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<\/a>Today we are featuring\u00a0 a new\u00a0series of articles\u00a0for collectors:<\/p>\nScreen Seen<\/strong><\/em><\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Screen Seen<\/em><\/span>\u00a0will illustrate how anyone can go about\u00a0screen matching\u00a0their favorite props and costumes from their\u00a0favorite films.<\/p>\n Screen matching a prop, costume, or artifact from a film\u00a0is one of the tools archivists and\u00a0collectors can use to help authenticate an item.<\/p>\n It’s not always possible to screen match\u00a0 for a variety of reasons.\u00a0A few of those reasons would be the item is not seen in a clear enough, or close enough shot in the film, lighting conditions of the scene, quality of the print of the film, or quite simply that the item was altered during or after filming.<\/p>\n Age of the item can\u00a0come into play\u00a0too. Paint can wear off, colors can fade, a piece can be missing, etc.<\/p>\n Collectors should always remember that just because an item cannot be screen matched, does not<\/em> necessarily mean the item\u00a0was not used in the film. Screen matching can be a part<\/em> of what\u00a0collectors can do to\u00a0identify an item they have or may be interested in. \u00a0<\/p>\n One of the most important steps to\u00a0verify authenticity of an original prop or costume would be where the item came from or its provenance<\/span><\/em>.<\/p>\n Provenance<\/strong><\/span><\/em> is defined as the origin, or the source of something, including\u00a0the history of the ownership or location of\u00a0the item(s) and is one of, if not the most important thing in assisting collectors and historians on the authenticity and history of an object.<\/p>\n In my article on authenticating original props and costumes <\/a>I mention\u00a0these 3 basic steps one should take when researching a potential original artifact from a film.<\/p>\n 1.) \u00a0<\/strong>What exactly is this?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span> <\/span>Have the seller clearly state exactly\u00a0what the item is, where it came from, and\u00a0whether they know how many were created for the film. For example,\u00a0only saying \u201cproduction made\u201d\u00a0is not good enough if you want a screen used item. If you are\u00a0ok with a\u00a0\u201dproduction made\u201d (which is fine) item, ask\u00a0if it is known why it was not used in the film or what information the\u00a0seller can share with you and what they can\u00a0verify\u00a0concerning the item.<\/span><\/p>\n 2.) <\/span>What guarantee comes with the item<\/span><\/span> <\/strong><\/em>if it is proven to not be as represented by the seller? An honest individual\u00a0seller in a private deal,\u00a0should\u00a0 have no problems refunding your money if the prop\/costume is proven to be not as described.<\/span><\/p>\n 3.) Does the seller have any history<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span> with other people which can be verified?<\/span><\/p>\n Get all of the above in writing if possible. The more you can verify the better.<\/span><\/p>\n Now that I have briefly outlined things collectors can do, I am ready to show you the first of some very interesting screen matches I have done and am in the process of doing on items you can see in the Movie Prop Collectors museum.<\/p>\n A one of\u00a0a kind, screen used and matched hero Jester puppet head\u00a0used in\u00a0the original Puppetmaster<\/strong><\/em>, as well as 4 of it’s succeeding sequels.<\/p>\n The next page features instuctions for how to get screengrabs\/captures from Blu Ray and DVD’s\u00a0as well as\u00a0a video of scenes from Puppetmaster<\/strong><\/em> <\/a><\/span>and Puppetmaster\u00a02<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/a> and their accompying screen grabs matching\u00a0Movie Prop Collectors<\/strong><\/em><\/a>\u00a0actual Jester<\/a><\/strong><\/em> puppet head used in the scenes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n How to take screen grabs\/captures at home.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n For those at home trying to screen match a prop, costume or other artifact from a film, the best choice is an authorized\u00a0current Blu Ray<\/em> or DVD<\/em> of the film.<\/p>\n Of course Blu Ray<\/em> should\u00a0yield the clearest, cleanest view of the film. Many times there may not be a Blu Ray<\/em> version, so\u00a0DVD<\/em> is the next best thing.<\/p>\n You should have the clearest and highest resolution photos of your\u00a0item that you can take. Front views, side views, three quarters, behind. The more views and angles you have of\u00a0the item the better.\u00a0<\/p>\n Make sure the\u00a0enhancement settings are turned off<\/em>, and do not adjust the film in any way. This\u00a0\u00a0initially (and usually), will\u00a0give you the truest\u00a0version of the film.<\/p>\n You can experiment with settings if they help you achieve a clearer and mostly\u00a0unaltered view of what you are trying to match.<\/p>\n In the DVD\/BluRay,<\/em> look for the clearest, closest, unobstructed view of the item you can find,\u00a0then pause the movie when you think you have suitable screen grabs.\u00a0 You\u00a0can save the grabs a number of ways.<\/p>\n