The road to the Emmys is heating up, and this year two Apple TV+ series are already making headlines. Severance and The Studio, both considered frontrunners for television’s most prestigious awards, picked up major honors at the MacGuffin Awards—a ceremony that shines a spotlight on the unsung heroes of film and TV: property masters.
While most fans focus on actors, directors, or writers, props are essential for bringing stories to life. A convincing set piece or a well-placed object often makes the difference between a scene that feels flat and one that immerses audiences completely. The Property Masters Guild created the MacGuffin Awards to highlight this overlooked but vital craft.
Severance and The Studio Win Big
At this year’s ceremony, held at Hollywood’s iconic Paramount Theater, Apple TV+ scored big.
- Severance (Season 2) property master Catherine Miller won the award for One-Hour Contemporary Television Series. Miller’s work is especially significant in a show like Severance, where the world-building depends heavily on unsettling, sterile office spaces contrasted with the characters’ emotional struggles. Every briefcase, cubicle item, and hallway design deepens the eerie tone.
- The Studio (Season 1) property master Andrew M. Siegel took home the MacGuffin for Half-Hour Single-Camera Television Series. This win reflects how even comedy relies on authenticity—props help ground the humor and make the world believable.
With Severance competing for Best Drama Series and The Studio aiming for Best Comedy Series at the Emmys, these MacGuffin honors not only validate the work behind the scenes but also add momentum to Apple TV+’s campaign for its first double Emmy win.
Recognizing the Art of World-Building
The MacGuffin Awards are only in their second year, but they’ve already established themselves as a key celebration of craftsmanship in Hollywood. As the guild’s cochairs explained, the awards highlight “the talent, precision, and problem-solving that Property Masters contribute to productions.”
From science fiction epics to historical dramas, props give stories texture and believability. A futuristic gadget in Dune: Part Two or a recreated ’60s café in A Complete Unknown can transport viewers through time and space, grounding the imagination in something tangible.
Big Winners Across Film and TV
While Severance and The Studio grabbed headlines, the MacGuffin Awards celebrated excellence across genres. Here are the standout winners from the night:
- Contemporary Feature Film: Heretic – Property Master: Dean Goodine
- Period Feature Film: A Complete Unknown – Property Master: Michael Jortner
- Fantasy/Science-Fiction Film: Dune: Part Two – Property Master: Douglas Harlocker
- One-Hour Contemporary TV Series: Severance, Season 2 – Catherine Miller
- One-Hour Period TV Series: Shōgun, Season 1 – Dean Eilertson
- One-Hour Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Series: Fallout, Season 1 – Michael Jortner & Peter Gelfman
- Half-Hour Single-Camera TV Series: The Studio, Season 1 – Andrew M. Siegel
- Half-Hour Multi-Camera TV Series: Wizards Beyond Waverly Place – Lindsay Tomlinson Forrest
- Television Miniseries: Ripley – David Gulick & Antonio Fraulo
- Variety/Reality/Game Show/Event Special: The Rehearsal, Season 2 – Morgan Treven Bedwell
- Short Format (Commercials, Music Videos, Web): Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – Fortnight – Brad Elliott
Why Props Matter More Than Ever
The importance of props goes beyond aesthetics. They:
- Anchor Authenticity – Period dramas like Shōgun or A Complete Unknown rely on props to create historical accuracy.
- Elevate Storytelling – In Fallout, post-apocalyptic props—like makeshift weapons and radiation gear—build the world’s dark humor and danger.
- Shape Characters – Think of Mork’s quirky gadgets in Mork & Mindy or the sterile office cubes in Severance—props often become symbolic extensions of characters.
- Enhance Audience Immersion – Without the right set dressing, viewers may never fully suspend disbelief.
This is why the MacGuffin Awards are so crucial: they spotlight artistry that viewers might not consciously notice, but always feel.
Add an image collage of the MacGuffin winners’ projects for visual engagement.Prop Masters as Storytellers
One of the fascinating aspects of this craft is how property masters function as storytellers in their own right. While directors set the vision and actors deliver performances, props make those visions tangible.
- In Dune: Part Two, Douglas Harlocker had to balance futuristic weaponry with a design that felt rooted in Frank Herbert’s universe.
- For Ripley, the props helped create a hauntingly elegant atmosphere that matched the show’s psychological tone.
- And in Taylor Swift’s Fortnight music video, Brad Elliott’s props built a surreal, emotional environment that complemented the song’s themes.
Each project, whether sci-fi, period drama, or music video, needed props not just as decoration but as narrative tools.
Looking Ahead to the Emmys
The timing of these wins is particularly exciting. With Severance and The Studio leading Apple TV+’s Emmy push, the MacGuffin recognition adds credibility to the shows’ overall achievements.
If Apple manages to secure both Best Drama and Best Comedy, it would be a historic milestone. And while actors, directors, and writers will grab most of the spotlight, the contributions of property masters like Catherine Miller and Andrew M. Siegel remind us that television is a collective art form.
Final Thoughts
The MacGuffin Awards might not have the mainstream buzz of the Emmys or Oscars, but their impact is undeniable. By honoring property masters, they ensure that the artistry of world-building gets the recognition it deserves.
As Hollywood continues to expand into streaming, fantasy, and cross-genre storytelling, props will only grow in importance. Without them, even the most brilliant script or performance would feel incomplete.
And as audiences gear up for this year’s Emmy race, the wins for Severance and The Studio serve as a reminder: sometimes, the smallest details—like a desk lamp, a costume piece, or a futuristic device—can shape the biggest stories.