YOUNG AND RESTLESS Maria Dirolf, Set Decorator
How do you figure out what props are required for a particular day of shooting?
“We try and work as far in advance as possible and receive outlines of scripts about a month before we go to tape. I start breakdowns and sourcing from those and update as script drafts and finals come out. Of course, last-minute items pop up, but we usually have things well in advance of our shoot date.”
What kinds of props do you tend to rent as opposed to buy?
“Any prop that seems like it will be recurring or important to a storyline and could come back is a purchase. Props that are more of a one-off specialty item tend to be rentals.”
If a prop is going to figure significantly into a storyline, do you need to get its look approved by someone?
“Yes, we work with production to figure out what will work best. If it’s important to the storyline, we will often present a few options and have the producers, head writer and directors make selections.”
How much prop-shopping do you do in person and how much do you do online?
“About half and half. It’s becoming easier and easier to find more unique items online with Etsy, Chairish, ebay and our tried-andtrue prop shops, but there are always some things you have to hunt down in person.”
When there are handwritten notes or cards, whose handwriting is used?
“It’s a mix! We have our graphics department create some, sometimes it’s myself or other members of the art department. I keep a spreadsheet that keeps track of who has a certain character’s handwriting and what style; cursive, print, block letters, etc.”
What’s the most unusual prop you’ve had to source this year?
“The shield Kevin gave Mariah and Tessa for their engagement. Viking props rarely come up on a show like this.”
What was the most unique prop you’ve created in-house recently?
“One of the more challenging props this year was the cabin painting that Chelsea gave Adam at Christmas. We had to source a photo that production could clear that fit the description in the script. Then our graphics team needed to transform it into a painting. They worked both digitally and physically, adding texture and paint to the print. Then we had it shipped off to our framers. All in all, the process took about a month.”
What prop proved to be especially tricky to create?
“Mariah and Tessa’s engagement party poster. We first had to design the poster with Tessa’s lyrics, which went through several stages of approval. Then we had to print four different stages of the poster for when the
actors ‘signed’ the poster at the party, each one with an increasing number of signatures as the evening went on. We did marker tests and handwriting tests. For something so simple, it ended up being pretty complicated and took over a month of planning.”
Do you get nervous about how expensive or fragile props or antiques are handled on the set?
“Yes! Definitely. We get pretty protective with our specialty props. We have custom covers made to prevent damage when not in use.”
How do you collect props from actors after taping?
“The actors are all pros; they hand off props to our crew once the scene is wrapped and then our prop crew will bring items back to our storage rooms for safekeeping.”
Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea) showed off Chelsea’s driver’s license on social media, teasing that she was flattered by the age and weight attributed to her character. Who creates those and decides what stats to use?
“Production lets us know what those type of stats are and then we have our graphics department create them with the information provided.”
What happens when an important prop gets broken or damaged?
“We replace it right away! If it’s a specialty item that takes some time to create or order, we will have to make due with a substitute.
Sometimes our special effects team is able to repair it if the damage isn’t too bad — that’s the best-case scenario.”
What kinds of props might require you to give a tutorial to an actor about how to handle it, such as a gun, an espresso machine, etc.?
“The espresso machine in Crimson Lights really does make delicious espresso! Our prop crew knows how to use it and will demonstrate how it operates. Sometimes we will need to bring in specialists for tutorials, particularly with medical props and hospital equipment.”
When food is used as a prop, where do you get it from?
“We are lucky to have a lot of great restaurants and grocery stores right by the studio and tend to mix it up. For special events, like the Tuscan wedding, we will bring in caterers from around Los Angeles. We also love using Michelina, a French patisserie in the
[The Original] Farmers Market, and
Cake Monkey Bakery for our pastries in Society and Crimson Lights. Cake And Art often creates our larger-scale wedding and birthday cakes.”