Summer is an extremely busy period for the screen industries in the north, and with a fresh flock of recent graduates to boot, we thought it was a good time to answer some of the most frequently asked questions that we receive.
So, what exactly is a prop house?
Essentially, we are a big warehouse full of the set dressing that you see behind actors on TV. People who work in TV, film, advertising, and theatre come to us to hire items to make their sets look amazing. We’ve have thousands items from a range of eras, decades and places – including Victorian era props, American street dressing, modern furniture and everything in between!
Who can hire props?
Whether you are a production designer, petty cash buyer, event planner, student filmmaker, or overworked drama teacher put in charge of the school’s most recent production of Oliver, we’ve got you covered.
How does it work?
It’s simple, give us a call or drop us an email with your brief. Even better come down to our site, have a cuppa in the office with the team, and get the full VIP tour of the prop house. While you are here, we will run through the pricing, and prop options and organise the paperwork for you.
However, we know many just can’t make it to us. Production life is relentless and often remote, we get it. We don’t mind sending over details photos, dimensions, and quotes and we will do this as fast as we can.
Why can’t I see the prices on the website/in the prop house?
We honestly aren’t trying to be coy, but our prices are dependent on the duration of hire. For instance, the same chair could cost you £20 or £100 depending on how long you would like to hire it for. We will work personally on each quote to give you all the information you need for your individual production needs.
Do you have cleared artwork?
For anyone who has been lost in our galleried hallways you know we have an extensive collection of artwork for hire. This artwork is cleared for screen use and we can provide clearance letters upon request.
Can we buy the props?
We have been known to have a yard sale or two so it’s worth keeping an eye on our socials if you are interested in purchasing a piece of prop heaven for yourself.
I want to hire props for my wedding/party/company event/ prom…..
We do hire to the general public, and we are more than happy to help make your event look unique. We would recommend visiting us if you haven’t before, this will help to get a feel of what we have to offer and enable us to talk you through the hiring process in a little more detail.
Do you do any discounts?
We offer a discount to students shooting their films and/or projects. We also offer ten days of hire for the price of seven to theatres.
Will you deliver my props?
In a word, no, BUT we know who can. We have long-standing relationships with the best industry specialists in transporting props and scenery and can set up introductions to ensure your production has everything it needs logistically.
If you aren’t in the screen industry and need something a little smaller scale, we can provide you with the details of trusted smaller-scale couriers.
My production is running again next year and I need to store the set, can you help?
We absolutely can. We have specialist scenery storage facilities and can help with the transport logistics. Call the team today for more info and a quote.
I have items that I want to sell, do you buy props?
Our props are sourced in a variety of ways and if there is something we need we will buy from private sellers, online auctions, and productions. We love seeing items that people have to sell and we are absolute geeks when it comes to hearing the stories behind them however, we only have so much room (much to our annoyance) so we do have to be discerning when it comes to buying.
I would love to work at SN, how do I become part of the team?
We are a small team and permanent vacancies are rare, however, we often have freelancers in during busy periods or to cover annual leave. If this is something you would be interested in then contact the team mail@stockyardnorth.com or pop in for a chat.
