For over 30 years, Marvel Entertainment's Head Prop Master Russell Bobbitt has worked out of the spotlight alongside industry stalwarts. With a portfolio of over 50 films including box office hits such as The Good Shepherd and Planet of the Apes, Russell is responsible for acquiring, designing and manufacturing the objects that end up in the hands of Hollywood's best-known actors.
In the Walk of Flame video, Bobbitt takes film fans behind-the-scenes to a leading LA prop house with over 1,000,000 props in inventory. As he tours the space, Russell explores the critical storytelling devices that drive plots forward and reflects on how the humble Zippo lighter became a dependable prop with over 2,000 film appearances to its name,
Discussing his role, Bobbitt commented: "A prop is a way to create depth, and flesh out the character. Nothing is accidental -every item placed on set should enhance the audience's understanding of the story. My role requires a keen eye for detail -everything an actor touches in a film has been scrupulously planned out.
"When characters need a reliable prop, one of my mainstays is the Zippo windproof lighter - despite its size, it can have huge impact and immediately resonates with an audience."
Bobbitt himself has helped the iconic American brand set the box office alight, featuring the windproof lighter in the likes of Charlie's Angels (2000) and Hocus Pocus (1993). Whether in a suspense-filled plot twist, a spark to trigger an explosion, a light to illuminate a treacherous path, or a means of escape from a sticky situation, you can often hear the unmistakable 'Zippo click' in some of Bobbitt's best-known films.
The video is part of the wider Walk of Flame campaign that gives the trusty lighter its first chance to bask in the spotlight. To commemorate Zippo's role in film, the brand has launched a range of movie tribute lighters, inspired by some of the most famous designs that have featured on the silver screen.
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