What is a master of properties?

A property owner is the person in charge of property, equipment, and sundries needed to produce plays, television shows, or movies. These items, commonly known as props, generally include all physical aspects of the set that are touched by the actors, except for costumes and weapons, which are generally the responsibility of the costume designer and weapons master, respectively. Items that are not touched by the actors are normally called decorative decoration.

Before production begins, the property owner typically meets with the production staff to determine what accessories are needed. He regularly consults with the production designer, set decorator, cameramen, director and script supervisor to assess their specific needs. The group often brainstorms which props are most appropriate for different scenes.

During this initial meeting, you typically make a list of necessary accessories. Props generally fall into one of four categories, typically including set, cutout, hand, and food. This list is usually broken down into smaller lists, indicating which accessories are in stock and which must be created from scratch, require purchase, or can be borrowed. A thorough examination of the existing accessory inventory normally follows to confirm the condition and availability of the items needed.

If items are loaned, the property owner is generally expected to keep accurate records of the transaction and promptly return the loaned goods. In the event that an accessory needs to be manufactured or purchased from a retail store, the property owner deducts the cost from their production budget. Any purchase that exceeds your budget generally must be approved in advance by the producer.

As rehearsals for production progress, the property manager is regularly on hand to determine the feasibility of fixtures. If she notices, for example, that a certain prop is too big for an actor's hand or too small for the audience to see clearly, her job is to replace it with an appropriate size. In general, she is expected to examine each accessory to make sure it adds to the quality and continuity of the production, and the actors feel comfortable with it.

A property teacher position does not normally require any specific level of education. Many property teachers have high school, college, or community theater backgrounds in production or set design. Complete classes in theater, television, or film production are generally desirable for property teacher job applicants. The ability to work with diverse personalities and the willingness to work long and irregular hours are considered assets for applicants for this position.

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