Why ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic Biopic Required a ‘Very Toned Down’ Approach to 1980s Fashion

thewrap.com:

This story about the costume design of “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” first appeared in the Limited Series/Movies issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.Roku’s “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” is far from a true story—yet even within a zany universe in which Madonna is captured by Pablo Escobar, you still have to be true to the time period.

And if your subject, one of the most beloved parodists of all time, is also a writer and producer on the project, you’ve got to nail the details. “Al wanted it to feel really normal and natural and not too pumped up,” “Weird” costume designer Wendy Benbrook said. “He didn’t want it to be over-the-top.

The actors could do that on their own.”But on a fairly modest budget, how do you create the looks of dozens of actors, like Jack Black as Wolfman Jack, Quinta Brunson as Oprah Winfrey, Conan O’Brien as Andy Warhol and, in an inspired casting choice, Evan Rachel Wood channeling the aforementioned Madonna as Yankovic’s fictitious paramour?“I am a master of down and dirty and quick,” Benbrook said. “I’ve never had this much research in my life.

I’m really good at being over-the-top, but I’m also very good at toning it down. And I do feel like the fashion in this was very toned down.”Benbrook knows comedy, having worked as a costume designer on both “MADtv” and FXX’s “You’re the Worst.” Director Eric Appel tapped her to join “Weird” after crossing paths early on at Funny or Die.