Instructions
Welcome to the set of the movie Jaws! You are a new trainee in the very important Props Department. A prop is any object that an actor handles or uses in a scene. It's your job to get all the props ready for today's filming schedule. Read your to-do list below and plan your workday to make sure everything is ready for "Action!"
My Props Department To-Do List
| To-Do Task | Deadline | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Carefully clean and check the rubber teeth on the main shark model, "Bruce". | Before the first shot at 10:00 AM | They need to look sharp and scary for the camera, but they must be clean and safe. |
| 2. "Age down" the three yellow barrels. | By 1:00 PM | Use sandpaper and watered-down brown paint to make them look rusty and like they've been floating in the ocean for weeks. |
| 3. Find and prepare the air tank prop for the final scene. | By 3:00 PM | This is the tank Chief Brody shoves into the shark's mouth. It must be completely empty and lightweight for the actor. |
| 4. Create a new batch of fake fish guts ("chum"). | Before the afternoon shoot (2:00 PM) | The director needs this for the scene where Quint and Hooper lure the shark. Mix oatmeal, red food coloring, and crackers in a bucket. |
| 5. Organize Quint's fishing equipment crate for the Orca boat set. | End of Day (5:00 PM) | Create a checklist and pack the crate with ropes, blunted harpoon tips, and other fishing gear. |
My Work Schedule
How will you get everything done on time? Fill in your schedule below. Think about how long each task might take. Remember to include a lunch break!
| Time | Task I Will Work On |
|---|---|
| 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | |
| 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | |
| 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | |
| 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | |
| 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | |
| 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM | |
| 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
Teamwork on Set
Movie making is a team sport! Some jobs need help from other experts. Look at your to-do list. Select two tasks where you might need to work with others and write down which department you would collaborate with.
Task 1:
__________________________________________________________________________
I would work with the...
__________________________________________________________________________
Task 2:
__________________________________________________________________________
I would work with the...
__________________________________________________________________________
Answer Key
My Work Schedule
Answers will vary based on your plan. Here is one possible schedule. The most important thing is that you scheduled tasks to be finished before their deadline!
| Time | Task I Will Work On |
|---|---|
| 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Clean and check "Bruce" the shark's teeth. (Deadline: 10:00 AM) |
| 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Start "aging down" the yellow barrels. |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Finish "aging down" the yellow barrels. (Deadline: 1:00 PM) |
| 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | LUNCH BREAK |
| 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Mix a new batch of fake "chum". (Deadline: 2:00 PM) |
| 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Find and prepare the air tank prop. (Deadline: 3:00 PM) |
| 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Start organizing Quint's fishing equipment crate. |
| 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Finish organizing Quint's crate. (Deadline: 5:00 PM) |
Teamwork on Set
Your answers may be different, but here are some excellent examples of collaboration on a film set.
- Task: Clean and check the rubber teeth on the main shark model, "Bruce".
I would work with the... Visual Effects Department or Special Effects Department. They are in charge of operating the mechanical shark and would need to make sure the model is ready for you to work on it safely. - Task: "Age down" the three yellow barrels.
I would work with the... Art Department. They are experts at painting and creating textures, and they could give you tips on how to make the barrels look perfectly old and rusty. - Task: Find and prepare the air tank prop.
I would work with the... Safety Officer or Stunt Department. They would need to double-check that the prop is safe for the actor to use in an action scene. - Task: Organize Quint's fishing equipment crate for the Orca boat set.
I would work with the... Set Dressing Department. After you pack the crate, they are the ones who will place it perfectly on the boat set to make the scene look authentic.