Prop Research

Now that I have done the Location Research I am now going to take you through the Prop Research. Prop's need to be considered in advance so we know what we are going to need for each scene. Prop's are very important when filming as prop's can represent a character in a certain way depending on how you want to portray someone.

Drama Studio - Drama Rehearsal

We will be using no prop's in this scene. All that will be in this scene is Alex and Stacey, there will only be dialogue in this scene. We are only using dialogue to build up tension as we don't know what will happen in the scene next. There will be a chair and Alex's hoodie in the scene, however, no one will be using the chair or the hoodie. The chair, therefore, will just be part of the mise-en-scene and the hoodie will be part of the mise-en-scene as well until he puts the hoodie on and then it will be part of his costume.

Following Stacey Home

In this part of our opening the only prop that will be in this scene is the phone that Alex will be using. This prop will be used to create tension as we will not know what he is doing on his phone or who he is talking to. We don't know if he is planning for someone to "take care" of Stacey or if it just an innocent text to one of his friends.

Film example - Phone Prop

The film example I have used is Taken when Bryan is on the phone to his daughter when she is being kidnapped. This creates tension as we don't know what is happening on the other end of the phone call. This is the same kind of tension we want to create in our thriller Never Look Back.

Here is the scene from Taken with the phone call between Bryan and his daughter.



Drama Studio - Kidnapping Scene

In this scene the prop's that we will be using are either pieces of cloth or rope in order to tie Alex the the chair when Stacey has kidnapped him. This is used to create tension. It will make the audience watching think that Stacey isn't going to let Alex go.

Film Example - Rope

In this film there is a scene where the man kidnaps the woman and has tied her to the chair using rope this is the same tension we hope to create in our thriller Never Look Back.

The next prop in this scene we will be using is a gag. Alex will be wearing this when Stacey kidnaps him. This will create tension as Alex will not be able to speak or say anything this makes us think what Stacey is going to do to him next.

Film Example - Gag

Here is an example of a gag being used in the film absence.

The next prop in the film is the keys. Stacey will have her keys with her when she is walking into her house.

The next prop in the film will be a bat or a glass beer bottle. This is when Alex is waiting for Stacey but then suddenly gets knocked out by someone.

Film Example - Pirates of the Caribbean Curse of the Black Pearl

In this clip you will need to skip to 4.05 to see Jack Sparrow being hit over the head with a glass bottle. 

Official Prop's List

In my next post I will be talking about storyboard research that we have had to do in order to create a storyboard of our own.