Life Size Realistic Props - insects, spiders, flies, and bugs

Welcome to Film Flies. Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Graham Owen and I have been creating realistic insects, for over a decade now, which are capable of fooling people, birds, bugs and fish. Film Flies, was established on pride of workmanship and integrity, with the goal of spending decades in the entertainment industry. I enjoy my work and have had the privilege of creating and supplying realistic life-size insects for use in film, television, commercial, advertisement, display and personal collections.

Basically, I know what I'm doing, and take pride in being the best

A Brief History Creating realistic bugs stemmed from a longtime passion for catch-and-release fly fishing, and the tools and methods used for fly tying form the foundation of my prop supply business. For example, thread is used, instead of glue, to secure legs, wings, antennas and tails, which results in amazingly durable products. Wings will not fall off, they would have to be deliberately and forcefully pulled to be removed. Entertainment producers struggle, at times, to ensure their work abides by American Humane Association Filming Guidelines, which restrict the use of dead animals as props, and require that "no animals were harmed". Film Flies uses "all cruelty free" products, which includes various synthetic as well as natural materials. Realistic insects are created from pieces of closed-cell foam, synthetic brush bristles, synthetic furs, and when feathers are employed, they are from "crop animals", such as geese, ducks, chickens and turkeys. Naturally molted feathers from more exotic species are collected from zoos, pet owners, pet stores and veterinarians, but rarely used. No cheap plastic molded parts are used, no real insect parts are used, this isn't taxidermy, each creation is a unique work of art. The Creative Process, a Typical Scenario The phone rings and the caller inquire's about the availability of realistic bees. That's when I start asking questions, such as, honey bees or bumble bees, life-size, larger or smaller, with wings up, or down, as well as other options, such as, an integrated hook to secure the prop for filming, or, perhaps an internal hollow tube, to allow the bug to fly down a wire. Reference photographs of living subjects are e-mailed to the buyer, and once approved, the creative process begins. Insect reference books as well as macro photography is used to help examine various intricacies such as shape, proportions, texture and coloration. Macro photographs are taken during the construction process, and clients are kept informed via e-mail as well as a dedicated web page, on this site, with images of their project. A Step-by-Step Example Below is a step-by-step example, creating a baby red eared turtle. I chose not to feature an insect, in an effort to not give away too much information.

Creating a Realistic Baby Red Eared Turtle Created on a fishing hook, two strips of foam secured with thread Foam colored with markers and coated with tinted flexible varnish Foam segmented up the hook to create the turtles tail Five pieces of fine brass wire secured to the hook to create the legs Wires bound together with thread Toes are separated and detailed Thin foam strips are tied on top as well as underneath to shape the legs The fun begins, detail coloring, using micron markers The head is shaped with a long strip of chenille. A plastic strip was pulled through the head with a needle, glass beads slid down, plastic melted until it was flush with the beads, to create eyes. Two strips of colored natural raffia are tied on behind the hook eye Raffia is pulled back and secured with thread The red ears are colored Raffia is pulled back to shape the turtles retractable neck The shell is made with a thin piece of flat foam Pattern was cut into the foam with a razor, and flame used to heat and shape the foam Thread is tied between the legs to begin forming the body Raffia is wrapped around the thread base Legs and toes are durable, bendable, and repositionable I have a lot of fun with my artistic creations, and look forward to working with you Graham Owen, Owner / Artist Phone 818-845-9039 Fax 818-566-6879 graham@filmflies.com Burbank, California American Humane Association Filming Guidelines Film Flies Home Page

Where realistic art comes to life