Miniature Making for Film with Gemma Lark

Miniatures are small-scale models used in movies to create detailed scenes that are hard to film in real life. These models mimic cities, landscapes, and buildings, giving filmmakers more control and detail. You can create fantasy lands that don't exist, like in Lord of the Rings, or create cities that can be demolished and exploded on camera! Gemma Lark's workshop will show you how to create a scale model that can be used in Mabel & Switch to make Mabel's world look real - old factories, caravans, and areas in Warrnambool we could never film in.

All materials are provided, but we recommend bringing a notebook and pen to write things down, and a well-charged phone with camera to document your process!

Meet Gemma Lark, a prop maker and set designer who has spent over 15 years crafting cinematic worlds one detail at a time. A graduate of the prestigious NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Arts), Gem’s credits include blockbusters like Kong vs. Godzilla (USA), The Drover’s Wife (Aus), and Little Monsters (Aus), plus a roster of Australian and international TV shows. Known for her fine-tuned skills in creating everything from larger-than-life creatures to delicately crafted miniatures, Gemma has a particular flair for building breakaway props that bring stunt scenes to life.

These days, she’s specializing in the meticulous (and occasionally macabre) art of vegan dead things—think animal stand-ins that are so realistic they might make you look twice but, rest assured, are entirely cruelty-free. Her history as a circus performer and her collaborations with the likes of Burning Man have only added to her reputation for thinking wildly out of the box. Currently, she’s working on the UK production of I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!, where her creations are continuing to add their unique flare to the cinimat  landscape. 

When she’s not sculpting stunt-ready props or consulting with coordinators on high-impact scenes, Gemma’s likely back in the Northern Rivers, enjoying life as a mother and Artist. She’s especially excited about her next big project: leading a scale model workshop at One Day Studios, where she’ll be teaching the next generation of filmmakers to harness the power of dioramas and miniatures to elevate the Art Department’s impact in film production.