Good news, everyone! I’ve been talking with Focal Press for the past several months, and yesterday, I found out that my book was approved. It is tentatively titled The Prop Building Guidebook: For Theatre, Film and TV. What’s it going to be about? I am going to lay out all the “whys” of prop building I’ve developed over the years to help you build your own props. Don’t worry; it’s going to be heavy on the “hows” as well. Everything from carpentry and metalwork, to fabric and upholstery, molding and casting, and painting too. It will be the first guide to building props that will feature color pictures. We’re living in the future now!
The Prop Building Guidebook will hit the bookshelves in February, 2013. I know, it feels like a long way off. I will also be developing a companion website and some short videos to complement the book which may debut slightly ahead of then. Until then, you’ll have to continue getting your prop fix from this blog.
So don’t worry about this blog. The world of props is a vast world indeed, and I will continue covering all the news and information here that won’t fit in my book. Some exciting things are on the horizon; the third annual NYC Props Summit is scheduled for August 26th (drop me a line if you are interested in attending). I’ve recently begun interviewing props people, and will post those in a few weeks when I get through transcribing them (transcribing video takes a long time, apparently).
So keep on reading! There’s a world of prop-portunities out there!
What a day brightener! Congratulations from all of us at The Public Theater Properties Shop. We all would like to tell you how proud we are of you.
I have just finished my first “props” experience – “The Petrified Forest”. “Sure”, I said, “I’ll help with props!” 8 weeks, 13 characters, live ammo (blanks, although bullets might have come in handy at times!), weapons, real food and blood-packs later, I’m exhausted – and grateful to this blog for continual encouragement and links to the wonderful world of props. Now, if only I had a workshop!
I look forward to the book. I’ve been having a go at prop work outside of the theatre world and, boy, it’s not easy. I’ve a small prop making tips section in the website blog where I share some of my experiences here in Australia.
Glad to see this is happening. I, too, have been frustrated with books and online tutorials that are text- and/or illustration-heavy (though I am guilty of this, as well… it’s just hard to photograph your progress while in the thick of things). This is especially irritating for molding and casting, which I have been dying to do for a few years, but am afraid of investing in the wrong materials and tools, due to a lack of very good tutorials on the subject.
I make props at home for costumes, but I’d love to make them for film or theatre. If only I didn’t have to wait until 2013 for your book 😀 but I’ll be digging through your blog archives for tips until then.