What is the name of your job? What do you do at that job?

I'm a union member of local 44 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), and my job classification is prop maker. Prop is short for property, and property is any physical part of a film or television set, including the set itself, props, equipment for practical effects, greenery, etc. I'm a woodworker and carpenter and I basically build sets, but I also do more supervising other builders now that I have more experience.


How long have you been doing this job for?

I've been doing this job in some aspect for about 30 years.


Was this your dream job?

No, it was not. When I was younger, I either wanted to be a lawyer, or an actor, or an actor playing a lawyer. I liked litigation in movies, and I like arguing, and of course because of movies, I thought that's what a lawyer did, but then I realized it was just a lot of work to be a lawyer.


What is your favorite project that you have worked on?

Well, there are two I'd say: One that I'm proud to have been a part of and have a screen credit on wasthe movie Oppenheimer. But one of the best work experiences, because the production was orderly, organized, and went well, was when I worked on the Jordan Peele movie, Nope. On that production we had plenty of time, we had excellent drawings, the art department was great and it was just a very well organized process.


Are you allowed to tell people what you're working on while you're working on them?

It depends. When I first started this job, a lot of times information was very open because people weren't on the Internet much, and there was no social media. But nowadays, there's a lot more websites and social media that leak things and a lot of privacy factors that require more security. Also, some productions are very closed due to interest from the public.


What was your first project that you worked on?

I think the first day I set foot in a set shop was for a show called American Family, which was a family contestant game show, like a Ninja Warrior kind of thing.


Was it difficult to make it in the entertainment industry?

Yes, at times it was difficult, especially starting out, making connections and contacts with people. Reputation is very important in the industry and you have to build your relationships with people who will hire you. You have to get up early every day and you have to be on time. You can be late like once and that's pretty much it, you get maybe a second chance if you're lucky. There are also periods of time when there are fewer jobs and the industry is slow. It's not it's it's not easy at times.


What do you like about your job?

I like that it's project oriented and that I can move around and there's a freelance element to it. I'm not always stuck at the same place and I get to do different things. I like that I can wear shorts and I don't have to wear boots and a hardhat the builders outside the entertainment industry have to. I like that if you show up on time and you get along with people, that's like 90% of being successful right there. My experience and familiarity with the job makes it come pretty easily for me now.


What do you not like about your job?

Some of the things I don't like are getting up super early and having sawdust and mess on me at the end of the day, and sometimes the noise of a set. Also, I don't always like the way some people treat other people. I care about everyone on a personal level and I'm often defending people who work for me. Sometimes when people get a little bit of power, they can abuse it or they can be harsh.


Have you met any celebrities, and if so, who were your favorites to work with and why?

The first celebrity I met was William Shatner from Star Trek and I had always loved that show, so I was pretty start struck to meet him. He was kind of a hero for me. We had fun and shot guns together in the desert on set. I also met George Clooney on a production and he was a very down-to-earth, nice guy. We played basketball on a break and he seemed like a really good guy. I don't always get to interact with actors directly because I'm further away from the camera, our work is done before the filming, but I often see people from a distance.


Do you have any advice for someone who would want your job?

Probably stay in school when you get in at a young age, because even if you have lots of union hours, the way our pension system works is you pretty much have to work until your retirement age, so you might as well also pursue school too. There are other aspects to the industry that having a college education helps. It's a tough business and there's a lot to be said about working while also having a skill outside the business, especially when there are slow periods or strikes in the entertainment industry. Also, you have to have good relationships with people. You can't burn bridges. Kindness is a free resource! You have to show it to others and it's like a bucket you can dip into for future work. You have to have perseverance.