Do not buy Knit Aid!

I worked with Vickie Howell on DIY's Knitty Gritty. She's become a knitting icon and has a new book out now called Knit Aid.

DO NOT BUY HER BOOK !

She made my life a living hell. Here are some behind the scene TV secrets while working with her....

-Vickie never used the same knitting needles twice. A fresh pair was expected for every shot.

-Vickie would make the entire staff wear "witch" noses so she would be the prettiest person on set.

- Vickie's hands are not real. Close ups are actually computer animated replicas done months later in post production.

- Vickie would demand the producers sing "Greased Lighting" from the show GREASE for her amusement at lunch and fire any member of the crew who did not know the words in the demanded sing along.

- Vickie forced the art department to repaint the set to compliment her color fingernail polish that week.

- She gave the crew STARBUCK COFFEE gift cards as Christmas gifts one season but they were coded so you actually owed STARBUCK's money when you used them.

TV Work = Hugging.

Getting the job:



First hour:


Last hour:



6 months later at a Starbucks:

The Saturday Corral

As mentioned last week, today I had to make a small, cute, ranch setting for a TV show filming in Chino Hills. It had to be set up in real time very quickly as the cameras rolled. It went very smooth.





At the end of the day, like the pioneers of old, I packed up my little corral and headed west into the sunset.

Cheesus Crust

My friend Jason Garner has been in Boston the past month or so art directing a movie. We talked the other day and he told me a great story about some set decor he made for the film's Production Designer. He mentioned it got some local press. Well, I'm not going to try and write it all...read the article in the Boston Herald.

UPDATE to Prop Shopping

While at Omega Cinema Props today picking up stuff, these were outside. As I said in the previous post. You can rent almost anything...

Love + Kisses, Brooke

My friend VALLEY GRRRL has a great story about meeting actor CHRIS ELLIOT on her blog. Her story reminded me of the time I met Brooke Shields.

Back in 1993, during it's final season, I was in the art dept. on ABC's The HOME SHOW. When not doing everyday prop person stuff, I was the "special set designer". I would design and create sets for fashion show segments or other unique needs next to the main set.

One day, segment producer at the time, Tracy Mazuer, came to me and said Brooke Shields was going to be a guest promoting a pet adoption campaign. The idea for the segment was to do a "tongue in cheek" version of the fashion shows we did once or twice a week. The animals up for adoption would come down the runway. I proposed, playing off the idea, that the set might look like a NEW YORKER magazine cover illustration. Sort of... humorously chic. Tracy liked the idea and sold it to the higher ups. The set came out pretty good. I want to kick my younger self because I didn't take any pictures. I still have the concept sketch though...


I was really excited to see Brooke Shields. I had a huge crush on her in my youth. I actually started to count down the hours when I would see her in person (quietly... in my head). I had told Tracy about my crush and she got a laugh out of it.

The morning of the show arrived, Brooke walked onto my set and sat down. Before the next part of the story, you should know... one of the duties the prop people did was provide water in "Home Show" mugs for talent/guests.

Tracy took a moment in prepping Brooke and called me over to introduce us, making a point of telling her I made the set. There I was looking into the beautiful eyes of a dream girl from my youth.

"Nice to meet you, the set is so cute" Brooke said

Nervous and shy, I asked her mumbling ...

"Can I get you some water?" almost in a whisper

"What?" Brooke said, leaning in closer, making my knee's weak.

"Wa ga, youb mont wa ga?" I said. My mouth had stopped working.

Tracy stepped in to translate...

"Dave's wondering if you would you like some water?"

"No, I'm fine, thank you." Brooke said smiling at me in a sweet way like I was the little slow and stupid guy on the crew.

I said "OK" and started to walk away. Tracy took my arm and walked with me. She was laughing knowing I got star struck.

"Are you alright?" she asked quietly.

"Yea, sorry, I'm just 12 years old again."

She laughed harder and went back to Brooke and producing the segment.

A couple of days later, Tracy handed me a large envelope.

"This is for you" she said and I opened it...

The Reality of Reality TV: 2nd season #4

I often do quick sketches to help the production team visualize things. Sometimes you get to have fun designing and drawing high concept ideas one afternoon...


and the most ordinary and simple plans the next.

The Reality of Reality TV: 2nd season #3

So you want to work in the art dept. on a TV show? What things should you have in your arsenal? Here's all the stuff you need to handle any creative situation that might come up...


That's it, that's all you'll ever have to keep handy.

The Reality of Reality TV: 2nd season #2

If you read this blog regularly you might remember I wrote about never being called by my last name. Even in high school, playing sports or in gym class, I was always "Dave Lowe" and never just "Lowe". Nothing changes.

Here's part of an e-mail sent out by the production manager today...


It could of been... art dept, art director, Dave L., D. Lowe. or any crazy combination of. I'm not complaining. It makes me smile. I just wonder why people easily use my first and last name together?

The reality of reality TV: Season 2

Well, now that the thrill of this week's cartoon contest is over, it's back to regular blogging.

Yesterday, I went to the beach. The second season of a "reality" show I worked on last season and I'm working on again started filming.

The show this week had a "pirate"esque theme with a map leading to a romantic picnic on the beach in Malibu. The highlight was finding a buried treasure chest. For the picnic setting, I tried to make it romantic with fun pirate touches without getting too crazy with the theme. Sort of a small comfortable spot a shipwrecked pirate interior decorator might create waiting for rescue.






The location really added to it. Funny thing is, it may look secluded on camera but 50 feet on either side are numerous people enjoying a day at the beach.

Ye old Billboard

TV production is often cold and unfeeling twords the time and craft that goes into making it's sets. Once it's on tape, unless needed again, it's just junk taking up space. Sometimes it feels like an artistic "one night stand".

Old sets are normally destroyed or might be recycled into new ones. Set dressing is sold, donated or saved to be used again. Custom props or dressing made specific to that show are quick to end up in a dumpster.

The set I designed for Stylelicious, now airing on the DIY Network, is officially retired. I was asked to help "tag" set pieces in storage that would move to the big studio in the sky. The show is not dead, it's planned to return one day in a new format without a set.

Because of the earlier described, I was surprised when Joel, the executive producer and Nicole, the production manager at Screen Door Entertainment (the company who produced the show) asked me to save and dust off the set's billboard wall art I designed/illustrated. They wanted to hang it in the home office. Here it is behind Jesse Kelly - Landes, Vickie Howell and Jennifer Perkins, three of the show's eight hosts from the Austin Craft Mafia ...


It now lives in the company conference room...it's a nice compliment they wanted to keep it.



I've been asked by Screen Door to work on many projects when they need me since 2002, so I've never felt my work unappreciated. Having the billboard kept and hung up is an acknowledgment to every one's hard work on the show.

Work never fails to surprise me.

In my work, you never know what will be asked of you. This week I decorated the basket of a "hot air" balloon. I had to add a few romantic touches to it for a special date a couple was to have on a new reality show I'm working on.

My decorations are nothing to speak of , but the experience was fascinating.

The crew arrived in the Temecula, Ca wine country at 5:30 am. The balloon "captain" inflated an simple party balloon and let loose into the air to check the wind direction. A massive tarp was laid out in a open area and the balloon was then carefully spread out. The basket was placed on it's side and the crew began rigging it.

There was a short time for me to add my details, because of the weather and the nature of "hot air", it was best to get the balloon aloft as quickly as possible once inflated. I kept it simple with fabric bunting and rose bouquets. I started my decorating sideways while it was being blown up. This gave me an intimate seat during the process of rigging a "balloon".

I was impressed how professional the crew was, but there was a moment of doubt when triple checking as the captain said to another crew member...

"Wow, you would think after dozens of flights, I would never make a mistake like this"

and he re tied a rope...it was minor, not a good looking "chippy caboodle" knot or something and although safe he wanted it looking perfect on camera. So I felt OK not to share what I heard with the production team and instill false panic. From there they triple checked and triple checked and triple checked once more and all was good.

Once elevated I was able to jump in and finish the side that was on the ground. That's when it was weird because the basket strained to float up but kept down by crew members. As I wired and secured roses to the basket it bounced and swayed all over the place until it settled.

Meanwhile a second or "chase" balloon was made ready for camera people etc.


Soon the couple climbed in and set off into the air.


There was a "oooo" and "aaaaa" moment as the sun rose and they quietly floated away...


over the pretty grapevine fields.


As I marveled at the nice sight and seeing the "chase" balloon follow ...


I suddenly remembered using scissors to cut fabric and immediately freaked out.

Where were they?

I knew I put them back in my tool bucket but was paranoid all the same.

Did I leave them on the edge of the basket in the rush to decorate?

I ran to my tool bucket.

Would they fall off into some field workers head?!

I found them, safely placed in the bucket.

My work never fails to surprise me.

I love my work!

Working in T.V. can be frustrating and exhausting one minute, then it's silly and fun the next.

Here are some pics working as art director on DIY's Knitty Gritty last season (courtesy of Vickie).

For a small "knit bit" on light up knitting needles producer Andrew Wollman wrote a Star Wars gag. Host Vickie Howell used the force on some yarn.




It was a fun afternoon working with Jane Manfolk, the wardrobe stylist, on the details of a jedi costume and doing low tech special effects with propmaster, Andri Silanandra.



Sure, it's not working with George Lucas at ILM as I dreamed of as a kid but I love this goofy stuff and there are a billion worse ways to pay the bills.

Interview Set

When you watch a reality show and see the scene when it's an intimate interview, take a moment to look at the background. Sometimes a lot of time and thought goes into it.

The reality of reality TV

The Gorilla Suit -secrets of the Hollywood propmasters.

I'm not one to give away my trade secrets but I thought I'd share some creative tips and tricks in a new series of posts.

HOW TO MAKE A PROFESSIONAL HOLLYWOOD GORILLA SUIT.

Did you know most gorillas in movies and t.v. have been a person in a costume? It's true!

Tarzan movies, the 70's Jessica Lange King Kong movie, that episode of Gilligan's Island with the gorilla...all had a person in a gorilla suit. I know, I know... I was fooled too.

Here's how to make your own that would rival anything from Rick Baker or Stan Winston's shop. Click on image to enlarge and print. Follow the directions carefully and remember to wear safety googles.



Happy National Gorilla Suit Day everyone!

3am coffee, pom poms and googly eyes.

I've been the prop stylist a little over a year now for the "how to" craft videos on Family Fun Magazine's website, www.familyfun.com. They can also be found at www.disney.com. We shoot these every 2 months or so.

They have reworked the videos in time and style. They are shorter now, so more segments can be shot in the usual production schedule. The trade off is less time for "step by step" instruction. Now each segment will showcase several projects with a theme, as in "things to do with a toilet paper tube".

I have to make the "things to do with a toliet paper tube".

They narrowed it down to three projects per segment. We shot 12 , one minute episodes in 2 days. That's 36 finished projects I had to make! Oh! Did I mention I am also responsible for installing and dressing the set as well?

They finalized what projects to do on a Tuesday... and wanted to see all 36 finished "heros" by Friday for approval ...I first thought they were joking, they were not.

Everyone realized there was only 24 hours in a day. Help was given and some finished projects trusted to look good by shoot day without approval, but I still had a few long nights of work to get everything done.

At 3am with blurry eyes the cute crafts, the mess and the atmosphere take on a Diane Arbus / Twilight Zone / David Lynch kind of feeling...

What I learned at work today...