Good documentaries for prop making.

TMNT Fan

New Member
I've been watching stuff on Youtube, but I figured there would be some good ideas on here from people who have watched more than I have. What are some good documentaries to watch on prop making, building, costuming, makeup, etc...
 
Not specifically about props (More about special and creature effects) but take a look at Nightmare Factory on Netflix. It's really interesting.

-Nick
 
Face Off, the syfy reality/competition show, does a very good job focusing on the professional creative and skilled sculpting / painting side of movie makeups and prosthetics.
 
Fon Davis' DVD
Amazon.com: Introduction to Professional Model Making with Fon Davis: Fon Davis: Movies & TV

just about anything from Stan Winston School
https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/tutorials

this is quite long and slow but very thourough
http://www.amazon.com/Movie-Animatr...&qid=1395170129&sr=1-27&keywords=animatronics

these are probably out of print, but if you can find them (there were about 10 "episodes") they do have some behind the scenes stuff if not actual instruction
http://www.amazon.com/Movie-Video-M...=1395170309&sr=1-1&keywords=FX+movie+magazine
index of their issues
http://www.moviefxmedia.com/Back_Issues.html
 
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The Special Extended Lord of The Rings DVDs have hours and hours of content from the WETA team

I have to second this! Although those documentaries don't go too much into the details of the fabrication itself, they give a great idea of what is possible in costuming, prop building and even stage building and they show some nice, creative workarounds to more or elss common problems the WETA guys came up with (e.g. creating chainmail from rubber tubing)!
 
The old "Movie FX" video magazines were very cool. You can still find them on Ebay.

-Rylo
 
I've been watching stuff on Youtube, but I figured there would be some good ideas on here from people who have watched more than I have. What are some good documentaries to watch on prop making, building, costuming, makeup, etc...

I've been also watching Youtube as well. Not sure if you checked out Volpin's or Bill Doran's channel (Volpin Props and Punished Props),but I've founds both of their stuff informative.

I also would like to find out about some more Youtube Channels that are out there that I could check out for inspiration and information.
 
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Quick off the top of my head list. I may come up with more later.

Neil Gorton has a great 4 part series called Creating Character Prosthetics In Silicone.

For Youtube...

Brick In The Yard
Smooth On
Adam Savage on Tested - One Day Builds

Regular tv/cable...

Face Off
I'm hoping Jim Henson's Creature Shop (starts March 25)
Heroes of Cosplay

My favorite - The Making of The Dark Crystal

If you're looking for a step by step process, then Neil Gorton, Brick In The Yard, and Smooth On are your best bets. Adam has a great way of explaining the thought process involved of making things while being entertaining and making cool stuff- check out the beaver episode! If you're looking for entertainment value, than any of the others.
 
The Ben Heck Show is weird to watch. It's like cobbling parts together, with enough shop equipment that shouldn't require cobbling....That and it's an ad for element14.
 
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