Movie Prop Collecting with Jason DeBord's Original Prop Blog Film & TV Prop, Costume, Hollywood Memorablia Pop Culture Resource

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Autograph Anti-Fraud Legislation (California Assembly Bill AB 1570) Now Law

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Back in January, I wrote about Mark Hamill & Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang’s efforts to pass autograph anti-fraud legislation in California in the form of Assembly Bill AB 1570.  California Governor Jerry Brown signed this into law last month.  While I applauded the intention and efforts behind the proposed law back in January, I outlined a series of issues with it.  Apparently, I am not alone with my concerns, as Brian Doherty’s piece on Reason.com also lists some problems with this new law as written. [Read more…]

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Mark Hamill & Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang Working on Autograph Anti-Fraud Legislation (California Assembly Bill AB 1570)

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Following Mark Hamill‘s “hands on” approach to combating autograph fraud last month (see Revenge of the Jedi: Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) Uses Twitter To Strike Down Memorabilia Fraud), the actor has now teamed up with California Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang (R-Diamond Bar), who had already begun work on AB 1570, which would require certificates of authenticity (COAs) for autographed memorabilia sold in California and/or to Californians.  I’m particularly interested in these developments as I’ve been writing about the mechanics about COAs and issues regarding guarantees and warranties as well, and of course the rampant fraud in the marketplace as a result of criminals using worthless COAs as a tool to sell fraudulent memorabilia. [Read more…]

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The 9th Annual Original Prop Blog “Year in Review” for 2015: News, Developments, and Trends in Collecting Original TV & Movie Props, Costumes and Pop Culture Memorabilia

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As per tradition, (see 2007 Year in Review, 2008 Year in Review, 2009 Year in Review, 2010 Year in Review, 2011 Year in Review, 2012 Year in Review, 2013 Year in Review, 2014 Year in Review), what follows is an editorial featuring my personal observations and opinions with regards to the business of buying, collecting, selling, and preserving original pop culture artifacts.  A look back at interesting trends, developments, and news stories from 2015.  As is always the case, this is a completely subjective exercise, and merely touches on the developments and events that relate to the hobby. [Read more…]

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San Diego Comic-Con 2015: Prop Store Exhibit of TV and Movie Props, Costumes, Models, Memorabilia (#SDCC)

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This is part of my ongoing coverage of San Diego Comic-Con 2015.  Prop Store has an excellent exhibition this year, featuring a preview of material from their second annual live auction coming to London later this year.  Heavy on action and sci-fi, it drew a constant crowd of Comic Con attendees, many of which are fans of these genre films.  As with Star Wars Celebration earlier this year, Prop Store continue to find new and exciting Star Wars material, such as the stormtrooper helmet – the first time being offered to the public. [Read more…]

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Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2015: “Star Wars Original Props and Costumes” Discussion Panel

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From Luke’s yellow ladder A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back to his hero lightsaber from Return of the Jedi, the “Star Wars Original Props and Costumes” discussion panel at Star Wars Celebration 2015 in Anaheim ran the gamut of obscure background props to the best of the best.  Participants included Stephen Lane and Brandon Alinger from Prop Store, Tom Spina from Tom Spina Designs, and legendary collector Gus Lopez, creator of the Star Wars Collectors Archive.  Each panelist took us through one of their own “prop story” tales, showcasing the background of one of the prized pieces in their own collection.  Of note was that this was the first public announcement by Brandon Alinger that he owns what is essentially the hero Luke Skywalker lightsaber from Return of the Jedi, which was also used by Sir Alec Guiness in A New Hope as a fighting lightsaber (and not to be left out, it was also a practice dueling saber employed in The Empire Strikes Back).  It was an incredible display of both knowledge and images, and overall it underscored the importance of collectors in tracking down, identifying, restoring and preserving these important pop culture artifacts. [Read more…]

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Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2015: “Secrets of the Cantina” Discussion Panel

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The “Secrets of the Cantina” panel at Star Wars Celebration was one of the events that I was most looking forward to, and it did not disappoint.  Featuring co-presenters Pablo Hidalgo from the Lucasfilm Story Group and Tom Spina of Tom Spina Designs, they delved deep into the mythos of one of the most popular scenes from Star Wars: A New Hope, talking exclusively about those creatures (and ugly humans) that inhabited that infamous bar.  At times playing out like a spoken word CSI: Tatooine, they talked about some of the crazy methods they’ve developed to identify some of the actors behind the monsters, as well as the actors who played parts with make-up but without the masks. [Read more…]

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Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2015: Photos of Movie Props, Costumes, and Models from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”

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In terms of excitement generated from Star Wars Celebration 2015 in Anaheim, I would say the second development right behind the JJ Abrams/Kathleen Kennedy panel the opening morning and release of the new trailer for The Force Awakens is the exhibition of props, costumes, and models from the all-new film installment to the franchise.  On the upper floor of the Anaheim Convention Center is space dedication to the display of artifacts from the upcoming Episode VII, due in December 2015.  This feature includes about 130 quality photos from this exhibit. [Read more…]

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Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2015: Exhibition Hall Photography

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Following my pictorial preview of Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim for 2015 last night (Wednesday night, before officially starting), below are photos I took of the exhibit hall on the first full day (Thursday).  Being my first Celebration, it was bigger than I expected, but still not a massive as San Diego Comic Con (and thankfully, many of the aisles are much wider as well).  The calm before the storm was when the doors opened but the J.J. Abrams/Kathleen Kennedy panel was going.  For those who elected not to sleep overnight within the convention center to attend in person, the jumbo monitors at the LEGO booth streamed it all in real time, to the astonishment of fans who were thrilled by the premiere airing of the new “teaser” trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. [Read more…]