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The Fascinating Art of Making Paper Props, Maps, Posters, Reports and Newspapers for Film and TV

by Lori Dorn on October 18, 2018

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Great Big Story visited with Ross MacDonald, a talented illustrator and prop master of all things paper. For the last 25 years, MacDonald has been creating era-appropriate items such as maps, diaries, wanted posters, government reports, match/cigarette boxes and newspapers. MacDonald is extremely skilled at his craft, but remains humbled by the role he plays in the production of a film or show.

There’s so many amazing things that start off with a piece of paper and the props that I’m making are all part of that. Sometimes when I go to the theater I’m so excited I’m almost shaking and it’s not because I want to see the driver’s license I made from one of the actors. It’s because I did a tiny bit of work on that movie and it’s very exciting to me in the end

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For The Knick

A post shared by Ross MacDonald (@brightworkpress) on Jul 3, 2017 at 4:25pm PDT

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Some of my DeNiro as Madoff prop work in WIZARD OF LIES

A post shared by Ross MacDonald (@brightworkpress) on May 23, 2017 at 6:33pm PDT

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A burnt John Wilkes Booth diary page from National Treasure 2.

A post shared by Ross MacDonald (@brightworkpress) on Apr 13, 2016 at 6:30pm PDT

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More movie prop packaging fun

A post shared by Ross MacDonald (@brightworkpress) on Dec 16, 2014 at 7:46pm PST

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One of my props for the next season of Boardwalk Empire. They ran a great promo for it after The Knick on Friday. The final season jumps ahead 7 years to 1931

A post shared by Ross MacDonald (@brightworkpress) on Aug 17, 2014 at 7:35pm PDT


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