Pittsburgh Arts, Regional Theatre, New Work, Producing, Copyright, Labor Unions,
New Products, Coping Skills, J-O-Bs...
Theatre industry news, University & School of Drama Announcements, plus occasional course support for
Carnegie Mellon School of Drama Faculty, Staff, Students, and Alumni.
Prop Agenda: While in New York City this summer, I got word from the Santa Fe Opera that they needed an extra props carpenter for a few weeks. Though I had a lot of editing on my book to do, I jumped at the chance to head out there.
This chair looks fabulous! I saw the first snapshot picture and a caption, clicked on it, and didn't expect the finished product, I was just expecting to see how it was made. The structure itself is/ has to be sturdy, with all of the moulding, but the end throne looks like cast metal, so detailed and heavy, blunt in appearance. It doesn't even seem like a prop, it looks like a stage fixture, and rightfully so, if actors are meant to crawl all over it. I would be more interested to see the paint processes/ treatments that transformed this throne so greatly- otherwise, job well done!
This is a true work of mastery. Some would perhaps find this unexpected coming from a props shop, thinking it may belong more to a scene shop because of the intense craftsmanship. I must say that I myself learned through this article what detail props masters can achieve in their job. The chair looks to be as thick and solid as diorite and I greatly commend the artisan for his work.
I have tried to build just a straight cornered throne-esque chair. I know how hard it is. This is absolute craftery.I am impressed at the curvature of the back; I know he said it in the article, but I know from experience how difficult that is. I'm not sure if labeling it as a prop is entirely correct, but only from the prop shop can one obtain that sort of detail!
These are the kinds of projects that carpenters [prop or otherwise] dream about. If I could find work like this on a consistent basis, I'd have a long, fulfilling and HAPPY career as a props carp. Tables, chairs and other furniture that can't be "faked" like a lot of other scenery tends to be in our world are replete with joinery and construction techniques we don't use regularly in scenery construction.
But...does this chair really look like stone? I'm not sure it does. Sure, it's painted to look like granite or some other kind of similar stone; but I'm not sure the texture and bedazzled jewels added completely communicates "stone" here. But without seeing other elements on stage at the same time or seeing research photos or designer sketches, it's difficult for me to be too hard on this piece when only going off his blog's description of "it had to look like stone."
It's superb craftsmanship, regardless if I don't see it as stonework.
Wow! That throne is impressive. I can only imagine all of the time and patience that it took to make it. It's great to see this coming from a prop shop...people often don't give props people enough credit! This piece is a great example of a single piece that can be used to make a powerful statement if you don't have the budget for a more fully realized set. While I was reading this article I kept thinking, theatre is so great! Who else has a job this cool?
2That sounds like such a challenging but fun project. Thats one of my favorite parts about technical theater is making something out of a bunch of different things that normally would never go together (like lace and wood) and creating an entirely new thing. I thought that was great that they actually made textured panels to add on to the chair instead of just painting it to give it the appearance of texture. I also enjoyed getting to see the entire process of making the chair and not just the first and last step. That helped me realize how important it is for me to be taking pictures like that of my own work and why others will want to see my process and not just the finished work.
6 comments:
This chair looks fabulous! I saw the first snapshot picture and a caption, clicked on it, and didn't expect the finished product, I was just expecting to see how it was made. The structure itself is/ has to be sturdy, with all of the moulding, but the end throne looks like cast metal, so detailed and heavy, blunt in appearance. It doesn't even seem like a prop, it looks like a stage fixture, and rightfully so, if actors are meant to crawl all over it. I would be more interested to see the paint processes/ treatments that transformed this throne so greatly- otherwise, job well done!
This is a true work of mastery. Some would perhaps find this unexpected coming from a props shop, thinking it may belong more to a scene shop because of the intense craftsmanship. I must say that I myself learned through this article what detail props masters can achieve in their job. The chair looks to be as thick and solid as diorite and I greatly commend the artisan for his work.
I have tried to build just a straight cornered throne-esque chair. I know how hard it is. This is absolute craftery.I am impressed at the curvature of the back; I know he said it in the article, but I know from experience how difficult that is. I'm not sure if labeling it as a prop is entirely correct, but only from the prop shop can one obtain that sort of detail!
These are the kinds of projects that carpenters [prop or otherwise] dream about. If I could find work like this on a consistent basis, I'd have a long, fulfilling and HAPPY career as a props carp. Tables, chairs and other furniture that can't be "faked" like a lot of other scenery tends to be in our world are replete with joinery and construction techniques we don't use regularly in scenery construction.
But...does this chair really look like stone? I'm not sure it does. Sure, it's painted to look like granite or some other kind of similar stone; but I'm not sure the texture and bedazzled jewels added completely communicates "stone" here. But without seeing other elements on stage at the same time or seeing research photos or designer sketches, it's difficult for me to be too hard on this piece when only going off his blog's description of "it had to look like stone."
It's superb craftsmanship, regardless if I don't see it as stonework.
Wow! That throne is impressive. I can only imagine all of the time and patience that it took to make it. It's great to see this coming from a prop shop...people often don't give props people enough credit! This piece is a great example of a single piece that can be used to make a powerful statement if you don't have the budget for a more fully realized set. While I was reading this article I kept thinking, theatre is so great! Who else has a job this cool?
2That sounds like such a challenging but fun project. Thats one of my favorite parts about technical theater is making something out of a bunch of different things that normally would never go together (like lace and wood) and creating an entirely new thing. I thought that was great that they actually made textured panels to add on to the chair instead of just painting it to give it the appearance of texture. I also enjoyed getting to see the entire process of making the chair and not just the first and last step. That helped me realize how important it is for me to be taking pictures like that of my own work and why others will want to see my process and not just the finished work.
Post a Comment