It is the prop master’s greatest challenge: whether to throw away a prop or not. When we clean and reorganize our stock, we find a number of “iffy” items and questionable furniture pieces. After we close a show, we have a whole truckload filled with items we need to find storage space for, even when we suspect we will never use them again.
Thankfully, Lisa Bledsoe put together this handy flowchart to determine which props to keep and which to toss. Lisa and I worked together at the Triad Stage props shop a few years back, and she did a phenomenal job reorganizing and thinning our stock.
When the Actors Are Students, and They’re Armed – In this climate of daily school shootings, how do high school theater departments deal with plays and musicals that feature guns? The New York Times is on it. They showcase a number of schools who take different approaches; some use abstract props to represent the guns, while others use as realistic a prop as possible. As a prop master, you need to be in on the conversation early whenever your production will include firearms.
Adding Smoke F/X to Toys Using E-Cigarettes – Make Magazine rounds up some tutorials on using e-cigarettes to add smoke effects to toys (or props). Remember, if you are working on an Equity show, there are guidelines on how much smoke you can use, and the levels need to be tested. There are a few brands you can use without the need for testing, but they cannot be hacked or modified.
The Society of Properties Artisan Managers is proud to announce the recipients of their fourth annual Edie Whitsett and Jen Trieloff Memorial Grants.
Congratulations to Danielle Wermedal, winner of the Jenn Trieloff Grant, and Kayla Carroll, winner of the Edie Whitsett Grant.
These grants are awarded to individuals wanting financial assistance with transportation, housing or other necessities during an internship in theatrical properties. You can find out more about these grants and other resources at the S*P*A*M website. You can also “like” their Facebook page to stay up to date with news and announcements.
2018 Edie Whitsett Grant recipient: Kayla Carroll
Kayla Carroll
Kayla Carroll is a graduate of the University of Indianapolis where she received her Bachelor of Science in Theatrical Production and Design. During her time at the University she worked as Properties Designer for a total of ten productions including Eurydice, Urinetown, Out of Order, and Frankenstein. Her designs for King Lear and Move Over Mrs. Markham! each received a Certificate of Merit from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Before graduating she was able to complete an internship in the properties department of the Indiana Repertory Theatre where she worked with S*P*A*M member Geoffrey Ehrendreich. This July she will be joining the Professional Training Company at the Actors Theatre of Louisville where she will be an apprentice under S*P*A*M member Mark Walston. You can find her resume and examples of her work at https://kladcarroll.wixsite.com/kladdesigns.
2018 Jen Trieloff Grant recipient: Danielle Wermedal
Danielle Wermedal
Dani Wermedal is a proud alumna of State University Theatre, Prairie Repertory Theatre, and a graduate of South Dakota State University with a BS in Theatre. While with SUT and PRT she prop mastered shows such as Monty Python’s Spamalot, Shrek the Musical, and A Year with Frog and Toad. She is from Volga, SD, and is currently preparing to move cross country in August to be Hartford Stage’s next Properties Apprentice for the 2018-2019 season under the guidance of S*P*A*M member Erin Keller. She is honored to be the recipient of the 2018 S*P*A*M Jen Trieloff Memorial Grant and can’t wait to further her experience and education in the world of props. You can find examples of her work and resume at http://wermedalprops.weebly.com.
How Heisler Became TV’s Most Popular Fake Beer -Â Studio Graphics, the in-house graphics team at Independent Studio Services, offers a number of fake brands for sale and rent. Since the 1990s, “Heisler” has become one of their most popular brands, and has appeared in more TV shows and films than you can count.
A Janitor Preserves the Seized Belongings of Migrants – Tom Kiefer is a Customs and Border Protection janitor, and several years ago he began saving the confiscated items from migrants at the Mexico border and arranging them into a beautiful series of photos. Props is all about using objects to tell a story about people, and these objects help tell a story about a people that are often forgotten or politicized for reprehensible reasons.
Making Your Own D&D Miniatures – Make Magazine has collected a few videos showing how to make your own miniature figurines and sculptures for playing the game “Dungeons and Dragons.”
What Robert Downey Jr does before each Avengers movie – and hidden secrets behind Marvel’s props – Russell Bobbitt, the head of props for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, continues to be in the news with this latest interview. Find out more about these iconic props from the ubiquitous comic book films, such as how he had a real blacksmith craft an Infinity Gauntlet for Josh Brolin to wear during production.
Russell Bobbitt – The Dash Podcast interviews Russell Bobbitt, who is in charge of the props for the entire Marvel Universe. I’ve posted plenty of articles about Russell on this blog before, but it’s great to hear him talk about his work in a much more relaxed setting.
Silk Flowers and Papier Mache Hearts – Speaking of podcasts, our very own podcast on props just published its sixth episode. Check out the interviews and episodes we already have up, and subscribe so you don’t miss any future episodes!
The Practical FX of Pacific Rim: Uprising – Check out this in-depth look at various practical effects on the latest Pacific Rim film. They sculpt a giant kaiju brain among other things. The suits of armor are pretty boss also.
Making and finding props for theatre, film, and hobbies
