Back in April 2007, I published an article titled “Screen-Match Examples“, which presented photos of props which “match” stills from movie and television featuring that same original prop or wardrobe piece. Given that this is a popular topic in the hobby, I thought I would develop this into a series of articles feautring additional examples. This update presents a match from the film, Rush Hour.
For review, the definition of “screen-match” from the OPB Lexicon:
Screen-Match: The method by which an original prop or costume has been literally “matched” to a screencap or still (a static frame captured from the film or television program and/or a publicity photo). This is accomplished via matching highly unique and specific marks, damage, weathering/painting, etc. on the prop or costume to the same highly unique and specific marks, etc. on the same piece seen in the screencap or still. The screen-match is more compelling based on 1) the uniqueness of the match and 2) the quality and resolution of the screencap or still.
Below is a screencap from the film Rush Hour, featuring a close-up shot of Chris Tucker’s LAPD credentials for his character, Detective James Carter:
Below is a photo of the original prop from the film, originally sold by New Line Auctions with their Studio COA (note: photographed on leather that is not original, not from the production, just for similar contrast in the photo):
In looking at the screencapture and the photo, there appear to be scratches across the clear strip of laminate across the top – it is actually glue residue.
If you study the film carefully, a completely different ID is insert into the badge case that is handled by Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan in the medium shots:
When the cut to the close-up, presumably an insert shot, it appears that the ID was simply glued onto a leather badge case or wallet – it is not actually behind a window but simply on top of the leather.
When comparing the glue residue that remains on the prop ID from New Line, even though more than a decade has passed since the production of the film, the glue markings on the prop match the markings as seen in the close-up shot in the film:
“Screen-matching” is one of the best tools of provenance for hobbyists. True, compelling, and irrefutable matches are as powerful as they are rare because they can supplement existing provenance and documentation as well as be used to authenticate props in which other provenance may be lacking. Having said that, I cannot stress enough that there are different levels of matching and one cannot discount the possibility of a match being manufactured post production, especially with the advent of high definition sources of film. As with all related to authenticity, appropriate scrutiny must be employed.
In any event, I think the promotion of this tool by looking at examples is beneficial to hobbyists.
Jason De Bord