Tag Archives: Michele Sammarco

Interviews

Interview with Michele Sammarco

1 Comment

The following is one of several interviews conducted by students of Ron DeMarco’s properties class at Emerson College.

It’s Not All Crafts and Games Here: Prop Master Michele Sammarco

By Alta Lewis Millard

Michele Sammarco
Michele Sammarco

In the city of Princeton New Jersey, most would expect to find many-a bright young college student from the esteemed Ivy League school, and they probably would. However, this historic town is also the home of the Tony Award-winning theatre company, the McCarter Theatre Center. Michele Sammarco, the props master at the McCarter, has been there for almost seventeen seasons. Continue reading Interview with Michele Sammarco →

Useful Sites

Friday Fun Time

2 Comments

Chicago PD prop master Jim Zemansky talks props in this video, particularly the use of replica guns and blank-firing weapons. If you pay attention, you will see one crew member using what looks like a paintball gun off-camera during gun battle scenes; it appears he is shooting it to simulate bullets hitting around the actors. I found that interesting.

I’ve been following this build of a life-size ED-209 from Robocop for the past couple months, and it is finally finished. Here are all the parts in Make Magazine’s series which followed Shawn Thorsson as he built this massive robotic replica. Also check out Tested’s short video which looks at the final piece when it debuted at Maker Faire.

Princeton Magazine talks with TD Chris Nelson and prop master Michele Sammarco of McCarter Theatre about a recent production designed by Eugene Lee. There are some great little tidbits in this piece, such as Michele’s quote that “actors don’t like squishy chairs”.

Not all screws are the same. Popular Woodworking Magazine tests several types of screws on the market to show how they act when driven into hardwood. Personally, I know drywall screws should only be used for drywall, but I still use them. I’m usually working with cheap materials anyway; if I am doing fine furniture out of hardwood, I don’t use screws at all (brad nails all the way).