Dear SteamU Students,
I am delighted to present you with a weekend edition of SteamU. This weekend, I am featuring an article by Michele Brennen who is the producer of a new Steampunk film, Love, The Invention. You can learn more about the film, currently in production, at the film webpage: Love, The Invention. Today, SteamU Professor Michele Brennen will discuss creating props for a Steampunk film. I am delighted to have Michele stop by and excited to share this post with you! Grab your popcorn!
Steampunk Props in Film
Working
as a producer keeps us on our toes. Working closely with the director and other
producers, we see the film from first ideas to final submissions in film
festivals and the like. So with
that said, not only do I structure and organize the overall planning of the film,
but I like to work creatively “side-by-side” with the Director.
Right
now I am working on a film called “Love, the Invention” or LTI for short.
It is a romantic, sci-fi short film set in the 1900s featuring an inventor who evolves
into a bitter recluse after the death of his wife. He creates a music box that
harnesses the power of their love with which he is trying to bring her back to
life. Not in a Frankenstein-ish way or anything; he is simply trying to make
the music box run again, since it only works when they are together.
The
props are very key to this film as it revolves around a self-made music box.
The inventions have brass, wood, gears and steam-punk-like fun stuff all over
the place.
Below we see the guts of the music box that was crafted by our magical Art Director, Dave Hvisdos. This invention has to run on the energy of love therefore, it has to have moving partials.
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| Photo taken by Amanda Sauvé
We were having problems with this prop and since our Director of Photography, Steve Szolcsanyi is a man of many talents, we were able to get it up and running on a powered motor using a volume control knob. The volume control knob too was giving them issues as you can see and was later rectified by Steve. While filming, the music box was then operated by our Props Master.
If you love
“Easter Eggs” then check out our next prop:
This is Terry the Turtle. He was purchased by Dave and can be found throughout the movie in most scenes. I think Dave was trying to get him into every scene possible.
Another important prop that helps an actor to bring out his/her character is called a hand prop. Below you will see a pair of spectacles that are actually from the 1900s. These were donated temporarily by my boyfriend’s mother, an antique collector. Her great grandmother had worn them. All glasses from that era were coed. The elderly version of our Inventor—played by Peter Higginson—had used these glasses to portray his character’s forlorn and stressed attitude while working on his inventions. 
Photo taken by Michelle Brennen
Photo taken by Michelle Brennen
Another
prop that I will be discussing could also be known as a set decoration. Set decorations—or
“set dec”—are various large items/furnishings that make up the room (i.e. bed,
couch, paintings). This particular woodcarving art peace is hung on the wall
next to our actress Victoria Murdoch who is portraying Tulip. I like this piece
because it shows off the dramatic lighting/shadows of the scene.
 
Last but
not least, I’d like to talk about prop photos. They are used to create a
back-story for characters in film. They allow the audience to feel as though
these characters are real people with real families and lives. Below you will
find a prop photo of the inventor’s late wife Audrey played by Christina Aceto.
 
Our Set
Photographer, Amanda Sauvé had taken this outside at our exterior location.
Now, most wedding photo’s in the 1900s were taken indoors with family but we
thought that since this character is “modern”—and running short on time—we
decided to take the photo outdoors. The wedding dress is a 1900s Victorian style,
which was freely loaned to us.
Overall,
you can see how props are very important in a film. They can help to bring out
the character in an actor. They can create an inside joke for the audience to
hunt. They can help to show off the artistic quality of the film and create
backstories for the characters. They can also be just plain, well, awesometastic!
If you are interested in
watching the outcome of Love, the Invention or want to know more please visit
our website at www.lovetheinvention.com.
About Michele Brennen:
Michelle Brennen is a film and television producer based in Toronto, Canada. Her focus is on drama, sci-fi and children's programming. In every project, she combines her unique style, formal training and organized management system to ensure that everything is completed at a quality level on time and within budget. Please visit her website at www.mbrennen.com or find her on Google+.
 ~Class Dismissed! |
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