He is here with us today to answer your questions about costume design and wardrobe on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. Mr. Blackman has been designing "other-worldly" garb since the third season of Star Trek: The Next Generation back in 1990.

Question: why are the bajoran uniforms worn on DS9 so unpractical. They have very hight heels etc. Is Nana Visitor too short??
T'Sara

Bob Blackman: The only person that wore the impractical garment was Nana. It was simply a choice of broad-based marketing. Our heroines need to appeal to the 18-34 male. And whether I agree with this or not... we are a for-profit organization...

Q: Of all the costumes that you designed for star trek, wich one was your favorite?
Jadzia D

BB: It is impossible to decide which child you love best. They're all my favorites.

Q: What was your favorite costume that you designed, and did you design Beverly's dress from "Attached"?
Chira

BB: Yes, I designed the dress.

Q: What's your opinion on the Janeway/Chakotay relashonship? I think they should have a full secret affair!
Zoom

BB: Why secret? It is the 24th century.

Q: What color are your socks? Are you wearing socks?
Eiritae

BB: Yes I'm wearing socks. They're white.

Q: When does the new season for Star Trek Voyager start?
Ronnie

BB: Mid to late September.

Q: I was impressed with the variety of Garak's wardrobe, which was in keeping with his role as tailor. Was it difficult to keep coming up with interesting ideas for his costumes?
wijdan

BB: No it was not difficult. Those particular kinds of items are the most fun and the easiest to come up with. The more difficult part is convincing the actor they'll look good in it. All of his clothes were lined with neoprene (wetsuit fabric)... not very comfortable to wear. Andy's a really good sport.

Q: I am just wondering how you think up the strange clothes that Neelix has to wear? Some of the fabrics look very cool!!
marbeo

BB: Neelix comes from the same spot in my brain that Garak, Quark, Moogie and Zek. The fabrics are obviously exotic, and it takes some searching to find. There are many bald sofas around town.

Q: I always liked your costume designs. Are you planning to introduce large areas of pastel colors back into the the uniforms? I enjoyed the red, mustard and blue colors in the TV series.
R. B.

BB: No. Voyager uses those colors as colorbars across the shoulders and as you might know, the Starfleet uniforms have changed now to grey quilted yokes to those three colors used as the shirts underneath. The DS9 and the movie uniforms provide more gravity for the situations that are presented to me in the scripts.

Q: Why did the starfleet uniforms change from the red/blue neckline difference in command/science to everyone wearing grey?
Ed

BB: Going to the grey yoke was for First Contact... it was to give a more advanced look, as if the uniforms are developing as we move forward in time. It also of course provides a situation in which you have to buy more toys and that is also a consideration for the franchise.

Q: Dear Mr Blackman, I was wondering why the crew of Voyager haven't started to wear the new grey uniforms? Since they have received a transmission from Starfleet in which the admiral was wearing one of the new uniforms...
Philippe

BB: Lost in space... Although they saw that Admiral, the situation was so dire they didn't really have time to consider what he was wearing. And even though they use that holosuite a lot we have to remember that the replicators are used sparingly due to power usage.

Q: I would like to know what all the costumes are made out of, meaning Cardassian, Borg, and Klingon, Jem Hadar, etc. They always look a lot like armor.
Julie

BB: Well... They are like armor. The Cardassians breast plates are made out of blown rubber. They weigh about 30 lbs each. The Borg, as we know them now are also made out of blown rubber and are a two piece jumpsuit. The Klingons are made out of jumbo spandex and leather. And lots of fake fur. The Jem H'adar out of neoprene covered in leather and stretch lycra.

Q: How much design and preperation goes into the creation of a costume?
Jonathan

BB: At best, our prep time is 7 to 10 days. How much design is open to interpretation. From conception to the rolling of camera it never seems as if there is enough time, and yet we get the job done. The design drill is this... I get a script in which there will either be a name of a character that you will assume is an alien... or there will be a description that says... an alien. At that point, I think a little bit, place a few well placed phone calls to Rick Berman and Brannon Braga... about 15 minutes. I draw it as well as I can. That inspiration comes from some character thing I thought about or talked to Rick about... or some piece of fabric that has struck my fancy or I think is appropriate for this type of character. Then we wait for casting... When casting is complete, we see the actor for measurements and from that point, we can deliver in 48 hours... in other words, we see him on Monday morning... early... we fit him on Tuesday morning... early... and he works Wednesday morning. Whenever.

Q: Is there anywhere a fan could just browse and buy some set costumes?
Jonathan

BB: There are rumors that some items from the original series, the movies, TNG and DS9 will be up for auction at yet undisclosed auction houses in LA and NY. Probably on EBay as well. That's about the only place you can get an authentic one.

Q: Was it you that changed the uniforms of Starfleet from the old span-dex type to the collared relaxed type?
darkcontact

BB: Yes. I was brought on for the 3rd season of TNG to do just that.

Q: Hi Bob! Why was Jeri Ryan's costume changed after the first few episodes that she was in? I thought she looked great. LOL
Paul

BB: So did I. There were issues about the material used for that first shrinkwrap outfit. In normal light, it was a very dull silver fabric. Under stage lighting it became extremely reflective and it seemed inappropriate for her character to be quite so fetching.

Q: Is there a place to get copies of the real uniform sewing patterms or even someplace to get a "real" uniform made with my measures (not those polyester halloween suits).
Philipp

BB: No. Unfortunately all uniforms that are manufactured are the polyester halloween variety. There are patterns available from Lincoln Enterprises (Majel Roddenberry's company)... to my knowledge they are as exact as can be under mass-produced circumstances. You must remember that every background player that wears a SF uniform, or for that matter, any costume has a garment that is individually fit for them, so yes they look great. And unless you find a way to do it in that manner, they will all look like halloween costumes.

Q: I'm very interested in the design and art of clothing, a costume designer wannabe if you will. I would like to know where you draw most of your costume concepts from?
Laura

BB: Certainly nature, history and some 'borrowing' from current ramp shows provides enough source for me. Unlike Mike Westmore, who creates the surface every single day, I don't have that luxury or that terror. So I have to find manufactured surfaces with which I create the architecture of the garments. In order to make the sofa fabric look different, I do things like line it in neoprene. Then when the actor bends his arm, it doesn't look like fabric that we're familiar with.

Q: What do you think have been the most memorable Hollywood costumes?
Jonathan

BB: Some of my favorites, and here goes the list...

Claudette Colbert's Cleopatra
Any of the Three Musketeers
Errol Flynn's Robin Hood
Any Stanley Donen movie
All Adrian costumes
Camelot
The Grifters
Age of Innocence

The list is endless. I'm glad you notice and appreciate.

Q: Hi Bob, which character did/do you enjoy designing costumes for and why?
Gemma

BB: Certainly Lwaxana Troi provided enjoyment and challenge. Majel Roddenberry is wonderfully patient with me and likes to wear clothes. So it's a great combination and lots of fun. Armin Shimmerman, Wally Shawn and the Ferengi for Lunch Bunch were a delight. Always fun to do and they were always up for the challenge. I never had to worry about overshadowing their performances. A great bunch.

Q: What,if anything about the original series influenced you?
Melda

BB: What influenced me about the original series was and is Gene's basis for the series. In 20 years what I've done will look odd to eyes of the future. It takes more than a generation for our vision to soften and to find a kind of reminisce for things that have come before us. So what William Ware Theiss did beautifully just wasn't where we were at for these series. And when someone takes over 20 years from now and they're approaching it, what I've done will not be appropriate for what they're doing.

Q: What type of fabric are the uniforms made of? What do you normally use for alien clothing? Also, where on earth did you come up with the weird clothing for Neelix and the Cardassians?
StillShining

BB: The uniforms are made out of wool gabardine. Light weight. The t-shirts are made out of cotton-lycra... The greys and the colors are specially dyed and that's it.

Q: Is there anywhere in Australia where I could get a Star Trek Voyager uniform made or I could buy one that you know of?
Vorik

BB: I've never been to Australia. I have no idea. Is Australia pretty?

Q: Good Evening Mr. Blackman! Did The TNG cast complain about the new uniforms because they were made of wool? Are they really very hot to work in?
Matt

BB: No, they did not complain about the fact that the uniforms were made of wool. They were complaining that the uniforms before me were made of spandex which doesn't breathe like wool, retains body odor unlike wool, and allows you never to eat again.

Q: Is there any one cast member who is especially hard to fit?
marie

BB: Not a one. They're all wonderful.

Q: Did you design the Borg costumes?
Katherine

BB: No. The original Borg were designed by Durinda Wood and the First Contact Borg were designed by Deborah Everton. The only Borg I have designed is Seven of Nine. And the Drone.

Q: Do you get the final say on what the costumes are to look like or do they have to be authorised by Rick Berman etc?
Ice_RSQ_10

BB: Yes and yes. Rick Berman and I confer on the final product. His hand reaches everywere and touches everything. And he has an extraordinary design sense.

Q: Has any of your costume designs been rejected?
Ice_RSQ_10

BB: Sure. I tend to push the envelope and when it gets too much for Rick, I'm reined in. He's usually right. But I feel that it's easier to pull back than to try and push yourself to the edge. Just go there to begin with.

Q: Do you have a personal gallery with some of the Star Trek costumes you have designed?
Stanley

BB: No. All garments produced in the Star Trek workroom are sole property of Paramount Pictures.

Q: Will we see the Voyager crew in off duty attire that is more colorful this season?
Ronda

BB: No. It's unlikely because they are primarily in crisis at all times. Although they take recreation in the holosuite, their day to day living is much more restricted and confined than the Next Generation. I think.

Q: What kind of relationships did you have with the actors themselves?
Jessica

BB: I have history with some of the actors from our joint days in theatre, but for the most part we all spend an enormous amount of time from 6:00 until... each Monday through Friday, so at the end of a long workday we go our separate ways. I don't do personal styling for them, in other words, I don't choose or advise them on personal clothing for personal appearances.

Q: Has any of the actors refused to wear one of your costume designs?
Ice_RSQ_10

BB: No. The reason being, that by the time we get to the manufacturing stage of our 7 days of work it has all been passed through the appropriate channels and so there really isn't time for last-minute changes. Also, there's not really a 24th century clothing rack anywhere in town. What that means is, unless they brought something lovely from home... they're stuck with what's in their dressing room.

Q: How long does it normally take for a Starfleet uniform to be constructed?
Stanley

BB: The SF uniforms are deceptive. At least to me. They appear to be very simple. Kind of a 24th century version of a NASA jumpsuit. But in reality they are anything but simple. The simpler things look, for the most part, the harder they are to do. For the shirts and the uniforms to rest as smoothly as they do on the actors' bodies requires considerable inner structure. So now, we can still do a turnaround on these in about 48 hours, but it is a real push.

Q: Although it seems unlikely, have you ever felt that your dept. was limited financially or technologically?
Roger

BB: There's never enough money. Like most everyone who is creative, you think to and beyond your resources. I have had fabric created for certain characters that I had enough lead time on. For instance, "Once Upon a Time" Flotter and Trevis were fabrics that were hand crafted in New York overnight. That costs. When they arrive to us, they are still just fabric and then we structure it into a garment.

Q: How did you end up in this field of work? Was that your intention all along or did things just work this way?
Daniel

BB: I have a BFA from the University of Texas in Theatrical Design. I have an MFA from the Yale School of Drama in Theatrical Design. Before TNG, I worked for 20 years as a theatre designer (I was a child prodigy) LOL.

It was never my intention to create the future. I spent an enormous amount of time in the 19th century designing Chekov, Ibsen and Shaw. Not counting many journeys with Shakespeare. I interviewed for the Next Generation as a payback for someone on the Paramount lot. I didn't want the job. And I've been here 11 years. So, you never know.

Q: Its gone 3am here in England so i will make this quick....do you have a budget to consider when desighning a new costume????
Richard

BB: Yes I do. Depending on many different things... One, is it a recurring character? Two, how big are the other budgets for the other areas on this episode? Three, and the number that are to be produced. If there is one, or if there is 20, the cost per character is the same. It's just how much they want to come up with.

Q: Why do the Klingons look very differn't in the original startrek than in the the next generation?
Richard

BB: There are many examples of evolution in Star Trek history. The Klingons are an excellent example. They were human-looking villians in OST (Original Star Trek). Then the movies came out and with Robert Fletcher's excellent vision, the Klingons moved to their present state. We have seen that with the Cardassians in TNG, and then into DS9 they evolved.

Q: Do the writers tell you what they "see" as a look for a character or do you come up with everything on your own?
Roger

BB: Occasionally there is a script description. Usually we talk either face to face or telephonically and bounce around visceral responces to the characters. From that, I work.

Q: Have you been introduced to Lursa yet?
Syl and Ben

BB: I just met Lursa. She's a lovely thing.

(www.startrek.com/lursa)

Q: What would you design for Janeway for an off duty recreational/leisure outfit?
Ronda

BB: I have a little more time to think about these things and the civilian/leisure clothing for Starfleet is the hardest thing of all. So when we get there, you'll know. Keep watching.

Q: Do you know of any plans for another Star Trek series? Have you been Costume Designer for any other show?
Rett

BB: Rumors rumors rumors... Everywhere you look. I came to the Paramount lot to do a short-lived sitcom called, "Day by Day." For Gary Goldberg. It lasted two years.

Q: You have done excellent work in the Star Trek universe. I would like to know how it was like to make the costumes for the last episode of all the series you have worked on?
CEEJa

BB: Very good question. The last episodes of TNG and DS9 overlapped with series that weren't going away. So these large episodes were always done in tandem with another show. I know that they are meaningful to all of us, but at the time, the challenge is to just try and do it well... I'm not sure how we do it. "Far Beyond the Stars" and "The Killing Game" were similar experiences. Both created at the same time... with enormous amounts of clothing. All done in one week. I can't tell you how we did it.

Q: What is the most challenging aspect of a wardrobe department?
Jonathan

BB: Just like any office, personalities. To work on the Paramount lot most everyone arrives with great ability. So the challenge is to put creative people together and have them like each other. I'm pretty good at it. I have a great shop.

Q: Okay, so what's the deal w/ the jackets that Capt. Picard and some other sr. staff kept having to pull down all the time?
Jovia

BB: That pulling down is referred to as "The Picard Maneuver". It started actually with the spandex suits. Patrick has a keen sense of close-up. He would grab the middle of his spandex suit as he sat in order to give it a tug so that as he was seated and they were pushing in for a close-up... so he would look picture-perfect. When the uniforms became two piece uniforms for comfort, he just naturally continued. And hence, the Picard Maneuver.

Q: What is on the table for ST:X? I've heard it is going to be a spoof, is this true? Gosh. Where do you get your information? I've heard nothing about ST 10
Mikemacdon

BB: Keep up the good spy work.

Q: Mr. Blackman, I wanted to ask you if you designed Kate Mulgrew's nightgown on Voyager, or, if you bought it from a lingere store. I am trying to find one just like it, but to no avail.
ST FAN

BB: Actually, I can't remember. If we bought it, we mucked around with it. If we made it, we made it. All purchases have our stamp on them.

Q: What do you think of the recent Oscar winners (nominations) for costume?
Roger

BB: I found this year's nominees to be way above average. And truly as a voting member of the Academy could hardly decide.

Q: Hi Bob! Is mobility impaired with some of the more complicated/detailed costumes?
Daniel

BB: Yes. On some. To be honest, mobility as we know it today in our clothing, can never be achieved on Star Trek. Nothing fits loose or is really comfortable. In one way or another, it's all body-conscious. And to all of us who are used to over-sized, hip-hugging, comfortable clothing, this is very foreign.

Q: I just want to know if now after all this time on your job, you consider yourself as a fashion designer of and for the future, and also if you think that the clothes of the future wll look like anything you have made on Star Trek?
Tuvixa

BB: I don't consider myself a fashion designer at all. Present or future. Fashion design is way too hard a job. I think what I do looks great for a theatrical production, which is what Star Trek is. For real life, let's hope not. Too hot. Too uncomfortable. The greatest point that can be made about the actors is that they make all of that stuff seem like its normal. It isn't.

Q: Did you ever meet or work with Bill Theiss?
Broderick

BB: No. I didn't.

Q: How do you handle the actor's perception of their body? Weight gains? Etc.?
MaryMB

BB: It's Hollywood. So the gals have to be on their toes and the guys get away with murder. It's a hard world. I don't agree with that theory.

Q: Hi Bob Blackman! I love all your costumes for all the shows! Are any of them designed for regular street wear that the stars can wear after the shows?
LtLeah

BB: Thank you very much. They wouldn't be caught dead on the street in any of that stuff.

Q: What's your future outlook for ST in general, positive or negative?
RiSuAvE

BB: Positive. It grows, it evolves, it's basis is firm... Gene rules.

Q: what is it like to get up in the morning and know that your work is seen pretty much all over the world?
Krohndohr

BB: Sobering. The moment I realized that in Los Angeles my work is shown sometimes 4-6 times a day on several different networks I just sat down. I'm grateful and I don't think about it much. It would probably get in the way.

Q: How much, on average, do the costumes cost? If you can cite figures here...
Daniel

BB: More than you'd imagine. And I can't cite figures.

Q: If you could go back and redesign the starfleet outfits from the 1960's, what would they be like? Thanks for all the visual pleasure over the years...
avery

BB: Too big a question for so small a time. I can't tell you. I have no idea at this point. It was hard enough doing "Trials and Tribble-ations" just recreating them.

Q: Although costume "design" will always be needed, do you look forward to the day when computer graphics take over make-up, plastics, fittings, needle and thread, etc.?
Roger

BB: By the time they find a way to create computer graphics that actually interact in the way that human beings do, I will be long gone. As in species 8472, you get a lot of bang for your buck but I don't think you can relate to them on an emotional level, other than fear.

Q: is Seven of nines costume as tight as it seems?
Ice_RSQ_10

BB: Yes. The understructure takes about 20 minutes to get into. The jumpsuit another 20.

Q: Come Halloween, do your kids have the best costumes, or what!
Roger

BB: If I had kids, they would.

Q: Did you design Louise Fletcher's "Kai Winn" robe.
LB

BB: You bet. Another actor who was a great pleasure to work with.

Q: Hello, for some time feminist organizations have accused star trek of being sexist on clothes design from the day one. Starting with Uhura and Rand miniskirts and ending up with 7 of 9 cat suite. I'm interested on your take of the matter.
J.B.

BB: As soon as the male populace decides to control their hormones, there won't be a need for this question. There is something to physical attraction on a pure physical level. It is a fantasy. What we do at Star Trek, is create fantasy. It is a complete world and yet completely unreal. Those garments/images that are considered sexist are usually considered without the character that wears them. If we thought for a second that 7 of 9 was flaunting her perfect body, it would be offensive. But she doesn't. She's a highly intelligent scientist. With a bod. It means nothing to her. So...

Q: What do you think of FIDM?
Joeseph

BB: I don't know much about it. I worked with graduates and they seemed quite competent.

Q: I was wondering whether your job is relatively easy, considering the regular crew where the same uniform every week?
Big O

BB: During the season we make 4-6 uniforms for each actor. So although it seems like we do nothing... we do a lot.

Q: What are some of your favorite fabrics or materials to work with?
Captain MM Huber

BB: My favorite fabric is the next new one. One I haven't used before. That I don't know how to use. And that I can play with. Experimentation is everything.

Q: Mr. Blackman, as a costume designer myself, I can imagine that you would have many last-minute crisis on the set - is there one that stands out in your memory? Or did everything usually go very smoothly? BTW, I think your designs are brilliant!
Elyzabeth

BB: I tend to remember the good times. And so I can't pull up a really bad time. They are few and far between. I suppose the biggest crisis is late script, late casting, and no shooting schedule. Sometimes I can remember those weekly.

Q: Who decided that in "Course Oblivion" that B'Elanna should wear a Dress Uniform to get married in?????
Ronda

BB: Starfleet protocol along with Rick Berman decided.

Q: Out the the captains you've had to dress,which is the least pretentious and most fun to work with?
ReneeinMT

BB: The great thing about the Captains is that they're all classically trained. And from theatre. Where we learn to appreciate our collaborators. They're all peachy.

Q: When establishing costumes, do you work closely with the make up artists to come up with a "standard" alien/character?
Daniel

BB: For the most part Mike Westmore (genius) and I talk about the size of the prostetic neck and that's it. Never enough time. We are creating in the same timeframe. As he draws, I draw. And so on. No time to check for anything other than, will the garment go around the neck?

Q: do you find it annoying that people you've never met know stuff about you (likes; dislikes; etc.) while you know nothing about them?
Eagleynne

BB: As long as I don't know... no.

Q: What are you wearing right now? :)
Mike

BB: It's hot in Los Angeles. I'm wearing navy blue shorts and a grey quasi-polo shirt.

Q: Are any of the actors beginning to dread wearing your "creations"?
Captain Christina

BB: After a certain period of time, if you got up every day and put on the same thing and had to wear it for 12 - 14 hours a day you'd probably dread it too. They all remain patient.

Q: How was Q's judge costume made? Was it hot for the actor to wear? Where did you get the necklace? Also, what did you do if either of the actresses playing the Borg Queen had to use the restroom?
fan from Austin, TX

BB: Q's judge outfit and necklace were rented by Bill Theiss. The Borg Queens are encouraged not to drink. Or eat. All else failing, we stop and take them out of it. Not an easy chore. But we are humane.

Q: When you were doing DS9 and Voyager at the same time was it hard to keep them seperate? "Oops Voyager can contact Starfleet to get a new uniforn specs." or "this species in the gamma quadrant can't wear the same style as that delta quadrant species because
Dottkomm

BB: Exactly that. Voyager is lost in space. No contact with DS9. Just one pesky admiral. So yeah, it was easy to keep them separated. Essentially, I think of each alien individually and work really hard to not repeat myself. I'm not always successful. It's amazing what the subliminal mind can do.

Q: is your job more work or fun ? (it sounds cool!)
'sup?

BB: From a creative point of view it's the best job in television. From a scheduling point of view usually not much fun. For anyone. But I work with really great people. So we make fun.

Q: Will we ever see Seven ditch the cat suit completely for a Starfleet uniform?
PJ

BB: Probably not. I know there is a precedent with Deanna Troi, but I feel for now that the regeneration suit is here to stay.

Q: Can we make Seven Of Nine a little sexier?
Jim

BB: No. It would be completely inappropriate for her character.

Q: What material is seven of nines costume?
Ice_RSQ_10

BB: It is made out of a 4 way stretch lycra with a metallic thread that runs through. We buy it off-white and dye it.

Q: Does Paramount allow actors and guest actors to keep their uniforms?
LB

BB: No.

Q: What is the most unusal thing we will see a Voyager cast member in this season?
Ronda

BB: Don't know yet. We've only done 6 episodes so far.

Q: When "Star Trek: Generations" was made, you had designed some new uniforms for the movies that wound up on the Playmates Toys action figures for the movie. Why did those uniforms not show up in the movie?
Stanley

BB: The original costumes for Generations were to be a further development of the Starfleet uniform. The idea was good, on paper. In real life, not very practical. Also, in trying to accomodate many requests, I ended up sabotaging the design itself. So wisely, they were cut from the movie in the 11th hour. And Playmate's lead time is about six weeks before we started shooting.

Q: Are the actors allowed to wear their own undergarments or do you design those as well?
PJ

BB: Good question. We actually have undergarments made for both men and women in Starfleet uniforms. It is part of the reason that they look so good. We have what I refer to as industrial strength bras made in Texas. And underbriefs for the men, purchased here in town.

Q: Was it fun designing Janeway's Arachnia costume, and how did Kate feel about wearing it?
ReneeinMT

BB: All of the Capt. Proton outfits were fun. It was fun to do Kate's dress and she liked it. I think she had fun wearing it.

Q: Hi, I was just wondering how much spare time you get and what you do during that time?
Kim

BB: Spare time... I spend as much time as possible with my significant other. I like to garden and go to swap meets. Movies are fun.... Anything other than Star Trek. And on-line chats. LOL.

Thank you very much, Bob, for taking the time to chat with us today. We're all looking forward to the upcoming season of Star Trek: Voyager.

BB: Thanks for having me. Keep watching and buy everything they advertise.

Thanks a lot. - Bob.