I needed to make a last-minute Halloween costume, so I glued together this mask from an old cardboard box, feathers leftover from a stork puppet I made a while back, and some felt, pipe cleaners, and – of course – a handful of plastic googly eyes.
Archive for the 'Props' Category
Hamish and Andy – Racing Trash Cans
I modified two trash cans with seats and little wheels so that they could compete in a slow and sneaky race in Central Park.
This prop was used in an Australian show called “Hamish and Andy’s Gap Year.”
Hamish and Andy – Giant Baby Carriage
I made this giant baby carriage so that a grownup could fit inside. It uses heavyweight plywood, BMX wheels, and welded steel to support a big person. Katie Akana and Jessie Voris handled the fabric and upholstery, And Katie also served as test pilot for a race down the hallway of the woodshop.
This prop was used in an Australian show called “Hamish and Andy’s Gap Year.”
Sesame Street Florist Logo
The Heart, She Holler – Blood-Spraying Beer Cans
Well, this one was a challenge. I needed to make a pair of artificial hands shaped like beer cans. Also, the cans needed to be remotely filled with beer so that the actor could drink from them. Also, they needed to explode as if they were shot with a bullet. Also, they needed to spray fountains of blood.
I needed to cut the cans open so that I could fit a plastic tube that I could use for my pneumatic hardware. Also the finish needed to be sanded off of the cans so that new labels could be applied.
Jason Singleton helped me to rig these cans up to a couple of vegetable-sprayers (filled with alternately O’Doul’s and fake blood) and lots and lots of pneumatic hose.
The Heart, She Holler – Fake Sword
This foam sword pops out of a coffin and stabs someone! Since we couldn’t fit a whole sword in a coffin, and we couldn’t stab anyone for real, I made the sword in two halves.
The front half to pop out of the coffin (I rigged it to operate pneumatically,) and the hilt, which has a flat base to attach beneath a hole in the actor’s clothes. The blade is made out of silver-painted foam, and I was able to get a serrated effect by wiggling the razor blade as I cut. The hilt was made out of a goofy old gold lame’ belt, which I brushed with a light coat of brown acrylic paint.
The Heart, She Holler – Magical Walnut
I made this magically-opening walnut for the Adult Swim mini-series “The Heart, She Holler.” It works in a way that is similar to the old springy toy animals made out of beads that droop when you press on their plastic base.
For my version, I made a new base out of plastic tube, springs, and washers. Next I carefully cut a walnut into quarters and made tiny wire hinges so that it would flop open when the spring was discreetly pressed. It is almost impossible to get the meat out of a walnut without breaking it, so I needed to epoxy mine back together!
Project Accessory
I was called in as a Production Manager to help out with the workshop on a Project Runway spinoff called “Project Accessory.”
The show needed someone to help organize and upkeep all of the tools and materials required to keep their team of designers busy. It was my first time working on the production end of things, and it was pretty fun! There was such a variety of techniques happening on the show – jewelry, sewing, painting, casting – the cast members all had their own specialties, and it was a challenge to keep everyone supplied.
It reminded me of my days back in the Parsons School of Design product/furniture shops – except if EVERY DAY was the day before finals!
ipad Drawings for Sesame Street
I drew these pictures for Sesame Street – Prince Charming and a Princess involved in their day-to-day activities.
It appeared in an episode where an apple ipad was used for the the first time on the show.
Nipple Robot – Silent Library
Someday many years from now, my grandkids will ask me “Grandpa, were you ever a television robot star?” And I will be able to honestly tell them “Yes children, I was an EVIL television robot star.
I built this robot out of all sorts of odds-and-ends. A funnel, bucket, two mini plasma spheres to make a head, and two wheelbarrows to make a body. The legs are made from wiggle board and plywood, and then I attached a bunch of wires and junk circuit boards… with plenty of silver paint to make things look futuristic.
Courtland Premo made a remote control base for the robot by dissecting a remote-control golf bag carrier.
It gets very hot in a robot costume!
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