Step into a DeLorean at Prop Party

Fifth annual event features sci-fun for movie, TV fans

Are you a film or television buff with a particular interest in sci-fi and fantasy?

The fifth annual Toronto Prop Party may be just your thing, an event that will feature R2D2 from Star Wars, the car from Back to the Future and the endoskeleton (or underske-leton) of The Terminator, amongst other items of interest.

(Actually they’re replicas of the originals made by veteran prop masters based in Toronto as well as gifted local amateur hobbyists.)

“What really sets our event apart from FanExpo or something like that is because it’s smaller and the actual builders are here, you can — provided you ask — usually pick up and handle and play with and get photos with anything,” said organizer Michael Bergeron, a 12-year film industry veteran who specializes in graphics but also makes props.

The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Montecassino Hotel at 3710 Chesswood Dr., near Downsview Park, with an admission charge of $10.

That’s quite a deal, considering it often costs $20 alone to have your picture taken in the Back to the Future DeLorean at other events. The vehicle at this upcoming event has been tricked out by owner Ken Kapalowski with all the bells and whistles of the original movie car.

“It is, inside and out, an exact replica. The time circuits actually work, they make all the noises, all the lights go on, the flux capacitor flashes, all that fun stuff,” Bergeron added.

The Terminator model comes courtesy of Lorenzo D’Alessandro, whose previous contributions include lifesize versions of Herman Munster.

“Some of us have worked on props for television and film. But a lot of these people are hobbyists and they’re recreating props from their favourite franchises,” Bergeron said.