- Russell with Matt Damon Working as a feature film Property Master for 25 years, Russell Bobbitt has created some of the most memorable movie props in a wide scope of contrasting cinematic worlds, such as the sci-fi primate colony of Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes; the spy-filled 20th century in Robert DeNiro’s The Good Shepherd; and Brian Levant’s prehistoric cartoon-town of Bedrock in The Flintstone’s. Russell has contributed to the design of iconic props like the omnipotent board game in Favreau’s Zathura, Robert Downey Jr.’s luminous chest piece, the RT, in Iron Man, and the latest inception of the phaser in J.J. Abram’s highly-anticipated Star Trek prequel.
A native Angeleno, from a young age Bobbitt developed a fascination with the mechanics, inner workings and underlying structure of everything from transistor radios and record players to television sets and remote controls. However, his curiosity wasn’t limited to disassembling and reconstructing household electronics. One afternoon in his preteen years, to his family’s dismay, Russell “removed” several interior walls from their home. Fortunately for them all, the walls weren’t load bearing and he would eventually channel this unique energy into a career of prop design and film making.
Russell began his film training under the guidance of Academy Award nominated Set Decorator, Bob Gould, learning early on that personality and talent go hand in hand. His ability to work well with directors and interact easily with cast and crew alike has won him many repeat performances with directors and producers such as Drew Barrymore, Robert De Niro, Todd Phillips, Jon Favreau and McG.
Known as a hands-on filmmaker who is diligently on set at all times during physical production, some of Bobbitt’s Property Master credits include Favreau’s Iron Man and Iron Man 2, Todd Phillips’ The Hangover, JJ Abrams’ Star Trek, McG’s Charlie’s Angels franchise, Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes, Robert De Niro’s The Good Shepherd, Gary Ross’ Pleasantville, Phil Alden Robinson’s Sum of All Fears, and Wolfgang Peterson’s Outbreak. Russell just completed Kenneth Charles Branagh’s THOR and is now in preproduction on Dreamworks’ Cowboys & Aliens.
Designing and manufacturing props is not where film making ends for Russell. In 1995, he produced the independent short Mama Dolly, starring the late Zelda Rubenstein, which went on to garner several awards, including “Best Comedy Short” at the Hard Acre Film Festival.
Working steadily in the film industry for so many years, Bobbitt like others in the field answers the same questions repeatedly: “Do I need to go to film school?” “What’s a union?” “How do I get into the union?” “How do I find an agent?” Believing that there was a viable market for this inside information, in 2004 Russell wrote, directed and co-produced the two-part series entitled, “How to Make it in Film and Television,” and “How to Make it as an Actor.” To make certain the coveted advise was given by experts in the respective fields, Bobbitt called upon talented industry friends including Golden Globe winner, actor Jason Bateman; Golden Globe nominee actor Dennis Haysbert; Writer and Director Brian Levant; Academy Award nominee, Costume Designer Judiana Makovsky; AMPAS incumbent and Set Decorator Rosemary Bradenburg; and Academy-Award winner Special Makeup Effects Designer, Matthew W. Mungle among others.
And in addition to his behind the scenes contributions, Russell has had memorable on-screen roles as well: including Madison’s Minion and Drew Barrymore’s double in Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, the Israeli Pilot in the dramatic opening sequence of Sum of All Fears, a television crew member who calms a frenzied Richard Dreyfuss in What About Bob?, the one-armed, Ferris Wheel Carney who mortifies Drew Barrymore in Never Been Kissed and Giorgio, a party guest who unwillingly loses his hot date to Tony Stark’s cause, in Iron Man. These are just a few of the roles you can find Bobbitt flexing his acting muscle.
When Russell isn’t off creating movie magic, he spends time with his wife Tracy, their daughter Jordan and son Travis.
