Saturday, November 28, 2009
How do I make a…?
Props: "It’s the question faced by the props artisan on a daily basis. Whether you work in theatre, television, or film, you will be asked to build an infinite variety of objects for an infinite variety of uses. Props are found in many other places as well, such as advertising, photography shoots, commercial displays and exhibitions. You may also wish to build props for your own personal uses, such as holiday decoration or hobbies. Whatever your reason, you are reading this because you want to know how to build anything and everything."
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9 comments:
The most impressive thing about prop masters is that there is no magical equation for making anything and everything. Each item needs to be considered fully before its made/the materials are purchased. Prop masters need to know so much about so many different things. It's amazing.
Prop people are always some of the most interesting people to meet because they come in so many different personalities and have completely different tool sets. Someone like Norm, has a tool set so large that it is hard to describe just what he can do...having not worked with Jon at all, it is hard to tell just what he can do. There are so many things that someone needs to know, that it is difficult to be able to do everything. It seems like it is best to have a grasp of many different trades. There may also be someone who is skilled in something specific and that is what they specialize in.
I really like that props people come from such different backgrounds. But i think sometimes they don't get the credit they deserve. They must really be a master of all trades, and figure out when to use what material and how and why. I like that the article pointed out that they why often has to do with comfort. sometimes we look at something and ask, why would they do it that way? and the answer is, because that's what was available or because that's what she knows. Its always interesting to know the thought process behind constructions.
I think that is the beauty of props - the fact that there really isn't any textbook way of doing anything. In another life i'd love to be a props master - but the one element that I think I'm missing is a greater understanding for materials and the structural properties of what is needed to create anything.
Being a prop master is probably one of the jobs that requires the most diverse set of skills. They are required to be both a jack of all trades and a master of... all trades...
There is no "right" way to do anything. And even if the thing you want to use exists, it usually comes to the prop master to retro-fit it or completely re-make it.
Beyond that, the sheer number of different materials and tools that they must be able to use and manipulate is obscene.
I think that props is one of the safest remaining jobs for true craftspeople. Skills that were once common, before manufacturing became so automated (and even when humans are used, they're expected to follow simple instruction, not think about their work) have started to disappear. There are continually shrinking numbers of fine carpenters, machinists, or fabricators who take a project, not process, based approach to their work. Props people will forever be solving problems that are too complex to get reduced to a simple set of rules. All sorts of unusual variables emerge that must be optimized for because of the unusual applications of much of their work. Although certainly some process-work will (and has) become automated with things like 3D plastic printing and CNC tools, I feel that the bandsaw's place in the prop shop is pretty solid. Hopefully this odd niche will help keep alive some of the skills that are rapidly dying out.
I love props people and the craft that goes into it. I have such an appreciation for the people who have the patience and know-how to do it. I have an interest in props making, and I enjoy the craft and process of figuring out to make something out of nothing, but I fear that if I were to do it for a living I would grow old and grumpy very quickly.
For HT$, Josh, Ethan and I made over ten typewriters for the show, based off of the one we had. Trying to buy ten identical ones would be extremely pricey and hard to do, so making them was an easier and cheaper option. Using a vacuform machine, some paint, wood, and stickers, ours turned out pretty good, considering the time crunch, something also I don't think many people consider when dealing with props people. Kudos for props people getting more positive attention--too many times people have conflicts with the props department for their inability to perform magic and make objects appear instantly on props tables backstage. Although, they do come close.
The people who do props are some of the most strangely talented and most interesting people I have met. They know how to build things, where to buy things, and how to make something look and feel like something else. It is a true art. Good props people are very hard to come by, because they are usually already employed! And considering the amount of work they need to produce in such short amounts of time and the type of crap they deal with daily from directors and designers, it's a wonder that there are any left smiling these days.
The best part about propping is going to Home Depot and asking for help when your question stats out, "Ok... I know you don't have this, but I need something I can turn into this and it has to look like this, but not actually do that." You get one of two responses, the blank stare or "I know exactly what you need." It is just a fun challenge. I tip my hat to good props artisans. They are some of the most clever and inventive people.
It is extremely difficult to do a show without a good props artisan. I am so happy to have Jon Ward. He is fantastic, talented and enthusiastic. It is very hard to find a props artisan with all three. We are so lucky. This is never a job I would want to do myself. Unfortunately, they are some of the most abused people in our industry. Yet, they pull it out almost every time. Props to them...
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