Look back at John's original sketches of The Mariner. One pair of pants features definite vertical lines and stripes that emphasize longer legs. We found this style most suited Kevin and that's what we went for- the hero look. But how to incorporate such psychologically heroic lines without being obvious about it? So started the research and development phase. Just using stripes alone inadvertently made The Mariner's pants look like Austin Powers' fab gear. No, the stripes had to be more undulating, like the water, rippling from narrow to wide and back to narrow while pulling a line from the rear of the hip to the front of the leg making a graceful subtle psychological S curve. Not bad, eh?

Although the lines look arbitrary they are all carefully shaped and placed for best effect. Cut from thin mahi-mahi hide, the stripes were sewn onto a base of matte jumbo spandex. We further accented some parts of the stripes with sinew hand-stitching and finished them up with hand-painted shading overall. A lot of work. A LOT of work.

Photo 6, shows my production pattern detailing every one of the 40 individual pieces of mahi-mahi, each one numbered and notated left leg or right, and their positions. To make two dozen multiples of this garment I cut more than 900 matching pieces of mahi-mahi, one at a time, out of a stack of hides on my table. All for Kevin.

Also, at the same time, and for the duration of a year, I made the costumes for Dennis Hopper, Jeanne Tripplehom and all other principles as well as extras. I earned my bucket of oats on that movie.

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