American Psycho – The Murder of Paul Owen Scene @ the Props Department

Given my practicum background being in the props department, it has given me a new outlook on props
as a whole, and certainly a further appreciation for the department. Looking at this extremely iconic
scene, there are several things that require consideration here. Reading back on the previous scene to
help establish the current scene, we know we’ll need the Barneys catalogue and a bottle of Absolut
vodka (several copies of each, just in case). We’ll need to look at the time period the movie is set in, and
ensure the catalogue is era-appropriate (or at the very least the cover is, and we fake the inside) as well
as see if Absolut’s bottle has changed over the years. The white Eames chair, that will be handled in
tandem with art department, since it functions as both. We will need realistically a dozen of these
chairs, because not only is a white chair asking for a stain to tarnish it (unacceptable in the world of
Patrick Bateman), it gets splattered in blood and viscera. This also leads us into a discussion with the
camera department and the director to find out how much coverage they’ll get of the scene, so we
know how many chairs we need for the estimated number of takes they’ll need, and then bring several
extras just in case. Once they film that part, the chair will need to be scrutinized and photographed all
over, so we can ensure the continuity of the stains on the chair remain as consistent as possible. We’ll
need several of the glasses Eames is drinking from, working again with art department since not all of
the glasses will be handled directly. We’ll need to talk to the director and anyone involved in music to
get a sense of what music Bateman listens to, and then acquire a great deal of CDs that fit Bateman’s
character for the part where he skims through all the CDs. The CD in question, Fore!, by Huey Lewis and
the News, we’ll need multiple copies, all in as perfect condition as possible, to fit Bateman’s lifestyle. If
we can’t find them, we’ll need to make them, finding the album art and recreating it with a blank CD
case. We’ll need several different axes, of different weights, depending on what shot it will be seen in;
probably a couple with a very soft rubber blade, and a couple without the blade at all, which, when used
correctly, can better help sell the story. We’ll need multiples of each weight of axe, for the bloodbath
shortly to ensue. We’ll need a few pill bottles, and a separate container of sugar pills, refilling the bottle
in between takes for when he takes his pills. Raincoats, working with wardrobe, making sure we have
plenty of the same raincoat, and to photograph each one after every take it gets dirty, again to preserve
continuity. A CD player, working with art department again, will be needed (a couple extras to be safe).
Collaboration with art department on the blood-stained floor will be important, and resetting will need
to be done as quickly as possible. The coat that gets used, we’ll need to be mindful of what it looks like,
try to make sure it changes as little as possible, and have backups on hand in case something goes sour.
Finally, we’ll need a Rolex (a couple real ones, a couple moulds of them) depending on how close we get
to seeing the watch, and several cigars, fake ones, as realistic looking as possible. And last but not least,
the sofa will also be something we need to be in touch with art department on.