Stage Bread

There comes a time when you will need to make stage food for a show. Having been in shows where real food was used, it comes as a nasty shock when you go to dish up you portion and you are greeted with a large lump of mold. When possible I always recommend using fake food on set.

The first food item that comes to mind is bread, that staple food that has been around for centuries. The show I am currently working on requires several loaves of bread and is in a fantasy setting, so we needed to make rounded bread rather than rectangular modern bread.

The director recommended foam for construction, so I hunted out an old sofa seat cushion and set to work. 

First, I squared off sections of foam about the size of a bread pan using a knife. Then I used a pair of heavy duty scissors to round the corners and shape the loaves. The final step was to paint them a toasty orange/brown color to sell the effect.

As I grew more confident in my foam sculpting skills, I set out to make cinnamon rolls as well. 

The process was similar. Start by squaring off lumps of foam about the right size for the rolls, then round the corners. I drew a guide line with a sharpie to help me get the spiral right with the scissors. When I paint these I will add a dash of brown in the crevices to suggest cinnamon.

Stage Knife

 

A prop found in many shows, especially fantasy and mystery or suspense shows is a big knife. An easy way to make this prop is with a real knife and a dremel or grinding wheel. 

I found this knife at a second hand store for $2. I looked for one with a nice handle and a deep enough blade that when I cut the sharp edge of the blade off it still looked natural. I also rounded off the tip so it wouldn't hurt anyone on accident. This process essentially reverses the knife back to a blank, so that it is dull on all edges. 

Care should still be taken during the show so that the actors are kept safe. The prop master or weapon master should be on hand to give this knife to the actor as they go on stage, and to receive it from them as they exit. Not to say that actors mess around with props when they shouldn't, but it happens. Just play it safe and make sure it gets back on the prop table asap!

That being said, this is a gorgeous knife! And the glint of light on the steel blade really sells the prop to the audience.