In this episode of the Mindkits Kiwicast, Tim talks with Matt. Matt is the owner of The Prop Circle, a small business in Marlborough that specializes in creating bespoke props, costumes, set pieces, accessories, and robots. Matt talks about his prop making journey and how it helps him in his life, especially his mental health.
Creativity, Creativity Never Changes
“They were either really expensive or we just couldn't get them at all. Uh, so I bought a 3D printer printed some props and here we are 3 years later It's pretty cool.
According to Matt, his prop making began three years ago. Matt wanted to get some Fallout collectibles. But since New Zealand is remote he had only two options – buy the collectibles at exorbitant prices or face long lead times. In a stroke of ingenuity Matt decided on a third option – make it himself. Matt purchased a 3D printer and printed left and right. He learned weathering and making his props look realistic.
With his initial foray being successful, Matt decided to jump headfirst and created the Prop Circle.
Image from the Prop Circle Facebook Page
Not Just Toys
Matt creates props for films and so his creations must be believable to a fault. Browsing through Matt’s collection of props and you will see that these things wouldn’t stray from the real thing. Only up-close can you part his creations from the real ones.
Matt does this by making sure that his creations are weathered. Weathering is the process of making a prop (or in my experience a scale model) look like it has a “story to tell.” Scuffing up leather kneepads, oil streaks on an engine, heavy mud on a scale model of a tank, bullet holes on the wings of a WW2 plan. Weathering does not mean making something “old” but adding scuffs, tarnishes, and all manners of wear and tear to a creation that implicitly tells a story.
Matt uses an extensive array of weathering techniques from paint manipulation to adding real specks of rust to highlight the depth of each creation.
And he doesn’t stop until he achieves the level of realism he wants or constrained by time. But for personal projects, he rarely finishes them as to Matt constant iterations are a key to his success.
“I very rarely finish something for myself because I'll just keep touching it keep iterating on it.
The 3D Printing Revolution
Image from the Prop Circle Facebook Page
New Zealand is a far-flung corner of the world. The geographic distance from many manufacturers and distributors make it impossible to get parts on-time and within financial sense. To Matt, 3D printing, has presented a novel solution to the problem of distance that is only served by platforms such as Temu or AliExpress.
“Um yeah as terrible platform as they are I am very grateful for things like Temu uh AliExpress otherwise there's no way that we'll get some of the stuff that we need.
Matt says that 3D printing, and the attached open-source software have made parts sourcing easier and propelled resourcefulness and creativity into the frontline. With his 3D printer, Matt can prototype several iterations of his props without delay. Tools and parts that was once hard to come-by can now be solved by simply printing the part you need.
Today, Matt has been using PLA and PETG among other things in his materials.
3D printing has also allowed the creation of affordable, accessible, and ever more detailed props. And many are finding that the most recent 3D printers such as the Bambu Lab A1 Combo and Bambu Lab P1S Combo have made not just 3D printing accessible but multi-color, multi-material 3D printing easier than using an oven.
To him, 3D printing is not a replacement of traditional prop making but an augment of it.
Mental Health Boost
Matt has recently been diagnosed with ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The primary reason of the disorder is still unknown but there is wide scientific consensus that this is due to a lack of dopamine in the brain. The symptoms present as inattention, hyperactivity, or a combination of both. ADHD makes focusing on a task difficult. Though sometimes you may find yourself in a state of hyper fixation where in nothing matters but the task at hand.
To Matt prop making is more than just a business. It is an outlet. An outlet of creativity wherein he could relax and just let his inner self loose. Prop main as an outlet, also lets him manage stress as he has a primary job other than the Prop Circle.
Image from the Prop Circle Facebook Page
The community around creative work aka Makers has also been a significant help according to him. Not only are community members there to help him troubleshoot his projects the community is also accepting of him and many others like him who suffer from mental health issues.
“I guess like the more we talk about it the more open people are about it you know the better it's going to be for everyone.
Just Do It.
When asked on what Matt would like to advise to the community and people in general here is what he has to say:
“Don’t let the fear of starting [to] be your first failure I mean just if you want to do it do it and crack on. Um that's about it. And that goes for anything…
Thank you for Matt Stevens of the Prop Circle for having a great chat with Tim. If you would like to hear the entire podcast, you may watch it on the MindKits YouTube Channel.
For your creative and 3D printing needs in New Zealand, don’t forget to check out MindKits.co.nz where we have 3D printers, CNC machines, laser cutters, and more!
Check out our MindKits NZ Discord Channel and share your work and hangout with fellow kiwi makers.
-MindKits_Sam