A Rossland Props Master is creating a buzz about bringing more movie biz to the West Kootenay.

As a Props Master or Props Buyer, Paul Wagner organizes the props department on movies and TV productions, and designs, researches, sources, buys, builds, monitors, and selects the props for a variety of genres.

But Wagner would like to do it more often from his Rossland residence.

His most recent film, the Netflix movie Love Hard, rocketed to the number-1 viewed movie on Netflix after its Nov. 5 release.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 working with producers to try to bring some projects out to the area,B次元官网网址� said Wagner. B次元官网网址淒ue to COVID, I was able to prep from my home in Rossland for three weeks.B次元官网网址�

For the production of Love Hard, Wagner brought Greater Trail talent on board, and it was their contributions that made the prospect of an industry in the area more realistic.

Wagner recruited Paul Durkin from Lauener Bros. Jewelry in Trail to create the familyB次元官网网址檚 prop rings also known as B次元官网网址榟eroB次元官网网址� rings.

B次元官网网址淗e came to me, during COVID, about a year ago, and he said he had an upcoming Netflix piece of work to do, and part of the script was there was an engagement ring that was going to be passed from Jimmy O. Yang to another character, Nina Dobrev,B次元官网网址� explained Durkin. B次元官网网址淭his ring was going to get some screen time, so they term that a B次元官网网址榟ero propB次元官网网址�. It just means itB次元官网网址檚 actually used as part of the story line.B次元官网网址�

Durkin designed and fashioned not only the hero ring in the Lauener Bros. lab, but a variety of rings for the characters, customized to suit the ages of each member of the family.

Durkin, needless to say, is pleasantly surprised at the filmB次元官网网址檚 success.

B次元官网网址淚t blows my mind,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like no. 1 in South Africa and Canada - everywhere.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 sitting here in Trail and all of a sudden IB次元官网网址檝e had I donB次元官网网址檛 even know how many million people view something that came from my hands and is now involved with this film.B次元官网网址�

Wagner also recruited fabrication expert and Castlegar resident Jason Taylor, who created the prototype of the glow-mold baby Jesus from the filmB次元官网网址檚 Nativity scene right here in Trail.

Taylor has a unique skill set, with a diploma in structural/architectural design from BCIT, and a diploma from the Vancouver Film School in computer graphics and animation, he helped in the development and implementation of the MIDAS facility in Trail.

Former Times reporter and WriterB次元官网网址檚 Block creator Val Rossi also pitched in. According to Wagner, she was instrumental in helping with the publishing of the newspapers and connecting him with Kootenay Mountain Culture magazine for placement in the movie.

B次元官网网址淭here are a lot of stock things that they probably could have used for a production like that, but to actually have Paul (Wagner) come in and go B次元官网网址楬ey, letB次元官网网址檚 make it something a little different, use your creativity and weB次元官网网址檒l come up with something really cool,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Durkin. B次元官网网址淪o it was really fantastic.B次元官网网址�

The home-based talent showed Wagner that there is the capacity to have a props manufacturing hub in the area.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really cool to be able to work with people who are super talented and really get that kind of world that I am in, and they are right there in Trail, so thatB次元官网网址檚 very handy,B次元官网网址� said Wagner. B次元官网网址淭he ability to do that kind of manufacturing in the area is definitely available.B次元官网网址�

Wagner compares West Kootenay to the Weta of B.C., a New Zealand organization that is a standard bearer for creativity and innovation in visual effects and animation.

Wagner also was Props Master for 2021 releases Antlers and the GI Joe saga Snake Eyes. He also lent his skills to the Ryan Reynolds blockbuster movies Deadpool and Deadpool 2, where the props and budgets came in on a massive scale.

B次元官网网址淎ntlers is not what I would call a prop-heavy show, for me the size and scale is quite different having done massive feature films, that are like a $200M movie that is super hero or fantasy based movie.

B次元官网网址淭hose ones theyB次元官网网址檙e much more involved, itB次元官网网址檚 more complicated when you build a world.B次元官网网址�

WagnerB次元官网网址檚 greatest satisfaction comes from his contribution in building Cable, the eye-glowing military, half-man half-machine, in Deadpool 2.

A scarred and chiseled, walking armoury, CableB次元官网网址檚 menacing appearance is softened only by a soiled Teddy Bear attached to his belt.

B次元官网网址淚 work closely with the actors, I work closely with the costume department and very closely with the stunt department,B次元官网网址� said Wagner.

B次元官网网址淐able was one of the characters that is my claim to fame in Deadpool 2, Josh BrolinB次元官网网址檚 character.B次元官网网址�

In the future, Wagner sees these initial efforts spinning off into more opportunities for local business and potential enterprises directly related to the film industry.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 trying to use as many manufacturers as a I can locally and hopefully be able to, in my mind, have a sustainable film industry in the Trail area would be awesome.B次元官网网址�

WagnerB次元官网网址檚 previous credits also include Star Trek Beyond, Paycheck, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, Warcraft, I, Robot, and X-Files.

sports@trailtimes.ca
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