Creating the Prop! (Planning)

Context

One of the most important item in the entire scene is Forrest's leg braces. It represents his repression, limitations, and then his freedom and power when it falls apart, allowing him to run freely. It is also what makes the entire scene so memorable. 

Where to begin...

Even though making props is not in my job description, I had the materials and good time management, so why not? First, I found an image of the actual braces and decided on the materials we needed!

Young Forrest Gump's leg braces

Luckily it is not extremely complex. Most of the materials could properly be simplified with house hold materials. In the end, I decided to use mostly cardboard, duct tape, paper, and a lot of hot glue.

Making the prop! 

Me and our sound designer (Who is also playing Forrest Gump!) drove to the park (also our shooting location) and met up to create the prop. However, time was limited and so we did not finish. We finish only some of the parts.

Starting to make the props!

The next day, I finished the entire prop at home. I used mostly hot glue and duct tape to secure the padding (? or big pieces) at the back so that it was removeable and easy to put on. It took me a few hours and I was in an awful mood by the end, but at least it was finished.

My sister helped with being the model in creating this (note that the portion is slightly off since she has shorter legs).

Key Takeaways!

When making this prop, I learnt how important it is to plan ahead, stay organized/on tasked, and adapt when things don't go as expected. Plus, strong problem-solving skills, a LOT of patience, and the ability to work independently when needed comes in handy for these type of situations.