Both props and costumes play a very important role in any film. A good costume will look great in the print and will give the audience an enjoyable viewing experience. It will also tell them something about the character, and will contribute to the opinion of the character before they know too much about them. Film makers use this trick to good effect all the time. Often, they do not have the time to fully establish every aspect of the character, and so they give the viewer information about the person. The clothes they wear add to their personality, and round them off much more quickly than could be done otherwise. Think about movies you have seen where the bad guy wears black leather; we know he is bad from the second he arrives on screen, or the typical ‘damsel in distress’ who appears in a flowing white gown, immediately telling us she is pure.
Props work in much the same way. They give us a little extra insight into the person using them. A good example of this would be that of the character Dale Cooper in the 90′s TV show Twin Peaks. His main prop was a tape recorder, on which he would regularly record his thoughts. Not only did this serve as a way of getting into his head and hearing what he was thinking, but it also showed us a little of his methodical personality.
At Keeley Hire, we have a huge supply of props for use in the TV and film industry, which can be hired at reasonable prices.
