Private Agents of SHIELD Set Tour, Ann Foley, Chloe Bennet

For those following Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. you already know what an exciting second season it has been. From Hydra, to the “real” S.H.I.E.L.D, to alien ruins, etc. the team has been tossed about every which way. My family and I have seen every episode to date and know pretty much all of the characters, anxiously awaiting new revelations to be hinted at each week. Imagine how giddy I was to actually tour the actual Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD set!

Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD Set Tour

What was surprising was how the whole underground (used to be) SSR base is one big set. Through brick-lined (not real I think) hallways, we visited the recreation area, the kitchen, the laboratory with tons of tech toys, the dungeon (where Ward was kept), and more. We even got to see Lola in the back of “the bus” and hang out in the Quinjet. The amount of detail was impressive. Some areas were under disrepair, though, as shooting for the season was almost complete and were going taken down.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Costume Designer, Ann Foley

Our group also spent some time with series costume designer, Ann Foley. She pointed out the vision boards used for each character.

FOLEY: These are ideas that I had at the beginning of last season that I used to show the producers, and even the cast, of where we were going with each one of them, so that we could create six really strong identifiable characters.

What I found interesting was how the styles have changed as the story progresses.

As most of you guys know, there was a big progression in the cast from season one towards the end and the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. We went a little darker and everybody grew up. So season two, it was a little darker, a little edgier. It was kind of a nice change.

We were then taken into the back area with the characters’ “permanent closets” from season one and part of season two. Mockingbird’s custom-made coat was there as were Hunter’s leather jackets. While some clothes are bought outside, a good amount is make in a workshop right on set.

Remember that gorgeous dress Melinda May wore with dazzling silver sequins? It was made here, all five versions of it – one beautiful dress, one with stretch fabric for fighting, one for each of the two stunt doubles, and one for Agent 33. Tiny sequins were all over the studio. Also, did you know that they even printed the fabric here to make all of Raina’s flower dresses?

Costume plays a huge role in bringing these comic book characters to life.

FOLEY: I always go to the source material, because I think it’s important. I mean, these are established characters in the Marvel Comic Universe and I want to respect that. So, but at the same time, it’s about bringing them into our world and making it believable for the world of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. So, it’s always a little bit of a balance.

It’s not always so bad shopping and dressing other people.

FOLEY: Sometimes it makes me laugh. Last season, when Coulson and May went undercover as Fitzsimmons was probably the best fittings I’ve ever had in my life. Elizabeth has a very specific way of standing in her fittings and Ming did that in the fitting photos for the cast. You could hear her laughing across the studio. It was wonderful. It was really fun.

Watch Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Tonight!

The excitement of Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD is not yet over. The build up to next week’s finale is getting good so make sure you don’t miss tonight’s episode. We were able to watch Chloe Bennet filming part of a scene and, in between takes, she let us come say, “Hi.” I thanked her for representing the (half) Asian population as my daughter is part of it. After giving me a high five, she asked to see a photo of Munchkin but we couldn’t have our phones on. Still, I thought what she said was very cute.

BENNET: I love Hapas (mixed ethnicity, usually involving Asian descent)! Give that Hapa baby a kiss for me!

“Scars” – Skye is torn between her loyalty to S.H.I.E.L.D. and her connection to the Inhumans as tensions rise between the groups — and Coulson reveals a secret he’s been hiding from even those closest to him, on “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” TUESDAY, MAY 5 (9:00-10:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

• MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. website: http://abc.go.com/shows/marvels-agents-of-shield
• Like on Facebook: Facebook.com/AgentsofSHIELD
• Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AgentsofSHIELD (#AgentsofSHIELD & #ABCTVEvent)
• Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.com/agentsofshield/

I was invited on an all-expense paid media trip as a guest of Disney and Marvel in honor of the Avengers Age of Ultron movie. All opinions are my own.

See more:
Marvel’s Avengers Event | Avengers 2: Age of Ultron | Monsters University Event | Frozen Event | Big Hero 6 Event | D23 Expo 2015