2024 Prop Assist Workshop Round Up
/On November 16th, 2024 IATSE Local 490 prop master Mark Wojahn led a class on Prop Assisting for Film and Television. It was an introductory course designed to teach new and prospective Prop Assistants what to expect and how to prepare for a job on a Film or Television series. The class was held at Propmaster Wojahn’s shop inside of the Casket Arts building in Northeast Minneapolis.
There were 15 people in attendance and this instruction was open to union and non union crew. This workshop covered job classifications and responsibilities, Safety, Organizing a Prop truck, set expectations, demands, continuity, propping actors and how to operate a lift gate, build a directors chair and many other tasks of a prop assist. We also offered hands on training on the movement of props and readying props for re-shoots or insert shots.
Attendees learning to use a liftgate and build directors chairs
We were fortunate to have three 490 prop masters at the workshop; Jason Thomas, Peter Dahl and Mark Wojahn. Each added key instruction to the class material.
Propmaster Thomas talks to the class on Prop Assisting
The course included a mix of instruction through a keynote presentation as well as Hands On Training in skills that are required to work as a Prop Assist in Film and Television. There was a prop truck rented from Tasty Lighting that the attendees toured through.
a three ton prop truck was on site from Tasty lighting
The COURSE OUTLINE was as follows;
- Prop Assistant Department job classifications and responsibilities.
- Safety (Lockup / On the Truck, On Location, Weather Related)
- Tools Required
- Setting up and Organizing a Prop Truck / Warehouse (aka Lockup)
- Wrapping out of a warehouse / lockup
- Hands On Training: Prepping Props before loading on a truck.
- Hands On Training: What is a Prop? Setting up a Prop Dept on Set.
- Hands On Training: Handing out props to Actors and Background talent
- Hands On Training: Re-propping for Re-shoots / Insert shots.
the class listening to Prop master WOjahn & the Keynote presentation
President of Local 490, Gary Surber, was in attendance and talked about the importance of IATSE.
This workshop is funded by the Internationals Training trust fund. Local 490 will have other workshops in the future. Pls check our website and social media pages for the next event. If you would apply to become a member of Local 490, here is a link to the membership application page. Local 490 thanks members like brother Mark Wojahn who are shining examples of the excellent crew base in Minnesota.
