Creating a newspaper article as a prop

[Tim Kay]

One of the main prop's for my upcoming project requires an actor to hold a newspaper clipping. Probably create it in photoshop but printing it, how do you go abouts creating a realistic looking prop ? I'm in Los Angeles if helps any.

Has anyone ran into this issues before ?

 

[ryan brown]

There's a thread around here somewhere with the same question... and the answer. I couldn't find it with a simple search, but I did find a thread that Pookie posted about the newspaper in question:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/br...story-behind-the-recycled-newspaper-prop.aspx

 

[Jon Starr]

Maybe you can find out the dimensions, do the photoshoping magic, and then call up a print shop and ask what the best paper is to print on for this situation? Explain it's a prop and needs to look and feel realistic.

 

[David W. Richardson]

When I was producing the 5 minute vampire short "Night Watch", I needed a newspaper with a custom article as a prop.

I went to the local art supply store (Michael's) and bought some high rag content newsprint-type drawing paper, sized a bit larger than the widest paper my inkjet printer could take. I then cut a sheet of the paper to the widest size that would feed in the printer. Used MS Word to create a fake newspaper banner, headline, sub-head, and the text for the 'article'. Didn't use a photo, but could have. This 'article' appeared above the fold -- there was actually nothing printed below the fold, because the 'newspaper' was only seen lying on a table. At any rate, although this was a bit smaller than an actual newspaper, it worked pretty well. And it was cheap!

 

[Tim Kay]

Thanks all for the feedback,

@chapel That's interesting - do you have a link to your video to see what the result looks like ?

 

[GenJerDan]

Is it used or just there to be seen as a newspaper? There are places that will print fake newspapers with headlines like "John Smith Retires!" or for birthdays, etc. So if you don't care what the headline is....if it's not really seen...

 

[David W. Richardson]

Thanks all for the feedback,

@chapel That's interesting - do you have a link to your video to see what the result looks like ?

Sadly, no. But when I get back home tomorrow I can send you a vid cap of it.

Come to think of it, I believe I still have the prop itself somewhere in my office. Have to dig that puppy out.