James Phelan

I was fortunate enough to be given an opportunity in the film industry by Hugh Bateup and Peter Wyborn in early 2020 on the Matrix 4 production in Berlin where I was hired as a junior prop maker. Prior to this job I had never worked in the industry before so everything was very new, the prop team took me on and taught me new skills and expanded my knowledge, here I first learnt to mould and cast simple box moulds (and I continue to expand this skill whenever I can) In my role my responsibilities involved cleaning up 3d prints, taking moulds of 3d prints and casting, assembling parts and some painting. The entire experience on this film was amazing and a real insight into the industry. Sadly, my time on the film was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic and I had to return to Australia before I could finish the job, but my time there motivated me to pursue working in the industry.

I was hired as a prop maker by Brett Becham, my work on this production often involved sanding and finishing 3d prints, assembling and finishing laser cut pieces, installing various props on set, repair jobs on props damaged during filming. Things I worked on would range from very small, detailed pieces to very large set pieces. I took every opportunity I could to learn from the senior prop makers and improve my skills helping anywhere I could whether it be in the metal room, being an extra pair of hands or cleaning around the workshop until I was needed on a job making myself a valuable member of the team. The biggest lesson I took away from this job was working fast without lowering the quality of the work I put out, I also learnt how to use a variety of new skills to apply to all my future builds. The fast passed nature of this production was something i was not use to but it was a challenge i quickly over came adapting to each unique situation as they came.

On Furiosa I worked as a junior prop maker under Adam Grace, mainly cleaning up weapons for painting.

during this production I:

• Quickly learned new skills and applied them to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
• Carried out day-day-day duties accurately and efficiently.
• Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.

On Apes I was hired as a Prop maker by Peter Wyborn, I spent a few weeks simply casting out hundreds of fish on a rotational caster and prepping them for the painters. Once they were all ready I was asked to move to work with the painters to paint all the fish. the fish ranged from being fresh looking fish to fully smoked and fish and in-between versions. from hard casting to softs. I spent the majority of the rest of the job with the painters painting logs and other bits and pieces. Spent some time on set installing larger props aswell.

Being in with the painters was a big learning experience for me as I picked up a few tricks and tips and learnt to paint new mediums and use different types of paints.

On this music video I was in charge of costumes and some prop work. Within a week i was tasked with creating 5 simple but effective cannibal costumes and a back alley doctor costume. ripping some shirts and adding brown and blood stains created the desired look. This was a new position for me a bit outside of the prop maker side im use to. On set I was responsible for scene resets for the costumes and making sure things sat they way i wanted them to for the shot. I was also asked on the day to build a ceremonial looking knife in 40 minutes. Using parts from 3 failed 3d prints we had and paints i could find around the set i was able to produce something the director was happy with.

On this music video i was employed as Props Master. I mainly created a harness for the lead singer Marcus to wear that would allow us to simulate him being shot with arrows. I did this using aluminium flat bar bent around his body and some 3D designs I quickly did to hold the arrows securely through drilled out holes. This was a new experience and required me to think outside the box on my approach to accomplish this in a short deadline (4 days) as well as experience working on set with the actors/band mem

I was commissioned to build a variety of Marvel hero inspired costume pieces such as a Captain America helmet, a Mighty Thor helmet, a Flexible 3D printed winter soldier arm and 2 Scarlet witch crowns.

All of these pieces I 3D printed sanded and painted myself, teaching myself to paint flexible rubber pieces while still resembling a metal finish.

I also did a couple days work as a prop buyer for the show, source a variety of needed props from shops and Facebook market place