Ashley Flowers: Prop Master, Actress, Producer – Career Journey & Advice

From Yale to Hollywood: Prop Master Career

• 💡 Ashley Flowers is a Yale-trained prop master, actress, and producer, currently working on Chicago Med.
• 🎯 She transitioned from theater props (covering actor-held items and set dressing) to film/TV props (focusing only on actor-held items) due to better pay and focused scope.
• 🛠️ Fabrication involves using her personal studio and billing for time and materials; she warns against fronting money for props as a major red flag.

On-Set Protocols and Safety

• 🔑 The industry has strict union divisions of labor, which can lead to nuanced situations regarding who handles what on set.
• ⚠️ Actors should never steal or mess with props and must return them directly to the prop person to avoid delays.
• 🔫 Ashley emphasizes weapon safety as an armorer, enforcing strict protocols and advocating for experienced personnel to handle firearms, even pushing back against production for safety.

Multi-Hyphenate Journey: Acting & Producing

• 🚀 Ashley pursued acting after her prop career, training at Steppenwolf West and Groundlings, and moved to Chicago, continuing to work bi-coastally.
• 🎬 She started producing her own content (e.g., "Firstish Date," "Damage Control") during the pandemic, finding joy in creative control and hiring the right team.
• ✨ Producing allows her to create a positive set culture and address industry toxicity from her crew experience.

Balancing Career and Family Life

• 👨‍👩‍👦 Balancing a demanding industry career with motherhood is challenging, requiring a supportive spouse and extensive planning, including a nanny.
• 📈 Having a child has made her more driven and decisive in her career choices, setting clear boundaries regarding project worth and time commitment.
• 💬 Transparency and early communication with her partner are crucial for managing schedules and expectations.

Advice for Aspiring Professionals

• 🧠 There are no "right" answers in the industry; individuals must pave their own unique path and avoid comparisons.
• 🎯 Her key advice: if you can find happiness doing anything else, pursue that alternative, as the entertainment industry is mentally demanding.
• ✅ She reframes rejection as "selection, not rejection" to maintain a positive mindset amidst career setbacks.