Proffesional Studies - Lecture with a prop maker:

Lee Cranston - Prop Maker:

On Thursday 11th December 2014 we had a lecture for Proffesional Studies from a guy who had worked in stage management, prop making and lighting for stage and film.

He's worked in the production industry for 35 years on the free-lance scale working independantly.

His interests include fine art and illustration and having made masks, props, worked in costume and acting.

He went to London and worked in the West End at various theatres, working on and with shows such as The Lion King and Beauty and The Beast.
Most of his work was fixing problems that shows would have such as wardrobe malfunctions for costume, fixing broken props etc.

The Lion King:

Beauty and The Beast:

Going to London and working in the West End gave Lee the opportunity to see the development of other people. He has worked for shows in other countries such as Russia and America (Broadway) and has also worked for props etc. for Disney.

Lee has met people like Lee Franc known is (more commonly known to people today as Keith Lemon).

His view on being self employed is that you never know what you're going to be doing.

SHREK THE MUSICAL:

(The dvd cover for Shrek The Musical)

STARRING:
*Brian d'Arcy James (Shrek)

*Sutton Foster (Princess Fiona)

*Daniel Breaker (Donkey)

*Christopher Sieber (Lord Farquaad)

Another show he has worked on (being one of my favourites) is Shrek The Musical, making the dragon head for the show. His favourite thing to have worked on is something that he's currently working at the moment but he wasn't able to say what. So his favourite thing to work on would have to be SHREK THE MUSICAL!!

(The dragon head from the Broadway show of Shrek The Musical; Donkey and Dragon in the scene just after Donkey goes looking for the stairs to the princess)

About The Film - SHREK:

STARRING (voices of):
*Mike Myers (Shrek)
*Cameron Diaz (Princess Fiona)
*Eddie Murphy (Donkey)
*John Lithgow (Lord Farquaad)

Once upon a time in a far away swamp there lived an ornery ogre named Shrek, whose precious solitude is suddenly shattered by an invasion of annoying fairy-tale creatures. There are blind mice in the food, a big bad wolf in his bed, three little homeless pigs and many more that have all been banished from their kingdom by the evil Lord Farquaad.

Determined to save their home, not to mention his own, Shrek cuts a deal with Farquaad and sets out to rescue the beautiful Princess Fiona to be Farquaad's bride. Accompanying Shrek on his journey is a wisecracking Donkey who will do anything for Shrek, the only thing that lets him down is not being able to shut-up. Rescuing the Princess from a fire-breathing dragon may prove the least of their problems when the deep, dark secret she has been keeping is revealed.

http://www.shrek.com/