It's feast or famine in the prop business. With the arrival of spring, things really seem to have picked up at PropTarts, Inc. We've been hopping all around the Piedmont this month. We are seeing a big increase in the number of commercials. Corporate events and films are very slow, thanks to the economy and SAG, but we are bidding on several private parties. Thank goodness for March Madness!
Guitar Hero: Metallica with NCAA Coaches
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Early in the month we were contacted to provide some set items for an HSI Productions (Asolut, Burger King, Saab) shoot of the new Guitar Hero: Metallica commercial at Trailblazer Studios in Raleigh. PropTarts installed platforms and a Brazilian Mahogany floor specially imported from LA for its slippery qualities. NCAA coaches Coach K, Bobby Knight, Rick Pitino, and Roy Williams, dressed in socks and boxers slid across the floor to the tune of "Old Time Rock & Roll." Director Brett Ratner (X-Men, Rush Hour, The Family Man) met his match with Bobby Knight - the two argued back and forth about everything from cell phones to dialogue.
Furnitureland South has a new campaign involving CBS sports commentator, Jim Nantz. PropTarts were asked by Deja View Media to design sets and and provide props and set dressing for some spots which feature a flashback to a young Jimmy Nantz in his 1969 family home. We shot at Albion Associates in High Point where sets were built to our specifications by their talented crew. We were able to use our collection of mid-century modern furniture, most of it originally manufactured in the High Point area. We rented a great banana seat bicycle for the newspaper boy spot. Here are the finished results: Paperboy, Rabbit Ears, Under Covers.
The 5th Quarter Re-Shoot
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It was great to see old friends on The 5th Quarter re-shoot at the end of March. Some of the scenes at Groves Stadium at WakeForest had to be done over due to damage to the film. The turf was being replaced so we had to walk carefully over sheets of plywood in the stadium. Director Rick Bieber screened a rough cut for the crew - its a tear jerker. We celebrated several birthdays at the Marriot bar, enjoyed the great food supplied by Moving Image Catering, and got down to doing what we do best - making movies. Many of the crew had barely worked since the film wrapped last fall. What a waste of NC talent!
We are very grateful for the work that continues to come our way, but there is a big empty spot in North Carolina - movies. Currently there are rumored to be sixteen features shooting in Georgia (30% tax incentive) vs. 1 in NC (currently 15%). Please support State Senator Julia Boseman's legislation pushing for a 25% film incentive. You can email her at
