(30) Props Planning

What Props Might Be Used?
Props are used to help construct the mise-en-scène or help form subtexts from which the viewer can infer meaning. I intend to use props effectively to create both artistic effect, bring the fictional world to life and convey something about the world/characters in my film.

I have compiled a list of props I need and what they will be used for:

• Coloured Smoke Grenades (red/white/blue) - The smoke grenades are necessary to create the effect of smoke during the terrorism sequence. The reason I have chosen colours is that, firstly, the colour detracts from the violence of the scene. This is important because terrorism is a very sensitive topic, therefore, depicting genuine violence may be a little insensitive. Furthermore, the colour creates an unrealistic effect which suits the lack of realism in my project. The reason I have opted to use red, white and blue smoke grenades is that these colours allude to the Union Flag, which represents patriotism. This is appropriate as patriotism/nationalism is an underlying theme in my film. I will obtain these online from a website that specialises in airsoft gear, as these are commonly used by people who go airsofting. These will have to be ordered in advance to filming, otherwise, they may not arrive on time.

• Powdered Paints - Powder paints represent the weapons used by the terrorist in the terrorism sequence. Again, I have chosen to use powdered paints as opposed to real weapons because it mutes the violence surrounding an extremely sensitive topic. Furthermore, the powdered paints will play on the unrealistic style of my film and create an artistic effect. To obtain the powdered paints, I found it is cheaper to make them as opposed to buying them directly. To make them, I will buy a collection of colourful pavement chalk (that is washable) and crush them into powder form. This will work out cheaper and also provide a larger quantity of powdered paints than buying products specifically labelled 'powdered paints'. 

• Chair/Rocking Chair - The chair is used by the Town Crier. The reason I would prefer to use a rocking chair is that, firstly, rocking chairs are considered antique/vintage style items. This is appropriate for the Town Crier because it reinforces his conservative values and elderly image. Furthermore, rocking chairs would be considered relatively luxurious (particularly in this world in which civilisation isn't really a thing). This reinforces the idea that the Town Crier is privileged and powerful because of his position as the media source. As I don't have a rocking chair, I will need to source one somehow. I will look for one on auction/second-hand websites or in second-hand furniture stores to obtain one cheaply. If I am unable to obtain one, I will resort to using a chair instead, which I have available. 

• Petrol Can - The petrol can is used in the terrorist sequence in which the terrorist sets himself on fire to kill himself. The reason I have chosen a petrol can is to make it clear to the audience that he is coating himself in flammable liquid as petrol cans are only really associated with flammable substances and thus makes it clear to the audience what he is doing. I already have a petrol can available to use. This is convenient.

• Lighter - The lighter is used by the terrorist to set himself on fire. An antique style lighter will be used to play on the romanticism of the film. Furthermore, the indistinct era in which the film is set helps to universalize the message of the film, as it cannot be tied to a distinct era/culture. The lighter that will be used will be a Zippo lighter, which is often referred to as a symbol of America - a huge influence in western culture. This is key to the film's ideas because it alludes to the fact that it is the West that often provides weapons to terrorists and opposing military sides. I conveniently have a Zippo lighter available to use for the scene.

• White Rose - The white rose is featured in the scene in which the Preacher incentivises his men to kill Bleedingheart - he crushes the rose in his hand and drops it on the floor where his men march over it. The rose itself represents Bleedingheart, due to its similarities to her white dress and passive nature. The crumpled rose foreshadows her death. In Christianity, roses are often used to allude to the Virgin Mary, which reinforces the religious connotations surrounding Bleedingheart's character. Not only does the white rose represent Bleedingheart, it is also used to foreshadow the fate of the White Cloaks. This is because, in this scene, the Preacher has sent them to kill Bleedingheart, which leads Egon to kill the Preacher and subjugate the White Cloaks, the colour white representing the White Cloaks which resonates through the flower. This is ironic, as the people the Preacher claims to fight for are jeopardised by his own tyrannical actions. This is further reinforced by the fact that the Preacher pricks himself on the rose and gets his blood on it which not only bears physical similarities to Bleedingheart's death scene in which her white dress is covered in blood, it also foreshadows his own death as the backlash caused by killing Bleedingheart (represented through the prick) leads to the spillage of his own blood. White roses are easily obtainable from local market stalls or florists, perhaps even supermarkets. This will be a convenient prop to source.

• Gun - the gun is what is used to murder Bleedingheart by one of Preacher's followers. The reason I have chosen a gun is that, unlike the other deaths in the film in which the violence is metaphorical/implied, this is the most brutal death scene. This heightens the injustice against the characters and creates shock value. I have a gun prop that can be used, which is convenient as it can be easily sourced. 

• Bell - This bell will be rung by the Town Crier to signify his role, as town criers often had bells to catch people's attention. To obtain this I asked my friends and family if they have any bells available. Conveniently, the person playing the Town Crier was in possession of a large handheld bell. 

• Signposts - Signposts will be surrounding the Town Crier to ironically hint at his biases towards the Preacher. They will read 'Definitely non-partisan' and 'You can trust me'. This will allude to the clear conservative bias in the modern media and how the majority of British news is filtered by old white men (i.e Rupert Murdoch). To obtain these, I will have to make them myself. I will paint the words onto spare wood (which I conveniently have) and then glue them to a pike which I will lodge in the ground. 

Making the Props
Some of the props used in my film need to be constructed by myself, as they cannot be purchased directly or are too expensive to acquire.

Signpost
The first prop I needed to make myself is a signpost. To make this, I collected all of the spare wood that I had laying about. Out of this selection I took a relatively wide slab of wood and trimmed it down slightly so that it was of a desired shape. I then re-painted the wood to look more rustic. After this paint had dried, I painted the words I wanted onto the sign post in white paint: 'Non Partisan'. Initially, I was going to carve the words into the wood, however, this would have taken too long and I do not possess the skills for this. Furthermore, paint will appear more clearly on a cheap camera than a carving would. Lastly, I took another piece of wood, this time a longer one that was thick enough to hold the sign up, and whittled away the end so it was pointed. This meant it could easily have been stabbed into the ground. I painted the pole of wood to match the sign and after it had dried I stuck them together using wood glue.

In short, these are the steps I followed:

1. Take two pieces of wood, one long and the other wide. 
2. Cut them down into the desired shapes
3. Carve a pointed end into the long piece of wood
4. Paint the wood rustic colours
5. After the paint has dried, stick the two pieces of wood together to form a signpost. 
6. Paint, in white, the desired message onto the head of the sign 

Powder Paints

Having searched online for colourful powdered paints, I found that they were rather expensive for such small amounts. Instead, I decided to create my own. To do this, I purchased a large selection box of multi-coloured pavement chalks. I then organised the chalks into colours and placed them in separate sandwich bags. With a rolling pin, I smashed the chalks up until they were in a fine coloured powder. I then distributed the colours into separate tubs to use later. 

In short, these are the steps I followed:

1. Acquire pavement chalks
2. Separate the pavement chalks into sandwich bags by colour
3. Make sure the bag is firmly secured shut, to avoid any mess
4. Using a rolling pin, smash the chalks into powders
5. Move the powders into separate tubs for later use