Helmets: Prop or costume?

[spcglider@aol.com]

Okay, Tom... the fact that you KNOW there are Batman porn sites is disturbing to begin with.

-G

 

[Cpl Potter]

if you look at my sig the colonial marine helmet is a costume because i have a full costume the jd helmet and boba are props because that's all i have

 

[jarvis]

I've had conversations about this too. My idea of the definitions of the words stems from its use in the film. Costume to me is anything that can be worn. Props are anything that has a function that's independent of the costume. So if you have a helmet, that you display as a prop, it would by that definition still be considered a costume piece, even though it was probably constructed by the prop dept. and not the costume dept. A gun would then be a prop, but what if it's connected to a characters arm!? semantics

 

[lmgill]

Given you are using movie/ entertainment terms here. Technically in the film industry, a helmet, back pack, jewelry, watches, rings, police belts are all Props. Thus these items are maintained and handled by the prop department. This is not a hard and fast rule, but it is how it is traditionally handled.

 

[rmschneider104]

Prop gets my vote.

 

[Wickerness]

Prop or costume.... In the movie business or in theater if it's not ever touched then it's just set decoration. So it could be classified as something other than the first two, but I would say that if it was just worn and not fiddled with then it would be costume. By fiddled with I mean that say the character in the story is fixing the comms in the helmet or something. When it becomes part of the plot then it's a prop.


Of course I would say if you're just displaying the helmet and not the rest of the costume (like the Stormtrooper armor for example). I could see labeling it prop, but if you're showing it off with the armor then I would say it was part of a costume. Heck when the Ewoks were using them as drums then they were definitely props then.

 

[spcglider@aol.com]

My whole intention here was to try to come to a "forum consensus" about how we refer to these things HERE. The whole question came about when I was considering which forum to post to about the Buck Rogers Starfighter helmet. I won't be wearing it, so I guess it'll be a prop.

I wasn't really looking for a hard and fast ruling, but more what folks in general thought about where such things should be posted since it's a gray area.

However, I am often reminded that a helmet is really just a glorified hat... which is costuming no matter what angle you look at it. I am reminded of this by my relatives who have a very shallow grasp of the subject. "Aren't you done with that star wars hat yet?"

-Gordon

 

[SithLord]

It would all be studio property, but there are separate costume and props departments. I agree that a helmet by itself can be referred to as a prop but technically I guess it is a costume piece. A lightsaber is definitely a prop added to a costume. The prop department I suppose would work on the helmet for the costume...so that lends some credence to it being called a prop, at least here...

 

[dcarty]

My whole intention here was to try to come to a "forum consensus" about how we refer to these things HERE. "

-Gordon

I vote Prop. If we're dissecting the finer characteristics of the Vader helmets, or construction/painting techniques for whichever project helmet I would prefer to look in the Prop Forum. If I need to know what kinds of fabric to use for a Dr Who suit or the finer points of the Indiana Jones jackets obviously it's the costume forum.

My $.02

 

[madrobot]

Okay, Tom... the fact that you KNOW there are Batman porn sites is disturbing to begin with.

-G

Disturbing? You're the one who told me about Elf-Porn.

I've come to realize that if you can think it up, it's out there on the internet somewhere.

 

[SurferGeek]

Costume... pure and simple. It's just that if it's a popular item it seems to get tossed into the Prop section. Similar to the models that get posted here.

 

[SithLord]

Good grief! Batman porn? Elf porn? Star Wars porn? :lol

 

[SaberFreak]

A helmet is a 'costume piece', pure and simple. :thumbsup

 

[Darth Lars]

I wouldn't mind a rule that would force all helmet-threads to be in the Costuming Forum, only to keep things organized.
Right now, if you want to read up on a costume, you would have to search for information in both forums. I don't think that it should have to matter if the helmet would ever be worn or not.
We are discussing rules for an Internet discussion board, not scientists debating how to be classify the "natural order of helmets" (if there ever was such a thing).

Another thing that nags me is when people start threads (most often in the prop forum ... ) with non-descriptive titles such as "My new ANH chest box.", or "How to paint my new bucket?". As if everyone on this board were concerned only with Darth Vader's helmet, for instance, or only with Stormtroopers ... or whatever. Write what it is! sheesh.