So it was one year ago today that I published the first article for the Original Prop Blog, “The Hobby Without A Name…“
One Year Later
In some ways it feels as though it’s been much, much longer than one year.
This is actually the 431st post on the blog, which works out to 1.18 articles per day. My hope was to have about one per day, so I’ve managed to keep with with that goal. My plan was to have an active site with fresh content that kept track of the major and minor events of the hobby, as well as featuring other compelling articles of use and assistance to other collectors.
I’ve already remarked on the Annual Statistics a few days ago, which still very much surprises me.
I think now is a good a time as any to restate my purpose with the site, which can be found on the “About the OPB” page:
About The OPB
Original Prop Blog, LLC publishes articles and features focusing on news, research, opinion/editorials, information, trends, issues, reviews, investigations, interviews, debate, and other content related to celebrating, purchasing, selling, collecting, authenticating, and archiving original props, wardrobe, and other popular culture artifacts from film and television. The Original Prop Blog was created to benefit and serve the public interests of the hobby by advocating for original prop and memorabilia collectors/hobbyists/consumers/archivists as well as the hobby at large.
Original Prop Blog Objectives:
- To report on and/or explore topics, ideas, issues, and current events that are important and of relevance to the hobby and other issues in the public interest
- To encourage debate, discussion, and exploration of those topics, ideas, issues, and events
- To create, build, and share an archive of organized and accessible free information and resources for collectors
- To advocate for collectors/hobbyists/consumers in a challenging marketplace
- To share opinions related to dealers, vendors, auction houses, and other “for sale” or acquisition outlets/resources
- To introduce, debate, shape, discuss, and evolve concepts related to provenance, authenticity, and associated standards and expectations
- To discourage anonymity and promote open and notorious use of one’s real identity in the community
- To bring greater awareness of the hobby to the general public
- To help other collectors become more discerning in collecting and archiving original and historical artifacts from film and television, as caretakers of these important pieces of our popular culture
More, some of the following principles guide content and topics:
- It is productive to be open and transparent whenever possible
- It is appropriate to discuss and debate items offered for sale in the marketplace and to subject those pieces to public scrutiny
- It is appropriate to discuss and debate individuals/companies that have offered for sale, sold, and/or authenticated memorabilia, as well as their statements, assessments, and conclusions as to authenticity
- Every item is considered “inconclusive” until proven to be either “authentic” or “inauthentic”; if neither can be proven, the item remains “inconclusive”
The Coming Year
As far as comparing my original goals against what I’ve actually managed to accomplish over the past year is for others to judge, not me.
Regardless, I am very exciting about OPB: Year 2.
What do I have planned?
I guess I’m not supposed to say more of the same, but really, you can expect that, and hopefully more.
It has been a while since I’ve had the time to focus on another Featured Interview, but I hope to have some opportunities to share thoughts and ideas from a variety of people involved in the hobby.
I also hope to have some reports that transcend the Internet, with more on-site coverage of events (time permitting).
I will also continue to refine and build upon some of the foundational components of the blog, such as the OPB Lexicon.
I plan to create some more “tools” for hobbyists, including some template documents that may be of value in buying and selling original props.
Why The Hobby Matters
When I talk to people outside of the hobby, in many cases, they don’t really “get it”.
Some see it as merely a collecting pursuit purely for personal enjoyment and escape. Others see it as a money-driven hobby, buying and selling to make profit. Or high-priced objects purchased on a whim by those who can afford them. For others, the worst the hobby has to offer is most apparent – from sharp business practices to outright fraud.
I think the hobby is very important because, at the heart of it, it is about both celebrating and preserving these very rare artifacts of our popular culture. As someone recently put it to me, film and television represent a culmination of all of our fine arts: theater/acting, art and composition, painting, music, dance, textiles, photography, sculpture, and more. It is also universal, with countries all over the world enjoying these works of art that transcend language and culture.
Film and television, at it’s best, reflects who we are, where we’ve been, where we might be going, and what we aspire to be. At it’s worst, or even mediocre, it is still a reflection of the times we live in.
Original artifacts from these works are important to properly identify and preserve. It is of critical importance to identify what is “Original” and authentic, and to protect the hobby at large from being infiltrated and polluted by false, fake, and fraudulent pieces that obscure and confuse the history of the real artifacts from these works we cherish and celebrate.
When a high profile, inconclusive or inauthentic piece sells through a reputable auction house in a public event, the danger is that it becomes real, regardless of whether or not is has been proven to be authentic based on the merits of its provenance.
I’m also concerned with the large numbers of inconclusive and inauthentic pieces being sold on eBay every day, flooding the market and disenchanting new entrants to the hobby in the event that they learn they have been taken advantage of. These activities have a very damaging affect on the growth and integrity of the hobby.
Also of importance is the fact that truly well managed archives and museums for these pieces are few and far between. As such, independent collectors and hobbyists have the responsibility to serve as caretakers for the pieces that they acquire for their personal collections. One of my concerns is that for many, keeping professional records/provenance and conducting timely and appropriate research for those pieces they own to further bolster the material information supporting authenticity – these challenges are often viewed as a chore or unnecessary, and the potential “story” a particular prop has to tell may be cut short or lost.
Being fortunate enough to collect original props is a very special opportunity. To hold something iconic from a classic film, and to have that unique connection with the work, its story, and its characters, is a chance to connect with it in a way that most never will. I think collectors forget this from time to time, distracted by the pursuit itself and other activities in the hobby that are secondary to “the magic” of being able to have a moment with something that has made a very rare journey.
In that there is no real oversight for this hobby, I continue to hope that those of us who care about preserving these artifacts that we collect can come together, share information, and look out for the interests of one another and the hobby at large, as well as ourselves. This would include collectors, dealers, auction houses, studios, and anyone else who participates in the hobby in some degree. Good will and pure intentions go a long way.
In any event, I very much thank all of you who have read and supported and challenged the OPB.
Jason De Bord