Behind the Scenes at the New GTN Soundstage

We recently sat down with Tamara Walter, GTN Design Manager, to get an inside look for our partners at the GTN Soundstage Props Department. Staff have been working around the clock to prepare, research, and create props for the 250th Anniversary special docuseries, We the People.

Props are so important because they help tell the story, define a character, or add realism to a scene. Props are technically anything from set dressings or objects that actors interact with; whereas set dressings set the scene without being handled by an actor.

As the design manager, Tamara receives vision for a scene from the directors, then she and her team research, purchase, and create props that authenticity reflect the historical accuracy for a given time period. In terms of We the People, extensive research is going into understanding what life was like in the early 1500s for the English wealthy and the peasant classes. Topics of research include Sir John Walsh’s family, the lives of William Tyndale and King Henry, as well as historical table styles, settings, colors, patterns, decorations, and the appearance of food. Based on the research, Tamara’s team and some wonderful volunteers have been working diligently to create realistic props to enhance each scene of the docuseries. You might find it surprising, but Tamar shares that items from the 1800s and early 1900s can be found on Facebook Marketplace. However, it’s much more difficult to find items that could represent something from the 1500s!

Recently, in one sewing project, the team created five altar frontals that were finished just a few hours before filming. One volunteer built two 20-foot tables for the Great Hall setting. The team also built a heavy wooden lectern that needed to be very sturdy because it would be pulled down over multiple times during the filming of that scene.

Interestingly, live animal actors are required for some of the scenes. These living props are cared for before and after their scenes, so they are ready to jump in when needed. During one particular day of filming, a goat actor and her baby escaped and went for a run, requiring several staff to run and find them to bring them back.

Episodes One and Two of We the People are currently being filmed in phases. Phase One included most of Tyndale’s lodging, so props were made for smaller, more modest rooms. Phase Two includes larger sets, such as the church cathedral, a library, and a palace, each requiring their own specific props. Phases Three and future phases are now in development.

This is just one example of all the work that is made possible through your partnership – thank you for what you do!