Props.

The word “prop” is short for “property”, referring to an object or piece of scenery used by the actor in the scene. They help enhance the drama and help actors do their jobs. More specifically, they can be invaluable components in the overall story, and even become a major symbol to the film itself. They also convey the time and place of the narrative. When it comes to filming or watching a film, props play a vital part as it can tell you a lot about the characters even when the character’s information/background is withheld. Along with the costumes, it can even serve as a form of identification. (e.g. Harry Potter’s wand or Mary Poppins’ umbrella, both serve as permanent extensions of the character and neither figure would be the same without them).  The props add to the scenery (mise-en-scene) and define the characters’ personality well.

Because our film trailer is a Crime & Gangster, the main typical prop would be a gun or any other weapons. An actor would feel more like a gangster when he/she has a weapon in his/her hands as they will serve as tools for the actor to get the feel for their role and to set the mood of the film.

With this knowledge, the group and I have settled on the props that will be used and have created a prop list. This prop list will help us to become more organised and act as a gentle reminder so we know what we need to bring with us for filming. Although it is a fairly long list, it does not necessarily mean we will use all of them as it is just there to give us some ideas.

Here is our prop list:

Video Camera
Digital Camera
Tripod
Costumes; fedora hat, dinner suit, tie, sunglasses, smart shoes
weapons; guns, knives, shovel
toothpicks
envelopes
matches
cigarettes/cigars
mug shot cards
pack of cards
money