So what is the background to your IMFDB user name?

[MoviePropMaster2008]

Originally Posted by Rockwolf66

Well my username is just a mishmash of random things I like.

Rock=I'm a big fan of various styles of Rock and Roll.
Wolf= yes I like canines of the non-domesticated variety. Sometimes i go by Canusdirus66 while online.
66=At the time my dream car was the 1966 Chevelle Malibu SS. Over the years it has changed to a 1970 Chevelle Malibu SS factory badged with a 454 LS6 engine.

Interesting enough the initials of my user name match my real last initials.

I thought it was the name of a metal band..... damn!

[Spartan198]

Well, basically, my name started in August of '07 when I joined a Rome: Total War forum called totalwar.org.

I originally called myself SpartanGlory1983. I know, it sucks, but I didn't think so at the time.

Then it got to be a mouthful and I shortened it (but not by much) to SpartanGlory198.

Eventually that came to be a mouthful as well, so I lopped off the "Glory" part and shortened it to Spartan198 and that's what I've been using for a good few years now.

A lot of people think it's a Halo reference, but it's not. It's a reference to the real super soldiers of the ancient world, the Spartans who at the head of 7,000 other Greeks fought the hordes of Persia to a stand still on a narrow mountain pass in the summer of 480 BC.

No retreat. No surrender.

[ManiacallyChallenged]

Tonight! We dine! In he- heck!

[MoviePropMaster2008]

Movie Prop Master is an actual job title on the set of a film. I use that when I interact with jittery anti gun folks, like city officials, insurance folks, 'some' police, and the ignorant lay-public. Using the more accurate term Gun Wrangler or Armorer has actually made people freak out, even though many times I am NOT the actual propmaster for the entire film (only the weapons related portions).

The real propmaster is in charge of everything like chairs, plates, plants, rugs, sheets, pens, pencils, etc. etc. etc. I don't ever do anything like that, however, I do cover everything related to the weapons as well, holsters, rigs, body armor, tactical gear, web gear, accessories, etc. which a regular propmaster wouldn't have the slightest idea about.

It doesn't mean that I am a 'master' of anything. It is a Politically correct 'alternate name' I sometimes 'adopt' to keep anti gunners from flipping out. When I say "prop" they relax, somehow assuming that all the guns are now 'safe', even though they are real and can be re-converted to live ammo fire eventually, (or immediately if they are manually operated guns).

On the master note, I tend to have an immediate bias against anyone who self proclaims themselves a 'master' of something. "I am stealth master" "I am combat master" To my ears it sounds obnoxious (sorry guys) and makes me think of an angry 13 yr old Call of Duty fanboy. In the real world, you self proclaim yourself a 'master' of anything, you'll get a real world smack down faster than lightning.

Edit:
On a lighter note, the traditional name for a woman in that role was "Prop Mistress", but apparently I'm the only one left who uses that antiquated term. Mike Papac once laughingly warned me NEVER to utter that phrase on a set with a FEMALE Propmaster. Her inner angry feminist will kick my ass! Which is why we see more and more female actresses proclaiming themselves to be 'actors' (which is MALE in gender).

[Rockwolf66]

Originally Posted by MoviePropMaster2008

Edit:
On a lighter note, the traditional name for a woman in that role was "Prop Mistress", but apparently I'm the only one left who uses that antiquated term. Mike Papac once laughingly warned me NEVER to utter that phrase on a set with a FEMALE Propmaster. Her inner angry feminist will kick my ass! Which is why we see more and more female actresses proclaiming themselves to be 'actors' (which is MALE in gender).

Funny thing is that traditionally "Mistress" indicates that the woman is the head of whatever area she controled. Thus unless you are talking about someones lover then it is a trem of respect.


PS: scratch that theory about who MPM really is. Yeah I'm trying to whittle down who MPM really is as a way to pass the time and test my information gathering and analysing skills. Then again I really don't know much more than the major names in the film armorer buisiness.

[Excalibur]

So, MPM, do people call you "Hey Prop Master!" And you like it when ppl call you that?

[MoviePropMaster2008]

Originally Posted by Excalibur

So, MPM, do people call you "Hey Prop Master!" And you like it when ppl call you that?

Actually on set I hear the sweet sweet sound of the Director and then the Asst. Director screaming my name from a distance or I hear the sound of the walkie Talkies of all the assistant squawking whether or not they have the '20' on my position.
Other than on a set, why would anyone address me other than my name? And on the set, everyone usually KNOWS your name. I have never heard a director yell to his Chief camera operator "Hey Camera guy!" LOL

[MT2008]

Originally Posted by MoviePropMaster2008

On the master note, I tend to have an immediate bias against anyone who self proclaims themselves a 'master' of something. "I am stealth master" "I am combat master" To my ears it sounds obnoxious (sorry guys) and makes me think of an angry 13 yr old Call of Duty fanboy. In the real world, you self proclaim yourself a 'master' of anything, you'll get a real world smack down faster than lightning.

Hmmmm, but then what about the term "weapons master"? I know I've seen at least a few armorers who got credited that way.

I've also seen the term "master armorer" on at least one movie, though I think it's meant to distinguish the "lead" armorer from the "assistants".

EDIT: Did a quick IMDB search of those phrases. Simon Atherton is credited as "Master Armorer" on Black Hawk Down, and Mike Papac was "Master Armorer" on S.W.A.T. and XXX 2. It looks like Harry Lu was credited as "weapons master" on a bunch of movies.

[MoviePropMaster2008]

Originally Posted by MT2008

Hmmmm, but then what about the term "weapons master"? I know I've seen at least a few armorers who got credited that way.

I've also seen the term "master armorer" on at least one movie, though I think it's meant to distinguish the "lead" armorer from the "assistants".

EDIT: Did a quick IMDB search of those phrases. Simon Atherton is credited as "Master Armorer" on Black Hawk Down, and Mike Papac was "Master Armorer" on S.W.A.T. and XXX 2. It looks like Harry Lu was credited as "weapons master" on a bunch of movies.

Actually I mean usernames. NOT talking about actual titles. I mean like I go on an airsoft forum or a Video Game forum and every other user has a name like 'Death Master' or 'Sniper Master'. I wasn't talking about pros in the field who are given those titles. Usually the Master Armorer is the head dude, who overseas the other armorers. Weapons Master usually (thought not always) means the guy who not only provides the weapons, but does a lot of the on set training (and it refers A LOT to edged weapons experts as well as gun experts).

So No, I was talking about posers, not professionals

[Nyles]

Originally Posted by MoviePropMaster2008

Actually I mean usernames. NOT talking about actual titles. I mean like I go on an airsoft forum or a Video Game forum and every other user has a name like 'Death Master' or 'Sniper Master'. I wasn't talking about pros in the field who are given those titles. Usually the Master Armorer is the head dude, who overseas the other armorers. Weapons Master usually (thought not always) means the guy who not only provides the weapons, but does a lot of the on set training (and it refers A LOT to edged weapons experts as well as gun experts).

So No, I was talking about posers, not professionals

Couldn't agree more, that's just annoying as all hell.

Interesting point - the commander of the sniper det in a CF infantry battlion is known as the UMS - Unit Master Sniper. After seeing what ours can do with a .50 cal Big Mac I'm more than inclined to grant him the title.

Nyles has been my internet handle for about 12 years now. In joke from junior high. I keep using it out of habit.