The Prop Building Guidebook

For Theater, film, and tv

Now in its third edition, The Prop Building Guidebook: For Theatre, Film, and TV walks readers through techniques used in historical and contemporary prop making and demonstrates how to apply them to a variety of materials.
Order directly from the publisher.

Prop Building for beginners

Twenty Props for Stage and Screen

Prop Building for Beginners outlines the basic concepts of prop building by featuring step-by-step instructions to create twenty of the most commonly featured items in theatrical and filmed productions.

Assuming no previous knowledge of prop building, this is the perfect primer for students, hobbyists, or community theater enthusiasts looking to enter the prop shop.

The Prop Effects Guidebook

Lights, Motion, Sound, and Magic

Order directly from the publisher.
Learn how to connect and assemble components and parts to make your props light up, explode, make noise, and bleed. This book delves into the world of electricity, pneumatics, liquids, and mechanical effects to teach you how to make your props perform magic in front of a live audience.

A Little About Myself

I am the Director of Animatronics at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Our program is one of the only graduate-level programs in Animatronics in the world.
 
I have been building props, puppets, and effects for film, theatre, opera, retail display and other industries since 2003. 

Fabrication from imagination

I have built items for films, theatres both on and off-Broadway, New York's "Shakespeare in the Park", operas around the world, as well as for retail stores and theme parks. My skills include 3D modeling, carpentry, metal work, vacuum forming, sculpting, molding and casting, and small effects. You can see more in my portfolio.
  • Magic music box

  • sculpted bull talisman

  • gold throne

Sharing the Knowledge

Since 2009, I have been writing, photographing, and talking about props, effects, and working in the entertainment industry. You can watch videos at my YouTube Channel, read articles on my Prop Agenda blog, or listen to my podcast at "Silk Flowers and Papier Mache Hearts." 
  • YouTube channel

  • Props blog

  • podcast

Contact Me

eric@eric-hart.com

Twitter: @ericbhart
Instagram: @ericbhart

North Carolina, USA