Props for use in 'Insomniac'

Semi-realistic toy gun

This prop was first bought when I was very young on a visit to Disneyland Paris. I recently found the prop again and decided it would be appropriate to use in the video. The gun is not entirely to scale, but the handle is easily concealed when held by an actor. The labels are small enough not to be noticed on a glancing shot and the prop itself is far more realistic than any cheaply purchased toy guns on sale in the UK today. Due to changes in regulations toy guns must be brightly coloured so as not to cause panic in the streets. Having bought the prop in the 1990s in Europe the toy itself is much more realistic, crafted mostly out of metal and coloured correctly, with a working trigger and rotating barrel.

Selection of pills (multivitamin & foreign generic pills x2)

As part of the substance abuse theme I chose to use a variety of pills. The small, grey container is a selection of multivitamins and the two generic pill containers were taken by my father on a business trip to Asia. The purpose of the pills is ambiguous; they could be sleeping pills, pills for getting up in the morning, a terminal or chronic illness, or merely a variety of over-used prescription medicines (chiming in with the destructive lifestyle and tiresome life of the protagonist).

Bottle of beer (branded)


Keeping with the destructive substance abuse theme, a bottle of alcohol will also be featured, touching on the themes of alcoholism and under age drinking. The protagonist will either hold the bottle over the label to conceal the brand or display it in full if I decide that the label should be removed. A paper bag may also be used to cover the label.