Prop Man: From John Wick to Silver Linings Playbook, from Boardwalk Empire to Parks and Recreation

A veteran prop designer for film and TV brings his passion for his craft to this enlightening volume. As art director Heller relates in the foreword, MacDonald’s interest in visual design originated during his childhood when, during a bout of rheumatic fever, he took refuge in comics. Later, stints as a children’s book author and illustrator resulted in his designing the title sequence for the 1994 flick Baby’s Day Out, which comprised turning pages of a child’s book. MacDonald soon garnered a reputation for being able to recreate old books, such as Colonel William Travis’s 19th-century journal for the film The Alamo (2004). With photos and meticulous sketches from his tenure, MacDonald walks readers through the intriguing process of designing his most elaborate prop: the fictional Book of Secrets that sends Nic Cage on an action-packed scavenger hunt in 2007’s National Treasure; doing so required faking a signed photo of Lizzie Borden, phony evidence of an alien autopsy, and an altered image from the Zapruder film. His zeal for perfection is infectious and impressive—when reproducing a newspaper front page, he researched the day’s weather for its upper right corner. A q&a with Heller enhances the text, as MacDonald shares how his obsession with his art transformed his life. Cinephiles will savor every last detail. (May)