Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1531433
PROPERTYMASTERSGUILD.ORG 9 ASK THE EXPERTS WHY WAS FORMING THE GUILD IMPORTANT TO YOU? GREGG BILSON The PMG came out of many meetings with different groups over the years wanting to form some sort of guild. Growing up around Property Masters and then running Independent Studio Services, I could not believe how many of us didn't know each other. I was constantly introducing Property Masters and assistants to each other. I wanted to have a guild where we could all know each other, work to help each other, and share ideas with each other. I knew we are better together than apart. I also wanted to connect the older or retired Property Masters to the new, younger Property Masters, and these were my primary reasons for wanting a PMG. Now that I am a retired Property Master, I will spend the rest of my days teaching the industry what an amazing department head a Property Master is. CHRIS CALL There were two major factors driving my desire to create the Property Masters Guild. First, and foremost, was the realization that the craft of Property Master has no formal education, but rather a journeyman/ apprentice dynamic. This coupled with both a major influx of new Masters and a mass exodus of retiring Masters was creating a vacuum of well- trained professionals in the craft. Educating the next generation became my primary focus. My second motivation came after seeing the video Why Props Matter. I realized that the world doesn't really understand why props matter and the guild could change that. JOSHUA MELTZER In a word, representation! Moreover, equality with the other crafts in the art department. I started my career as a Property Master in 1983, during which time the industry underwent significant technical and social changes. I have always loved the craft and wanted us to receive our just due. Creating a group like the PMG was the obvious next step. I have always tried to do whatever I could to help elevate our craft. HOPE PARRISH I grew up in a prop family. Both my grandfathers, my father, my uncle, and my cousin were all members of Local 44. I joined in February 1980. We all began under the studio (grouping) system, where you climbed the learning ladder, while building relationships, by working with leadmen, decorators and eventually, Property Masters, fine-tuning your craft. We had seniority too, much like the Teamsters still today. About 30 years ago, I began to see some changes. The studio system was gone, the jobs were plentiful, but the camaraderie between the set decorator and the Property Master seemed to be having some sort of disconnect, both struggling with who does what. This was concerning. In 2004-05, I approached Gregg Bilson and Pam Eleya, thinking it be great to have panels with Property Masters, decorators, effects, and construction of all kinds of variations to try to bring back the camaraderies and share knowledge. Work got in the way for me, as it does. A month after I retired in 2018, I got the call from Gregg to meet him and Josh at ISS. They brought in Chris Call and the rest is history! HOPE PARRISH JOSHUA MELTZER GREGG BILSON CHRIS CALL