How Movie Props Are Made | Movies Insider Marathon

Insider
23 Jun 202285:28
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script delves into the intricate world of prop making in the film industry, highlighting the creativity and problem-solving skills required to bring movies to life. From the specially engineered breakaway glass that allows actors to perform dramatic stunts safely to the noiseless paper bags and pool balls that maintain audio integrity on set, the video showcases the ingenious methods employed by prop masters. It explores the use of materials like silicone for creating convincing yet safe ice cubes and the meticulous crafting of fake food items that can withstand the closest of camera shots. The script also uncovers the stories behind the creation of prop money, the challenges of making fake IDs, and the artistry involved in designing costumes that evolve throughout a film. Additionally, it features the work of a blacksmith who forges real swords for影视剧, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and functionality in prop design. This behind-the-scenes look at prop making reveals the dedication and expertise that contribute to the cinematic experience.

Takeaways
  • 🎬 Breakaway glass in movies is made with weak molecular bonds to shatter easily and safely on camera.
  • 🤫 Silent props, like noiseless paper bags, are used to prevent everyday objects from creating unwanted sound distractions during filming.
  • 🏒 Modified pool balls and other props are used to reduce noise; for instance, racquetballs were used in 'Friday Night Lights' to soften the sound of pool games.
  • 🎭 Actors may use real props when the camera is on their face, but switch to fake ones for practical reasons, like playing pool without affecting the sound.
  • 🧊 Fake ice cubes made from silicone are used in place of real ice to prevent noise and maintain continuity, as they don't melt.
  • 🍹 Props like drinks and food items are carefully designed to avoid unwanted sounds, with materials like silicone used to mimic the look of noisy items like plastic.
  • 🌹 Transparent vinyl is used to replicate the look of cellophane on flower bouquets without the noise, showcasing the attention to detail prop masters use to avoid auditory distractions.
  • 🍽️ Everyday objects like plates, mugs, and vases can be made to break safely for film scenes, using materials like rubber or foam to mimic the look of real breakable items.
  • 🧪 The creation of fake food items involves techniques like molding, painting, and using various materials to replicate the appearance and texture of real food.
  • 🦟 Edible props that mimic non-edible items, such as虫子 (bugs) and血液 (blood), are crafted from food ingredients to look and act like the real thing for scenes requiring consumption.
  • 🪦 Dapper Cadaver, a prop house, specializes in creating realistic fake bodies and body parts for TV and movies, using materials like polyfoam and silicone for detail and flexibility.
Q & A
  • What is the purpose of using breakaway glass in movies?

    -Breakaway glass is specially engineered prop glass made with weak molecular bonds so that it shatters easily and spectacularly on camera, allowing for safe stunts involving glass.

  • How do prop makers create noiseless paper bags for movies?

    -Noiseless paper bags are created by prop maker Tim Schultz, who innovated a way to silence everyday paper bags that would otherwise be distractingly loud. The bags are modified by adding weight, such as spraying them with a mix of water and glycerin, or by using a fibrous non-woven fabric similar to that of coffee filters.

  • What is the difference between standard grade and high-grade prop money?

    -Standard grade prop money looks real from a distance but is clearly fake upon close inspection, often with the addition of 'For Motion Picture Use Only' and other noticeable alterations. High-grade prop money is identical to real money but is printed on only one side to prevent it from being confused with real currency.

  • Why do movies and TV shows use fake vomit?

    -Fake vomit is used in movies and TV shows to create realistic vomiting scenes without the use of real, potentially hazardous materials. It is made from various substances like potato leek and split pea soup, or top ramen mixed with tomato paste and frozen berries.

  • How do food stylists ensure food looks fresh on screen?

    -Food stylists use various techniques to ensure food looks fresh, such as spraying potatoes with cooking spray, using a mixture of water and oil on egg yolks, and lightly misting apples with water. They also may use edible substitutes that maintain their appearance under heat or over time, like oatmeal mixed with cocoa powder to mimic meat.

  • What is the process of creating a transforming wedding dress for a movie like 'Ready or Not'?

    -The costume designer, Avery Plewis, created 24 complex, ever-evolving dresses for the movie 'Ready or Not'. The dresses symbolized the lead character's journey, going through five stages of transformation. Each stage required multiple versions of the dress to accommodate different takes and actions, such as tearing, staining, and blood-soaked looks.

  • What is the significance of the recurring use of Morley cigarettes in movies and TV shows?

    -Morley cigarettes are a fictional brand that has been used in films, television shows, and video games for over 60 years. They are used as a replacement for real brands to avoid legal issues, product association concerns, and to maintain an air of authenticity without endorsing a real tobacco product.

  • How do prop makers create convincing fake IDs for movies and TV shows?

    -Prop makers use a combination of graphic design, embossing, lamination, and sometimes even old-school techniques like letterpress printing to create convincing fake IDs. They ensure the IDs look real on screen but make deliberate alterations to avoid legal issues.

  • Why are real swords used in movies and TV shows instead of plastic or rubber ones?

    -Real swords are used for their authenticity and to provide actors with a tactile feedback that is essential for believable performances. High-definition video requires the use of authentic-looking swords, and the actors' interactions with real swords contribute to more realistic and engaging action scenes.

  • What is the role of a blacksmith in creating swords for movies?

    -A blacksmith, like Tony Swat, creates real metal swords for movies and TV shows. They work closely with the production team to design swords that are historically accurate and suitable for the film's setting. The blacksmith forges, grinds, heat treats, and polishes the swords to ensure they are both safe for use in stunts and authentic in appearance.

  • How do prop makers handle the creation of passports and other IDs for period films?

    -For period films, prop makers like Ross McDonald use historical references to recreate IDs accurately. They may digitally clear out existing information from a scanned image of an old ID, recreate the background pattern, and then add new material. They also use old-school techniques like letterpress printing to replicate the look of old printing tools.

Outlines
00:00
🎬 The Magic of Movie Props: Breakaway Glass and Silent Bags

This paragraph delves into the world of specialized movie props, focusing on breakaway glass and silent paper bags. Breakaway glass is designed with weak molecular bonds for safe and dramatic shattering on camera. Silent props, like noiseless paper bags, are created to avoid unwanted sound distractions during filming. The innovation of silent paper bags by prop maker Tim Schultz is highlighted, along with other creative solutions for everyday objects that need to be quiet on set, such as pool balls swapped for racquetballs and modified bags treated with water and glycerin.

05:01
🍹 The Art of Fake Foods and Edible Props in Film

This section explores the use of fake food and edible props in the movie industry. Fake food props are used when real food isn't practical, such as when it needs to remain fresh over multiple takes or if it's required in large quantities. Fake food artists like Lisa Friedman and Brenda Chapman specialize in creating realistic yet non-perishable food items. Edible props are also discussed, where food stylists transform common ingredients into convincing and safe stand-ins for less appetizing items, such as using seaweed and chili threads to create edible cockroach legs and antennae.

10:03
💥 Special Effects: Creating Realistic Injuries and Breakable Props

The creation of breakable props and special effects for movies and TV shows is the focus of this paragraph. New Rule Effects, a company specializing in breakaway props, is featured, showing how they make objects like glass bottles and furniture that break safely on set. The process involves creating molds of the real objects and using materials like resin to produce lightweight, easily breakable replicas. The paragraph also covers the use of different materials for more substantial breakaway effects, like car crashes, and the use of rubber glass shards and pyrotechnic devices for added realism.

15:05
🖼️ Crafting Convincing Fake Art for the Screen

This paragraph discusses the process of creating fake art and props for movies and TV shows. Prop houses like ISS Props face the challenge of making prop money that looks real on camera but isn't so realistic that it could be mistaken for legal tender. The industry uses two types of prop money: standard grade bills for long shots and high-grade bills, identical to real money but printed on one side only, for close-ups. The paragraph also recounts a real-life incident from the movie 'Rush Hour 2' where prop money was too realistic, leading to a legal dispute with the US Secret Service.

20:06
🤮 The Science Behind Fake Vomit and Other Disgusting Effects

This section focuses on the creation of fake vomit and other special effects for movies and TV. Special effects artist Mike Myers from NYSPFX demonstrates how to make different types of vomit using ingredients like peas, water, tomato paste, and berries. The呕吐 (vomiting) effect requires a combination of texture and color to be convincing. The paragraph also covers the use of pressure pots and tubes to simulate the act of vomiting, with the actor's performance being crucial to selling the effect on screen.

25:07
🍽️ The Role of a Food Stylist in Hollywood Films

The importance of food stylists in Hollywood is highlighted in this paragraph. Food stylists are responsible for preparing food that not only looks appealing on camera but also maintains its freshness throughout long shooting days. The paragraph gives an example from the movie 'Midsommar', where the food stylist had to deal with challenges like preventing egg yolks from drying out and changing color under the hot sun. Creative solutions, such as using edible spheres made of orange and mango, were employed to keep the food looking fresh and authentic.

30:08
👗 The Transformation of a Wedding Dress in 'Ready or Not'

This paragraph tells the story behind the design of the transformative wedding dress in the movie 'Ready or Not'. Costume designer Avery Plewes created 24 evolving dresses to symbolize the lead character's journey from a happy wedding day to a brutal and bloody end. The dresses went through five stages of transformation, each with multiple versions to accommodate different takes and actions in the film. The paragraph details the materials and design choices, such as using tulle for easy ripping and lace for the visual impact of bloodstains.

35:11
🚬 The Ubiquitous Morley Cigarettes in Pop Culture

The prevalence of Morley cigarettes, a fictional brand, in movies and TV shows is explored in this paragraph. Morleys, created by Earl Hayes Press, have been used in films like 'Psycho' and TV shows like 'The Twilight Zone' and 'Seinfeld'. The paragraph discusses the historical context of tobacco advertising in media and how the Master Settlement Agreement led to a resurgence in the use of fake brands like Morley. The paragraph also touches on the legal and creative reasons for using fictional brands in place of real ones.

40:12
🆔 The Art of Crafting Convincing Fake IDs for Film

This section delves into the process of making fake IDs for movies and TV shows. Prop makers must create IDs that look real without crossing legal boundaries. Techniques include using 2D holograms, altering the layout of documents, and even creating entire typefaces based on period fonts. The paragraph also discusses the use of real materials and printing methods, such as letterpress, to replicate the look and feel of historical IDs accurately.

45:13
⚔️ Forging Authentic Swords for the Silver Screen

The paragraph showcases the work of Tony Swatton, a blacksmith who creates real swords for use in films and TV shows. Unlike rubber or plastic props, real metal swords provide authenticity and a tactile feedback for actors. Tony discusses the process of designing swords in collaboration with production teams, making multiple versions of each sword for different types of shots, and the materials used, from steel and aluminum to industrial band saw blades. His work includes forging swords for 'Pirates of the Caribbean', 'The Legend of Zorro', and 'Blade'.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Breakaway Glass
Breakaway glass is a type of prop glass designed with weak molecular bonds that allows it to shatter easily and safely on impact, which is crucial for stunts in movies. It is an essential element in creating realistic yet safe action scenes, as demonstrated in the video with actors jumping and punching through windows.
💡Silent Props
Silent props are everyday objects that have been modified to make less noise than their real-life counterparts. They are used in filmmaking to prevent unwanted sounds from disrupting the dialogue or overall audio of a scene. In the video, examples include noiseless paper bags and modified pool balls that are quieter than the real ones.
💡Fake Food
Fake food is used in movies and TV shows when real food isn't practical or possible. It can be made from various materials to match the appearance and sometimes even the texture of real food. The video discusses how fake food artists create these props, which can be used for scenes where food doesn't need to be edible but must look convincing on camera.
💡Edible Props
Edible props are items that not only look like certain objects but are also safe to eat and often have to mimic the texture and taste of what they represent. They are used in scenes where characters are expected to consume the道具 (props). The video showcases how food stylists create items like edible 'cockroach' made from dates and seaweed, which must be convincing enough to be eaten on camera.
💡Costume Design
Costume design involves creating the visual appearance of characters through their clothing. It is a blend of creativity and technical logistics, requiring an understanding of the narrative and the characters' journeys. In the video, the costume designer for 'Ready or Not' discusses how the wedding dress evolves throughout the film, reflecting the main character's experiences and symbolizing her transformation.
💡Special Effects (SFX)
Special effects (SFX) are techniques used to create illusions or sensations in movies that are not achievable through normal filming. The video covers various SFX, including the creation of fake vomit for a scene, which involves a mixture of ingredients like peas, water, and tomato paste to simulate the appearance and texture of vomit.
💡Prop Money
Prop money is fake currency used in film and television to represent real money without the risk of using actual cash. The video explains the different grades of prop money, from standard grade for long shots to high-grade bills that are identical to real money but printed on one side only. It also discusses the legal issues surrounding the use of prop money.
💡Breakable Props
Breakable props are items specifically made to be damaged or destroyed during a scene. They are engineered for safety and to perform according to the script's requirements. The video features the creation of breakable props like glass bottles and bricks, which are made from materials like resin and are designed to break easily yet safely during stunts.
💡Food Styling
Food styling is the art of preparing and arranging food to look appealing and fresh on camera. It involves solving problems like keeping food from drying out or changing color under lights. The video provides examples from the film 'Midsommar', where the food stylist used ingredients like oatmeal and mango to create dishes that could withstand long shooting days.
💡Fake IDs
Fake IDs in the context of film and television are props that resemble official identification documents but are created for the purpose of a scene. The video describes how prop makers go about designing these IDs to look convincing on screen while avoiding legal issues, such as by altering certain details or using 2D holograms instead of 3D.
💡Swordsmithing for Film
Swordsmithing for film involves creating authentic-looking and feeling swords for use as props in movies and TV shows. The video features a blacksmith who makes real metal swords, including steel and aluminum versions, for actors to use in scenes. These swords are not only visually authentic but also provide the necessary tactile feedback for actors during fight scenes.
Highlights

Specially engineered prop glass, known as breakaway glass, is designed with weak molecular bonds for easy and safe shattering on camera.

Noiseless props, such as paper bags and pool balls, are created for scenes requiring silence, using materials like racquetballs and non-woven fabric.

Innovative prop maker Tim Schultz developed silent paper bags by spraying them with a mix of water and glycerin to add weight and dampen sound.

Scott Reader, a property master, used primer and glossy spray to make racquetballs look like real pool balls for a quieter impact in 'Friday Night Lights'.

Real objects like glass bottles are transformed into breakaway props using molds and resin plastic for safety and realistic shattering.

For large breakaway window effects, smaller panes glued together in a balsa wood frame are used to simulate the impact of a character punching through.

Food stylists create edible props that look like inedible items, such as fake blood made from cran cherry and pomegranate juice, and edible chicken guts from bean curd.

Fake vomit, or 'puke', for movies is crafted from various ingredients like peas, water, and tomato paste to achieve the desired texture and appearance.

High-grade prop money is identical to real money but printed on only one side to prevent confusion and legal issues.

Earl Hayes Press, a prop house, supplies the widely used fictional Morley cigarettes to Hollywood productions.

The costume designer for 'Ready or Not' created 24 evolving dresses to symbolize the lead character's journey throughout the film.

Tony Swatton, a real blacksmith, forges authentic swords for films and TV, ensuring they look and feel real for a more authentic on-screen combat.

Food stylists use tricks like cooking spray on potatoes and water-oil mixtures to keep dishes looking fresh under harsh filming conditions.

The transformation of Grace's wedding dress in 'Ready or Not' was achieved through five stages, each with multiple versions for continuity and damage.

Prop IDs are carefully designed to look real without legal repercussions, using techniques like embossing and altering details to avoid copyright issues.

The use of fake brands like Morley cigarettes in media is a legal and creative workaround to the restrictions on tobacco advertising.

The authenticity of props, such as swords and IDs, is crucial for character development and audience immersion in films and TV shows.

Transcripts
Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating: