Camera Roll with Eileen Winslow
Camera roll is an interview series where we glimpse into the current moment via the mundane and the ordinary; the life lived in this moment of a global pandemic.
Along with her husband BJ, Eileen Winslow has built a life manufacturing specialty props that run the gamut from zombie bodices to pig heads to eyeballs and tongues. Her work at Dapper Cadaver is often fun but hardly skin-deep: their props are used in film and television, by forensic scientists, and by other medical aid-based organizations. Here, she graciously lets us in on what it’s like basing a prop off of yourself and how she and her family have been acclimatizing after a cross-country pandemic move. Oh, and keep your eyes peeled for what she and BJ have in store for this year’s Halloween costume.
Where are you right now?
I’m calling from inside the house. Sorry, I had to throw in a little October humor right away. I’m at home on a Saturday in a small town outside of Madison, WI.
What’s your morning routine?
My alarm goes off at 5:30am. My older daughter also wakes up around that time, and we have an agreement to let each other have alone time until at least 6:30am (her idea, not mine). I make coffee, pet the cats, and usually watch a 5-10 minute travel video on YouTube. Tochigi, Japan, and Montreal, Canada are my favorite fantasy destinations right now. Then everyone wakes up, and I hustle the rest of the day.
Tell us a little bit about your background and journey.
I’m from Milwaukee, WI, and I have family in Milwaukee and Minnesota. My husband has extended family in Iowa as well. With everything that happened last year, we felt compelled to make the move to a smaller city closer to family. Madison was a good choice as a middle ground and central base for doing business with clients across the country.
We still deeply love Los Angeles, where I lived for over 20 years, and we miss our friends there. The journey itself was pretty epic—a road trip across the country in a Dodge Grand Caravan during a pandemic with kids, pets, and everything we owned. I haven’t shared much about that. Someday I’ll look back and maybe even put it into some poetry, but I’ve really had to focus on keeping on top of projects and building our lives out here for the time being.
How did you get into the specialty props world?
When my now-husband BJ and I were dating, we had a ‘Brilliant Projects’ list. We did all kinds of fun art projects together and with friends. There came a time when the stars aligned, and we were able to open a shop. At the time, he was freelancing as a propmaker from home and outgrowing our garage. We had an incident where the Santa Ana winds picked up a foam cross tombstone, and we never found it. We laughed that someone might have had their “Come to Jesus” moment as they saw it fly through the air. I was working for a tech company across the street which was sold and gave us a little capital. One of our friends with an art gallery in East Hollywood decided to move to NY and told us her space was available. The time was right, and we opened Dapper Cadaver.
what was it like starting a business with your partner?
In retrospect, we were young and way underfunded at the very beginning, but passion, persistence, and letting the business naturally evolve as the environment changes have been key. I couldn’t imagine doing this with anyone but BJ. When we had our shop in Sun Valley, CA, the La Tuna Canyon Fire approached one night. We borrowed our neighbor’s Dodge Ram 1500 truck and loaded out key molds to store in our garage just in case. That kind of commitment is rare. It’s been a privilege to see him evolve as an artist over the years.
is there a production you’ve worked on that stands out most to you?
We provided the latest Bond movie, No Time To Die, with a stunt figure back in 2019 and it was pretty exciting to finally see the film in theaters. Watching old James Bond movies was one of the things that kept me sane during the past couple of years. No spoilers, but I cried.
I love working with the same folks on multiple productions over the years, like when the propmaster for Cold Case moved onto Scandal or the same propmaster worked with us on American Horror Story and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Most folks don’t realize that the same creative people are behind the scenes making different shows that they love. It’s also really rewarding to work with forensic scientists and other educators and trainers, especially first responders and aid organizations. I have great respect for what they do.
do you have a favorite prop?
Our pregnancy belly and torso is a lifecast of me during my first pregnancy. I was happy to help contribute to accurate depictions of pregnancy. The Leslie hands are lifecasts of my hands in their knobby and veiny glory. We realized at one point that our names for hands unintentionally aligned with about half the cast of Parks and Recreation. Then it became an inside joke, so of course, mine are the Leslie hands.
What do your days look like?
I generally get to Dapper Cadaver early. I review our new orders and respond to clients. Each day comes with different tasks like running payroll on Tuesdays, etc. I work with the team at the shop on shipping, inventory, fabrication, custom quotes, and meetings. When I’m doing sales, I’m the bridge between our clients and production. Clients describe their prop needs and send reference pictures if they have them over the phone or by email. Often, we just get a verbal or written description of what they are going for and how it will be used. Then I take that information to our production team, and we discuss how to make it happen. I also work with the team on new product development. After I pick up my younger daughter from school, I handle management and digital marketing tasks that can be done remotely from my home office. Then I make dinner and spend time with my family. Oh, and try to do some laundry or dishes somewhere in there—don’t we all?
Any advice for those with aspirations to get into your line of work?
Materials suppliers like Smooth-On and Reynolds Advanced Materials have free video tutorials for mold-making, casting, and special FX painting techniques. Start making things and put together a portfolio of work. If you’re interested in joining the shop, send your resume to jobs@dappercadaver.com. Even if we don’t have a current opening, we keep applicants’ resumes on file in case we need to staff up for future projects.
are there any places or organizations you're supporting or wish you could support?
My daughter and I volunteer as Critter Cuddlers with the Dane County Humane Society. We adopted our new kitty Hermione from DCHS during the pandemic, and she’s such a sweetheart. We’ve been involved with Girl Scouts for years—“Be prepared” is such a great motto.
What did you do during quarantine that you hadn't before?
When I absolutely needed to clear my head, I took some time with my kiddos and a felt craft book called Klutz Sew Mini Animals and sewed the smallest and goofiest felt stuffed animals possible.
How are you sustaining connection and interacting with people during this time?
It’s definitely been a challenge in the current environment. My family and I text little things back and forth, everything from “Hey, look at my new flower bed” to “Check out Bowen Yang’s awesome shoes.” We’re making new connections in the area—finding a good church, getting involved in activities, and making friends. We entered a local library Lego competition and took first prize in the family division for our “Space Pandas” entry. I can’t wait to see what local haunts and hay-rides are doing this Halloween season. One of our Studio Artists runs Terror at Tyrol and gave us a sneak peek the other day. We picked up some pumpkins at Schuster’s Farm and got lost in the corn maze last weekend. Next stop is Eugster’s Farm with Screamin’ Acres.
How do you feel about halloween?
We love Halloween! BJ and I have hosted the Set Decorators Society of America (SDSA) Halloween meeting for several years running, and we like to do couples costumes for that. This year is vampire-themed, so we’re going to do Vlad & Mina from Bram Stoker’s Dracula from the ’90s. In the past, we’ve done Hannibal & Clarice, Gomez & Morticia, The Joker & Harley Quinn, and more. At home, we always do a Halloween mantle, and our décor is more personal than stylistic. And of course, BJ and the kids have lots of fun with the yard décor.
how do you keep active?
Work can be physically demanding, especially while helping pack up large freight shipments or working with full-body replicas. I’ve gone to a few fun burlesque classes at Dance Life and started running with the Zombies, Run! 5k Training app recently. I love taking the family to local gardens, hiking trails, and the zoo. Madison is gorgeous, and plants change with each season. Olbrich Gardens, Henry Vilas Zoo, and the UW Arboretum are incredible. We also got a rowing machine over the winter, although walking up the hill after sledding was an actual workout.
What are your skincare and haircare routines?
I use Aromatica cleanser and moisturizer, and W3ll People cosmetics. Bang Salon in Madison has been helping me grow out my usually short hair.
What are you listening to?
I’ve been listening to audiobooks via Libby while doing fabrication work or commuting. I just finished Agatha Christie’s classic Murder on the Orient Express and Ali Wong’s Dear Girls. I’m currently listening to Charlaine Harris’ Day Shift. I read all of her Sookie Stackhouse books in order, so doing things for True Blood had a special place in my heart. Day Shift is part of her Midnight, Texas series.
What are you reading?
I’m continuing my Alice Hoffman streak with The Marriage of Opposites. If you’re looking for a good Halloween read and haven’t read Practical Magic, do it. The movie also has my dream kitchen. I’ve also been reading historical war fiction like Kate Quinn’s books and Viet Thanh Nguyen’s The Sympathizer.
What are you watching?
I’m not as well-versed in recent horror movies as most people expect, but that’s because I generally watch comedy at night to maintain some balance in my life. We’re big fans of Bob’s Burgers, Archer, and What We Do in the Shadows. Limited series like Mare of Easttown and Nine Perfect Strangers were excellent. We’ve been screening cult classic horror films at the shop once a month on Friday nights for the crew and friends and family. We may invite more folks in the future. The most recent one was the 1977 Japanese horror movie House.
what are you eating?
We’re slowly exploring new restaurants in the area. Some favorites so far are RED Sushi which was our first real restaurant date after getting vaccinated, the Viking Brew Pub in Stoughton, which has a Viking ship bar and gluten-free buns if you ask, Ziggy’s BBQ in Oregon for its homey patio and Paco’s Tacos down the street from the shop.
what are you drinking?
Gluten-Free New Grist Beer from Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee and Strange Beast Hard Kombucha.
Favorite things you’ve bought in the past year?
I just got new Warby Parker glasses and realized I subconsciously picked the same pair as Meg Ryan’s character in When Harry Met Sally. I might have to buy myself a good turtleneck sweater to complete the look as we head into fall.
images provided by eileen winslow, interview by marina sulmona