How does Yasmine make a prop look used?
An old book. Slimy worms. A muddy backpack that has been chewed by wolves. What do these items have in common? Ask Yasmine Wallace and she’d say they’re all part of her job.
Yasmine is a prop master. In movies and TV shows, a prop is any object that an actor uses on-screen. It could be a cup, a chair cushion, or a lightsaber. Whatever it is, it’s up to Yasmine to find the right one.
Most recently, she worked on the upcoming original series Goosebumps, available soon. We asked her about her fascinating job.
How did you get into this line of work?
I went to art school and had a friend who was working on a film. They asked if I could help with the set and props. That film ended up winning an award! I started getting hired for prop work after that.
Can you tell us more about the role of a prop master?
Before filming begins, we get the script. We break it down by characters and scenes. Then we start looking for props! Anything we can’t find, we make ourselves. In the end, we have a huge show-and-tell. We lay everything out in a room, labeled and organized. The show’s director walks through and chooses what props we’ll use. What are some of the props that you’ve had to make?
For Goosebumps, we had to make hundreds of fake worms. Some of them had to be edible. It took some weird science to get the right worm texture! We used gelatin, natural food coloring, and sweetener.
Are there any other tricks you use to make props look real?
Sometimes we have to make items—like books—look used or old. We might sand or burn a few pages. Rubbing ash or wax on the pages can also make them look worn.
What do you love most about your job?
I love working with a team! For Goosebumps, we had to create a coffin that looked like it was from a different time period. A lot of people pitched in: researchers, designers, builders, and more. I couldn’t do this job alone—and I wouldn’t want to.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t let people tell you that you won’t make money as an artist. The world runs on art!