Elements and Performance Criteria

Props may include:
hand props, eg food and beverage, blood, gore
furniture
vehicles
equipment
costume props, eg armour, weapons, jewellery
pre-production prototypes
mechanised props
cable controlled props
electrically controlled
pneumatically controlled props
special effects props

Relevant may include:
designers
performers
other props staff
supervisors
director of photography
directors
producers
other technical staff

Methods and techniques within this unit could be quite broad in nature and may include:
moulding
painting
sculpting and other shaping methods
gluing
metalwork, eg cutting, welding, brazing
woodworking

Props must be constructed from a range of different media. Media may include:
timber
timber products, eg plywood, particle board, craftwood
masonite
metal products, eg bars, tubes, sheets
moulded or cast metal
fibreglass
fabrics
plastics, eg moulded sheet
fabric
leather
paper products
plaster
mouldable materials
thermoplastic
polystyrene
fasteners
adhesives

Documentation may be:
descriptive props checklists
fault reports
budgets
props design
scripts
production schedules
running sheets
props schedule/plan
props breakdown lists
measurement charts
operational/project plan
technical drawings
sketches
colour charts
paint colour formulas

Underpinning skills and knowledge

Assessment must include evidence of the following knowledge and skills:

detailed knowledge of the properties, applications and durability of different types of materials that can be used for prop construction and how these can be combined
legislative and organisational occupational health and safety standards, including safe handling of hazardous materials
the behaviour of various materials, finishes, painting techniques and colours under lighting
the properties and characteristics of a variety of materials before and after art finishing
general knowledge of the properties of materials used in props construction
environmental issues associated with tools and materials used in props
awareness of copyright, moral rights and intellectual property issues and legislation
literacy skills sufficient to interpret production documentation
numeracy skills sufficient to calculate measurements and quantities and to interpret construction plans

Linkages to other units
This unit has linkages to a range of other props, sets and scenic art units and to units within the Visual Arts Craft and Design Training Package. Combined assessment and/or training with those units may be appropriate.

Critical aspects of evidence

The following evidence is critical to the judgement of competence in this unit:

use of safe techniques to create mixed-media props to meet production requirements
detailed knowledge of the props construction process, the use of different media and the effects that can be achieved

Method and context of assessment

The assessment context must provide for:

practical demonstration of skills through the creation of mixed-media props for a nominated production
involvement of and interaction with a production team to reflect the collaborative nature of the production process

Assessment may incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of essential underpinning knowledge, and might include:

direct observation of the candidate using techniques to create props
evaluation of items created by the candidate in terms of suitability of construction methods and quality of finishing
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of different techniques and safety issues
review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate
Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands and the needs of particular groups (eg people with disabilities, and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties such as speakers of languages other than English, remote communities and those with interrupted schooling).

Resource requirements

Assessment of this unit requires access to:

equipment and materials used to make props
design specifications for props

Communicating ideas and information
Interpreting production requirements (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Briefing colleagues on work requirements (2)

Planning and organising activities
Organising materials and equipment for multiple pieces of scenic art (3)

Working with others and in teams
Liaising with other production colleagues (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Calculating quantities of paint required (2)

Solving problems
Resolving a conflict with other workshop colleagues in relation to resource allocation (2)

Using technology
Using equipment (2)