Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1544153
6 PROP CULTURE I SPRING 2026 TELL US ABOUT A PROP GAG YOU HAD TO DO THAT WENT WRONG, AND YOU HAD TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION ON THE SPOT. EMILY HYDE – In Umbrella Academy, Season 2, we had a scene where Luther shows up with a box of praline chocolates. He gets upset and starts emotionally eating. Tom Hopper, who plays Luther, has a strict keto/paleo diet. Tom, the food stylist, and I discussed and resolved how to create for his dietary needs. The scene begins and the team goes over the pralines and Tom notices the stylist changed a few ingredients, without my approval. I got the call at 11:30 p.m. that Tom could not eat the pralines. The showrunner and director, Jeff King, came onto our truck to discuss the matter and advised that I had while they shot the wides and coverage of the scene to sort out a solution. I headed out to the 24-hour grocery store to find some chocolate that had 0% sugar in it! At that moment, I was thankful that I could bake. I grabbed the baker's chocolate and sent ingredients to Tom, got his go-ahead, and drove across town to set. I found our station, cut up the chocolate, and dressed them into our box. We made it within minutes for the shot! I talked with Tom and thanked him for all his support in the process and circumstances of the evening finding a resolution. In the end, everyone was thrilled with the shots we got! LAURA ROEPER – We had a breakaway plate scene for a movie that was dated in the '80s. We took the standard breakaway dinner plate we have all used a hundred times. However, we had to paint it to match Corelle ware with blue flowers. The paint department did an amazing job, but I did not realize that they had put an additional matte varnish coat on the plate. Of course, it barely cracked! I quickly had the actor try again with more force. It worked better, but not great. Then I stepped in and took an unpainted plate and gave it a hard toss (with no actors around). At least then, we had a shot of an actual decent plate break! TOMMY TOMLINSON – In the film Predator, Sonny Landham's character "Billy" is about to face the Predator in the final battle. About an hour before the scene, Sonny comes to us asking that we sharpen his machete so that he can "show his strength to the Predator by cutting his chest to show he isn't afraid to bleed." Great idea, Sonny, only two problems: First, you are not going to really cut yourself on camera, and second, what do we do for take two or three if needed? So, we took the machete, dulled it down so there was no way he could hurt himself, ran a bloodline to the back of the blade with a blood bulb attached so he could control the flow of blood to the blade. He got his wish to look dynamic and we got take two. EMILY HYDE LAURA ROEPER TOMMY TOMLINSON ASK THE EXPERTS –The PMG Membership Committee AMERICA UCHESS � � � From Georgian mules to vintage pumps, we've got shoes to suit every era. Each shoe is the result of meticulous historical research. Shop our expansive collection of in-stock shoes & boots. ♦ Renaissance & Baroque ♦ 18th Century ♦ Regency ♦ Victorian ♦ Edwardian ♦ Vintage americanduchess.com P £ C t i Full Line In Stock • Victorian • Edwardian • Regency • Old West • Steampunk Superb Service • Attentive Staff • Quick Shipping • Easy Returns 800�997�4311