Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1545257
4 PROP CULTURE I SUMMER 2026 Is life in the biz getting you down? Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed or not know where to turn? There's no need for you to suffer alone. Theresa and Scott want to help. They're right here for you in the pages of Prop Culture! If you have a problem about any aspect of working in the film business or as a Property Master, just write to us at the address below. Then remember to look here at "Dear Theresa and Scott" for your answer. Even if we don't get to your question, we bet you will always find something that can help! See ya next issue. Love, Theresa and Scott | Prop Culture editor@propculturemag. com Dear Theresa and Scott, I am writing this under the strictest veil of anonymity since my situation involves someone I work with very closely, and by closely, I mean we are practically elbow to elbow every single week. I am an older gentleman, and I've seen better acting at a bus stop! For the purpose of this letter, I will simply refer to him as "Malldorf." Our workspace is small, elevated, and impossible to leave once we are in position. "Malldorf" seems to believe that constant commentary is part of the job description. Now, I am no stranger to a sharp remark myself, but there is a difference between the occasional observation and an endless stream of jabs and running commentary about everything in sight. "Malldorf" is exhausting and I cannot get a word in. I've heard better jokes from a broken clock. If I say something, I risk making the atmosphere even more unbearable. If I do nothing, I fear I will lose what little patience I have left. How do I address this with "Malldorf" without making a bad situation worse? Signed, Anonymous in the Balcony Dear Anonymous, At one time or another, we have all been with that insufferable co- forth now feels like a competition I never agreed to enter. I am tired of everything turning into a one-up situation. To be brutally honest, he is not entertaining or funny. I haven't seen anything this bad since the food at the studio cafeteria! How do I address this without throwing off the balance and creating an uncomfortable work environment? Signed, Not Too Old to Learn Something New Dear Too Old, Ummm… This may not be a one- person problem. It is very likely a shared rhythm that has slipped slightly out of tune. Trust us on this one! When both people in any relationship, work or personal, try to win every moment, the partnership starts to feel more like a contest instead of a conversation. Try shifting your focus from winning the moment from "Spatler" to shaping it. Leave space on purpose. Let his next line land without immediately chasing it. I have a feeling that you and "Spatler" have more in common than you may think. You may find that by not engaging in the competition, you quietly reset the tone. I have a good feeling about you two, and I bet everything will work out. worker. We admire your restraint. Even strong partnerships need boundaries. Do not try to silence your colleague. Instead, redirect him. Take the lead more often. Beat him to the punchline. Change the rhythm instead of fighting it. A small shift can give you more control than you think. And do not underestimate the power of a pause. Silence, when used on purpose, can be louder than any punchline. Learn to value the timing of your relationship. The very thing driving you crazy is also the heart of the act. I bet "Malldorf" cherishes your friendship and you mean the world to him. Save us an aisle seat and best of luck! Dear Theresa and Scott, I am writing anonymously because my situation involves a longtime co-worker with whom I share a very tight and very public workspace. I'm an older gentleman and at my age, I value peace and quiet. Neither of which I'm getting. For the privacy of all concerned, I will call him "Spatler." My colleague "Spatler" has developed a habit of trying to outdo me at every turn. If I make a remark, he attempts to top it. If I land a laugh, he immediately tries to get a bigger one. What used to feel like a natural back-and-