Editor's Note: People have been asking for a bit more detail into the Carver short film project, so I'll be trying to shed as much light into the endeavor through some blog posts over the next few weeks. If you have more specific questions or suggestions for blog entries, feel free to tell me in the comments below.

The character of, Francis Carver has been an ongoing presence in my life for almost three years now. What started off as a one off story, has grown into a fully conceived character and universe, one that myself and a team of close friends have been working towards bringing to life in a short film for the past six months. Its been an interesting challenge to find costuming that embodies the character and the era. Francis is an early 20th century adventurer, who's inspiration lies in Indiana Jones, Ernest Hemingway, and the European comic book character, Corto Maltese among others. Not only would his costuming need to be era specific, it would also have to be representative of his lifestyle. I was having a hard time trying to find pieces that not only fit the period, but on a base level, my size. Most people were not 6 feet tall and 220 pounds in 1923. In fact, they were about 70 pounds lighter, and five inches shorter.

Enter Filson.

I found out about Filson only this year, but since then, I haven't been able to stop talking about it. Filson has been in business since 1897, opening in Seattle as "C.C. Filson's Pioneer Alaska Clothing and Blanket Manufacturers", to provide gear and clothing for those adventurous souls heading north to the Yukon. Since then, Filson has been manufacturing superior outdoor gear to almost the same exact standards. You can read more about the history of this amazing company on their site here, but long story short, their stuff is tough as nails. Their clothing is guaranteed for LIFE! I can't even comprehend that. In an era when you hope to get a couple of years out a pair of Levi's, this company is making clothing that is passed down from generations. Bottom line is, a character like, Francis wouldn't wear anything other than the best, and you know what Filson's motto is on all of their tags? "Might As Well Have The Best". BOOM.

My costume at its core is made up of a pair of Filson's Single Oiled Tincloth pants, and a Filson Moleskin vest. The Single Tins are one of the oldest products in Filson's line up. They're still made with buttons for braces on the belt line, and additionally come unhemmed. They're waxed and in turn water repellent. I have crawled through snow, rolled through the mud and laid in dirt, and nothing can scratch these things. They're bullet proof...actually, they may stop a bullet. I wouldn't be surprised. Just do yourself a favor and look at their site.

Their products are not cheap, but that's the whole point. There isn't anything that's cheap about them. You're paying a price that is on par with the quality of the product. Unlike designer clothing, who's prices are based on name recognition in many cases, Filson stands on quality. Plus, I'm not going to lie, it makes you feel like tough. Almost like you have a layer of armor on and in some ways, you do. Whether its logging in the Northwest, digging for gold in the Yukon, or squaring off with albino assassins in Paris, Filson has the right gear for the job.

SIGNALS

COSTUMING; Filson and Carver