Jonathan Neill  made this time-lapse video where he sculpts a cosplay helmet in just over two minutes. Watch as he takes a lump of water-based clay and transforms it into a piece that resembles machined metal.
Baby Iron Man
I hope everyone enjoyed the nineteen interviews I’ve posted over the last month. Thanks to Ron DeMarco’s class at Emerson for taking the time to do that, and allowing me to post all of them. If you haven’t read them yet, they are a great cross-section of how prop masters get where they are, and are filled with wonderful advice on how to build your own career.
Even though I was running these interviews for awhile, you may have still seen my name out there in the internet. I made a little video showing an Iron Man mask I constructed for my baby this past Halloween.
It went a little viral. I ended up on TV a few times, interviewed by Right This Minute, my local Fox news channel, and WFMY. I was also interviewed over the phone by Huffington Post, the Today Show, and HLN. And then I watched the story get picked up on Buzzfeed, E! Online, US Weekly, CNet, as well as trending on Facebook and appearing on the Yahoo! Front Page, and appearing on news sites all over the world in all different languages.
Thankfully, all that has died back down again. The mask was a pretty simple build. As the video states, I found the pattern online and scaled it down. I assembled it in paper first to check the fit and make some modifications ( I left the back and sides off so it would just sit on top of his head rather than act as a full mask). The actual piece was built out of EVA foam, aka “fun” or “craft” foam. It is the same material I built some of the puppets out of for Snow Queen, which we are currently remounting at Triad Stage.
Collier is still in the hospital, but getting better. He wishes all of you a Happy Thanksgiving!
Interview with Jolene Obertin
The following is one of several interviews conducted by students of Ron DeMarco’s properties class at Emerson College.
Jolene Obertin
by Michelle Slivinski
Jolene Obertin didn’t always see herself going into the profession of props. She originally attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in hopes of studying medicine, but she found herself unhappy dealing with such a high course load of science classes in order to fulfill her degree requirements. She often found herself walking through the Fine Arts building to and from different places on campus and grew to love the building and its creative atmosphere. She had previously been involved in theatre in her high school but took it as an elective again in college and loved it. Continue reading Interview with Jolene Obertin
Interview with Eric Hart
The following is one of several interviews conducted by students of Ron DeMarco’s properties class at Emerson College.
A Man of Many Hats: The Story of Eric Hart
by Junior Johnson
In Greensboro, North Carolina, within the Triad Stage theatre, a tireless artist can be found scavenging for materials to create some of the most meticulous and detail-oriented props, which have been featured in countless shows, operas, and productions all across the nation. That artist’s name is Eric Hart, a props master and artisan. Only in his thirties, Eric has an extensive and diverse résumé that reflects the amount of passion, drive, and professionalism which Eric has for his props. With the determination to succeed, Eric has gained the respect and attention of his colleagues and other people within the theatre community. Continue reading Interview with Eric Hart
Interview with Nancy Wagner
The following is one of several interviews conducted by students of Ron DeMarco’s properties class at Emerson College.
Nancy Wagner
by Rachael Dahl
When asked what she wanted to do when she grew up Nancy would always answer, “I don’t know… I just want to MAKE things.” But I had no idea where I would go to just make things… odd things… things that may have never existed before or were GREAT BIG GIANT THINGS or littleteenytinythings. Or fairy-tale things, or…” Nancy Wagner would describe herself as a textile freak! While she is not technically a props master she considers herself an artisan in the props world. Continue reading Interview with Nancy Wagner