Props, Props, Everywhere

Film: Under Jakob's Ladder
Name: Diane Hupcey
Role: Props Mistress

Q: Explain your job on the set.
A: Basically I organized the props. Everyday I would check which scenes were being filmed, get the props for each scene and make sure they were ready to be on set. I would also make sure the actors had their personal props and collect them at the end of the day. Sometimes easier said then done.

Q: Since the film takes place in the late 1930s, you had to find "historical" props. Where did you get a lot of them?
A: For the props which needed to be authentic and seen up close, we searched on ebay (i.e. eyeglasses, matchboxes and flashlights). We also spread the word to friends and family about the types of props we needed and many people came through for us. It's amazing what people have in their houses. Some props had to be handmade, such as the embroidered handkerchiefs, the Bible scraps (which Maria had to research), and the infamous letters to Jakob. There were also the fun trips to junk shops, antique stores, the Salvation Army, and Goodwill.

Q: Do you have any anecdotes about working with the props?
A: I think the funniest part of props was trying to collect and reset the chess board in the prison. The chess pieces would continually be scattered across the floor which was covered in dirt and hay. I would be searching for acorn tops and rocks (which were used as homemade chess pieces); and before I knew it, cast and crew members were crawling around on the floor with me yelling - "Found one!"

Q: What was the hardest prop to find?
A: The hardest prop to find, hmmmm. I know, Karl's spoon! It is so hard to find spoons with ridges on the handle. One ridge, no problem. Covered in ridges no problem. Two ridges, very hard. I think I collected around three spoons which could be interpreted as having 2 ridges. I then let the powers-that-be decide.

Q: What prop gave you the most trouble on set?
A: The firearms were the most trouble. They needed to be locked up and kept safe. A couple of the cast members are involved in law enforcement and very kindly taught me the correct way to pass a weapon to someone, showing the clips and chambers were empty, etc. The keys to the gun case and car trunks were also held by others so I would track down the right person with the keys before I could get the weapons. It made for a lot of running around. It was also a matter of keeping my eyes on the weapons and making sure they were taken care of and stored properly.

Q: What did you enjoy the most about working on this film?
A: Easy question -- the people. All my crew buddies and I were strangers when we began and after four weeks they became dear friends. And those crazy actors, gotta love 'em. We all keep in touch on Facebook.

Q: What gives you inspiration?
A: My first inspiration is wanting to do a good job and do justice to the quality of the production. My second inspiration came when I saw how hard EVERYONE was working to do their very best also.

Q: What was your favorite prop for the film shoot?
A: My favorite props were the hand-embroidered handkerchiefs! It was a creative and hands-on project for me. I researched monogrammed embroidery styles and had to teach myself how to do this type of embroidery. I then tea-dyed the completed handkerchiefs which changed the color of the material and embroidery floss amazingly. It was a very satisfying project.

Q: If you were to give advice to someone who wanted to work on a film in the props department, what advice would you give them?
A: BE ORGANIZED!!! And get the word out to as many people as possible about needed props. Also you need to start several months before production because searching for and building props is very time intensive. Also, remember, you will need several copies of props that will be ripped, burned or (LOL) eaten, 'cause guess what, you don't always get a shot on the first try!