Props Till You Drop III

Are you interested in prop making for the film, TV, theatre, window display and live event industries? Get to grips with some of the challenges you might encounter as a prop maker, from creatively interpreting a client's brief, working to a budget and meeting deadlines. Learn to problem solve and apply a range of techniques to bring a 3D design concept to fruition, getting a real insight into the prop making industry and its challenges.

What is the course about?
The prop making industry revolves around problem solving, working to a brief, teamwork and delivering on time. This comprehensive course will introduce you to the challenges of being a prop maker and working to such specifications. The course is based on a series of hypothetical client’s briefs which can be answered both individually and collaboratively. You will develop ideas and explore a range of relevant materials and techniques to produce concepts successfully in three dimensions. This is an exciting, challenging, and creative course where you will be interpreting and realising briefs and working to deadlines. You will be introduced to progression routes for further study and/or potential employment. This is a great addition to your CV if you are starting out in prop making, as it focuses on working to a brief and realising a product. Teamwork and collaboration are vital skills needed for working in the prop making industry and this course enables you to gain this experience.

What will we cover?
Working to given briefs you will explore and experiment in the following disciplines:
- Contextual research and design development.
- Drawing and designing skills.
- Working with and understanding scale.
- Realisation of ideas and concepts in three dimensions.
- Developing relevant skills appropriate to your design ideas, including sculpting in various clays, carpentry, life casting, mould making and casting, polystyrene and styrofoam carving, and fabrication of a variety of materials.
- Appropriate use of paint effects and finishes.
- An opportunity to work in collaboration with other students.
- Working to a deadline, planning and realisation.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Understand and interpret a prop making brief.
- Understand the design process and relevance of research.
- Design and develop a concept into three dimensions according to the brief.
- Analyse, plan and select appropriate techniques and processes to initiate a required 3D outcome.
- Identify the demands and advantages of working collaboratively.
- Sculpt objects in various clays and/or polymers.
- Carve basic or more advanced forms in polystyrene or Styrofoam.
- Make moulds and cast in appropriate materials.
- Understand the concept of life casting and make at least one cast.
- Understand the concept of fabrication and manipulation of various materials.
- Use paint effects, finishes and experiments effectively to achieve required results.
- Identify areas within the prop making industry that might use your specific area of expertise.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is open to all levels—from complete beginners with no prior experience to those who have previously taken prop making courses.

Please note that you can join any of City Lit’s prop making courses in any order. Props 1, Props 2, and Props 3 are not sequential; each course explores different materials and processes, and tutors tailor content to individual student interests.

Feel free to enrol in whichever Props course best suits your schedule and curiosity—no prior course is required!

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Group discussion and one-to-one tutorials will all play an important part in this vibrant course. There will be opportunity for you to develop your ideas on an individual basis, or collaboratively if appropriate. You will be given practical advice and given examples of relevant previous student work. You will be shown techniques through demonstration from your tutor to help you realise your ideas in three dimensions as effectively as possible. You will be given the opportunity to work with different techniques and processes. Although this is not mandatory, there will be options to develop work outside of class and you will be encouraged to visit London’s vibrant museums and art galleries to gather ideas. Research is a key word when we talk about design, and history gives us plenty of material to work with. You will be shown examples of work from relevant practising artists, sculptors and prop makers and you will receive information about progression routes available to you.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Materials and Equipment

Please bring a small sketch pad, drawing materials i.e. pencils, graphite, pen, a tablet if you have one. A camera is also useful to photograph your work.

Basic materials are provided, although depending on the ambition of your design, you may need to purchase more, at the discretion of your tutor.

What to Wear
Please wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes—no sandals or open-toed footwear. Old work clothes or overalls are also advised.

Health and Safety
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as facemasks for use when working with materials that may release airborne particles, will be provided and must be worn as required.