This episode begins with a hypothetical question: what would it look like if Property Mastering were its own Oscar category? We explore it as part of Below the Line’s 2026 Oscar series.

This week on Below the Line, Skid is joined by Scott Buckwald and Gregg Bilson, Jr. for a deep dive into the craft of property mastering through the lens of the 98th Academy Awards. Using a fictional Oscar ballot as a framework, they explore how props function as storytelling tools — shaping character, tone, and authenticity across a wide range of films.

As with the rest of this year’s Oscar series, the conversation is available both as an audio podcast and as a full video episode on YouTube, offering listeners and viewers a closer look at how below-the-line crafts are discussed and evaluated from inside the work itself.

Our discussion ranges across:

The conversation highlights property mastering as a discipline defined by preparation, judgment, and storytelling instincts — a craft that quietly anchors performance and world-building across every genre.

🎧 Press play — or watch the full conversation on YouTube — and join us Below the Line as the 2026 Oscar series continues. For more, visit belowtheline.biz.