A visit to RS Propmasters
RS Propmasters has become a world leader at making replica props from the Star Wars films. Their products are beyond excellent. The company founders and their team are highly skilled, with an obsessive passion for Star Wars and an unswerving dedication to what they call “lineage”, total faithfulness to the appearance of the original costumes and props, and to the materials from which they are made and the manufacturing process. This is like a religion for them.
The founders and staff are all down-to-earth, horny-handed sons of toil, as British as fish and chips. Everything is as unlike any idea of Hollywood glitz as it is possible to imagine.
The company invites visitors to the factory, as part of the effort to develop a “community” vibe for customers and fans. They make YouTube content, in which the founders and principals chat, talk about their work, etc.
Recently, my wife and son (age 14) were visiting from a galaxy far, far away. My son is also a Star Wars fan. My wife is a great business woman, fascinated by the way western companies do business. I thought it might be very nice and interesting for them if I could somehow contrive to arrange a visit to RS Propmasters. To my surprise, this turned out to be possible, a visit was arranged on a Friday morning.
The boss, Rob, is an imposing, gruff, bluff fellow with a dour manner. He met me coming in but explained that he and his team were just about to sit down to breakfast (it was about 10.30am) and would have little time to spend with us. Paul, his right-hand man, is a chirpy, cheeky, chap with a ZZ Top beard and endless good humour. His firm grasp of the key to Chuckle Castle constantly annoys the boss it seems. Paul was kind enough to make tea and welcomed us warmly.
We were mostly ignored for a while as we pottered around and the workers ate. I could not help feeling like an intruder, despite the pre-arranged visit. I was embarrassed to see a display of pornographic pictures at one work table, which I thought strange in a space into which members of the public (including youngsters) are apparently invited.
After their meal Rob and Paul found a little time for us, although Rob invariably seemed to find my questions and requests annoying, having to be urged by his number 2 to show me fabric samples, footwear, etc. I should really have been able to see that he just wanted us gone, but I can be a little maladroit socially, and tend to overlook rudeness in the same spirit. Paul snapped a picture of me, wife and son with Rob, who somehow summoned up the semblance of an agreeable expression.
I asked to see the “show-room”. I had found the various mannequins and figures I had caught glimpses of in the YouTube videos fascinating and hoped for a closer look. Paul said he thought it would be fine, but Rob did not seem to think so when he reappeared, and I mistook this for mere badinage.
There followed a tense and uncomfortable experience, big Rob standing at the door glowering, answering questions tersely and with zero charm. It seemed we had inadvertently overstayed any welcome there may have been for us, perhaps intruded into Rob’s inner sanctum. He informed me in an ungracious tone and with a pointed glance in my direction that this was simply the place to put garbage.
The visit was really not the happy event I had hoped for and I would not recommend going there to anyone else.
Subsequently I found even email communications to be as terse and abrupt as possible. A request for a quote for a commission in fibre-glass was swiftly and abruptly refused, no reason given.
The company may wish to consider how they may improve in this area. I would prefer refusal when I initially requested the visit, if, as it seems, there is no protocol or program in place for them.
Perhaps a set program for visitors, boundaries and expectations clearly defined. If busy craftsmen have no aptitude or inclination to be expansive hosts, then they should not try to be. Maybe just one special staff member to roll out a bit of ersatz charm, while the creatives can ignore it and focus on their work?
