Jones continues as a comic, while Daredevil has had numerous movies in the 2000s. Twisted Metal holds a deep nostalgic connection for its fan base, as it has been more than a decade since anything new was introduced to the franchise. This means that we are tapping into people's childhood memories. There are high expectations and a lot of unknowns, but I genuinely appreciate working with characters and narratives that have previous lives.

Liz: Before anything else, let me emphasize that I fully endorse WGA and SAG. Given the current state of affairs, it's difficult to predict what lies ahead. I wholeheartedly support those advocating for their rights in the industry. It would be fantastic if Twisted Metal returned for additional seasons - the finale has created an exhilarating starting point for the next phase of the story.

I was reflecting on the unique aspect of working on projects that hold significant cultural value, such as Daredevil, Katy Keene, Jessica Jones, and Twisted Metal. Being involved in these endeavors allows me to contribute to something that holds importance for certain communities, which is truly exhilarating. Whether it be working on future projects that breathe life into existing concepts or creating costumes for original narratives and characters, my hope is to always be a part of something captivating that sparks both the audience's interest and my own creative drive.

Experience the thrilling world of Twisted Metal now available for streaming on Peacock.