Movies

Movie Prop Master Reveals Behind-The-Scenes Set Secrets On TikTok (13 Pics)

Movie magic is real, and the magic is making a bunch of real stuff fake. Prop Master Scott Reeder has been working in the biz since 1989, according to Insider, starting at only 19 years old. Now a seasoned set worker, he is revealing all of his secrets on TikTok for making props that don’t maim anyone or make too much noise. These secrets were acquired from work on TV shows like Friday Night Lights, The Leftovers, and prop-heavy horror flicks like Grindhouse and Friday the 13th.

His account has only been active since August, where he posts under the handle @scottdropandroll, but he went viral for this post about silent props:

@scottpropandroll

Silent Props. #props #movieprops #theater #GardenProject #billiard

♬ original sound – Scott Reeder

I think the appeal of this TikTok is that the props themselves are so ordinary and wouldn’t really be noticed by casual viewers, but the way he demonstrates how they work makes it clear how necessary they are to the film’s functioning.

First, he shows how loud a regular paper grocery bag is, then reveals the special vinyl bags made to look like paper:

Then he grabs some real pool balls and clacks them together, which would be another huge problem in any scene with a pool table. To solve that issue, he painted racquetballs to look like pool balls, and they almost silent in comparison:

I suspect part of the TikTok’s popularity has to do with his slightly blue joke at the end about the sound guy not being bothered by his “ball sack” after dumping the painted balls in the vinyl bag. Ha ha. He does love dad jokes almost as much as he loves props:

@scottpropandroll

In Law. Note to my Mother in Law: It’s only a joke! #funny #dadjokes #comedy #fyp

♬ original sound – Scott Reeder

But all of his videos are pretty interesting, maybe because they bring up questions I didn’t know I had about fake barb wire:

@scottpropandroll

Movie Prop Barbed Wire. #props #movieprops #RaiseYourGame #setlife

♬ original sound – Scott Reeder

Fake money:

@scottpropandroll

Faux Dough. Prop Movie Money. #movieprops #props #TodayILearned #theater

♬ original sound – Scott Reeder

Fake babies:

@scottpropandroll

Prop Babies! #movieprops #props #OnlineSchool

♬ original sound – Scott Reeder

Fake books:

@scottpropandroll

Movie Prop Books. #props #movieprops

♬ original sound – Scott Reeder

 

Fake stabbing implements:

@scottpropandroll

Retractable Stunt Props! #movieprops #props #WelcomeWeek #theater

♬ original sound – Scott Reeder

“People don’t realize how much goes into a film—not just the props, but also the hair and makeup and construction,” he told Insider. “I thought I’d give people a little sneak peek into what it takes to make a film or television show, the work that goes into it, and the things that people don’t think about.”

I will never not be able to stop thinking about the ball sack joke, I promise you.

More viral TikToks 2020:

Aimeé Lutkin