Where do you draw the line for a Prop to be a Prop?

[Grey]

It's common knowledge that different people have different idea's about what a hobby is about, I just want to get that out of the way so I don't offend anyone unintentionaly.

I see alot of regular day items that get featured in a movie and suddenly become a 'prop'. Like for instance, someone uses a Colt .45 in an action movie, and someone starts selling a resin Colt .45 calling it a prop from the film. I never really understood this. Regular items like a phone or a camera or something that has been around for months/years before the movie, but once the item is featured in the movie some people start calling it a prop.

For me, a prop is an item that only exsists within the world of the movie/game/book it origionated from. Maybe I "just don't get it", I don't really know.

 

[PHArchivist]

The film industry definition is anything that is not nailed down to the set.

So what about set pieces (or pieces of sets), prosthetics, costume items, etcetera?

I suppose to be semantically accurate, our forum should be the "Replica Tangible-Film-Memborablia-Used-In-Production-And-Seen-On-Screen Forum"

 

[Lear60man]

RTFMUIPASOSF Forum now!

 

[Grey]

The film industry definition is anything that is not nailed down to the set.

So what about set pieces (or pieces of sets), prosthetics, costume items, etcetera?

I suppose to be semantically accurate, our forum should be the "Replica Tangible-Film-Memborablia-Used-In-Production-And-Seen-On-Screen Forum"

My only gripe is with items that are just everyday household use items that somehow seem to be worth alot of money/super special because it was featured in a movie. I just dont get that same feeling from an item that has always been tangible, opposed to something that only exsists within the realm of the film.

 

[Mercury]

I personally draw the line at something that was used in a movie or show that is unique to said movie or show. A .45 doesn't qualify unless it's modified or custom to the media it's 1st seen in and is only seen in said media. The only exceptions would be limited crossover, as something unique made for movie "a" is used in movie "b" but not in every movie that features a generic weapon. If that makes any sense.:lol

 

[silverskyes402]

I agree, for instance I wouldent consiter a regular firearm to be a prop unless it was made specificaly for the production like the guns modified for Romeo and Juliet

 

[p0sitr0nic]

For me, a PROP is something modified, or made specifically for a movie or show. I dont consider the picture frame on the nightstand to be "prop" persay, its just set dressing.

 

[division 6]

A number of off the shelf "props" I have I had for some time before noticing them on movies or TV shows.

Case in point some flatware I got at Cost Plus Imports because it was interesting, turns out years later I notice it was used in 2001 than later in episodes of ST Voyager.

I have a back pack I bought for my Endor Commando costume that it turns out was used in JP3 same with a hat my mom picked up for me years ago that I just noticed a few weeks ago was also used in JP3 both by the same character.

None of which was intentionally purchased because of these movies.

Normally props I collect or make are custom or modified items.

D6

 

[Banzai88]

True. I bought a lamp that later was used in The Truman Show travel ageny. Same for a set of china; the cup and saucers were used in Spiderman when Norman Osborn got fired from Oscorp. My everyday dishes were the same used on Mad About You. But I don't consider these props.

 

[Lear60man]

I consider a prop to be an item that is found, or created, that evokes a certain connection with a movie. Picture frame, Colt .45, R2-D2 doesn't matter as long as it takes me back to that moment on film.

 

[Zombie Killer]

Depends on the item too me. I have a Siberian Husky but i don't consider her a Snow Dogs 1:1 prop.(although everyone else seems to) I have real guns that were in movies and i don't consider them props either but i do consider my Microtorch (used in SW) a prop. It is an of the shelf (at one time), unmodified item but i still consider it a SW prop. I guess the items general rarity comes into play somewhat also , but then again items like sunglasses (ie Terminator) where they are an important or memorable part of a movie are also props to me no matter how many were made.

 

[Tan Djarka]

Clearly, and by definition, a "prop" (short for "property") is anything used in a film that is neither costume nor set dressing. But I don't think that's the real issue.

The question is: What is genuinely worthy of replication or acclaim?

Joe Blowe's wallet and badge from the cop adventure "Cup-o-Joe"? The stapler from the corporate comedy "Clerical: The Movie!"? I think not.

It should be something thoroughly unique, like the custom made knife for Stallone's "Cobra". Or so iconic it's forever associated with the film it's in, like a laser sword from that French (?) movie, "La Guerre Des Etoilles" (I think it was released in Germany as "Kriege der Sterne").

 

[Zombie_61]

I have to agree there has to be something unique about any given item that connects it to a specific production before I consider it a prop. A Colt .45 is just a Colt .45 regardless of how many films or television shows that particular model has been featured in; modify it in some way and put it in Han Solo's holster in Star Wars VII, and it's a prop. IMO the same is true of "off the shelf" costume/wardrobe items; for example, you might own the same type of Cowichan Pendleton sweater that Jeff Bridges wore in The Big Lebowski, and fans would certainly identify it with the film, but unless it's the exact sweater he wore in the film it's still just a sweater.

 

[p0sitr0nic]

uhm, exkuthe me, I believe you have my thtapler?

That stapler is a prop. Because it was part of the plot.

And because Swingline after that movie came out, THEN created a red version because it was so sought after.

 

[CB2001]

Something from what I learned from my directing class, the portion dealing with script supervising:

Anything that shows up in a scene is set dressing. Basically, if you see a cup sitting on a table, it's set dressing. If you see a picture hanging on the wall, it's set dressing. If you see a wrench sitting on a work table nearby a character or in the background, it's set dressing. If the character never interacts with the items mentioned, it remains set dressing.

The moment the character interacts with that object is the moment it is classified as a prop. If that character picks up the cup sitting on the table, it becomes a prop. If they touch the picture on the wall to adjust it or move it, it becomes a prop. If that character picks up the wrench, it becomes a prop.

This is how a script supervisor sees an item that becomes a prop.

 

[Lost in Trek]

I consider a prop to be an item that is found, or created, that evokes a certain connection with a movie. Picture frame, Colt .45, R2-D2 doesn't matter as long as it takes me back to that moment on film.

I agree 100%.

 

[PHArchivist]

RTFMUIPASOSF Forum now!

Rock on!

 

[micdavis]

"A rose by any other name...."

 

[racprops]

OK What if you were given a Colt 45, a peacemaker...

And you got all the docs proving it was used by John Wayne in "True Grit"?

Prop or not??

It is stock no mods but it is Fraking John Wayne's Gun...

I feel if you can show it is from a film or TV show it is then a prop.

If it is just a Colt 45 bought in a gun store, it is just a gun.

My $.02 cents worth.

Rich

 

[micdavis]

My point was, does it really matter what it's called?

I think the point of the thread is not what it's called but is it worth collecting or replicating.

In Rich's example you would clearly be in the world of GUN collecting, rather than Props. But it certainly would be both.

What is "worthy" of collecting is ceratinly utterly subjective.

I don't have anything from the new Galactica, first because the show is a travesty, second because the props are just too close to real world looking things that I find completely boring.