ANACHRONISMS UNLIMITED; CRAFTSMEN AT REEL PROPS CREATE AUTHENTIC COSTUMES, BLADES FOR THE RENAISSANCE CROWD.

Byline: Carol Bidwell Daily News Staff Writer

You'd never believe that what goes on behind that modest Burbank storefront is the stuff fairy tales and legends are made of.

That in the design studio and workshop inside, craftsmen fuel modern-day romantics' images of a time when knights were gallant and their ladies fair, there were enemies to slay and tankards to empty, and the landscape was enlivened by swashbucklers, highwaymen and noblemen.

Behind the ordinary doors of Reel Props, the tiny 1-1/2-year-old company's artisans spend hours crafting period leather goods, swords and other fripperies for movie and TV actors. Now ordinary people can also partake of the fashions of a time long past.

The decision to offer to the public the services of the shop's craftsmen is one that has delighted many local Renaissance faire fans.

Those time-warp play-actors are getting suited up and in the mood for a warm-weather season of medieval make-believe. In outdoor settings filled with other actors-for-a-day, they will enjoy roasted turkey legs, pitchers of ale, jousting tournaments, Shakespearean plays and visits by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth.

And at Renaissance faires - as on Wall Street - clothes make the man. Or at least help them get in the mood.

``Playing dress-up is so neat,'' said Reel Props' bladesmith Jody Samson, who'll attend faires this year costumed as a dashing highwayman. ``It's fun to be somebody else for a day.''

Dream factory

Reel Props costumes lords and ladies, aristocrats and robbers, in garb often modeled from an idea in a movie or TV show, a child's picture book or just from a customer's imagination.

``Our motto is, `If you can dream it, we can make it,' '' said leather worker Rosa Kusiak. ``We try to make things as authentic as we can.''

Billy Rodriguez of Monrovia, who'll take on the persona of a rakish highwayman at faires this year, relied on Kusiak to make him an elaborate leather jerkin (vest), hat and baldric (cross-body sword holder) and Samson to fashion him a dangerous-looking sword and dagger.

``I just love the history, especially the Renaissance period and medieval history,'' said Rodriguez, manager of a Target store and a part-time professional guitarist. ``When I heard about the (Renaissance) faires, I just went crazy. The costumes are great.''

Rodriguez loves becoming a swashbuckler for a day, especially since details of his costume - an airy plume on his hat, golden buckles on his belt - show that his character is a successful crook. And he carries both a dagger and a sword, and in Renaissance times a sword - like a BMW, a Rolex and a cell phone today - was the mark of a man with money.

Juan Calderon of Granada Hills, a real estate investigator, grew up reading Prince Valiant and Warlord comics and yearning to cut a dashing swath through life. Like Rodriguez, Renaissance faires were the answer to his fantasies.

``They're just such a great form of expression, to put together an outfit you can conceive in your mind,'' said Calderon, who'll attend this year's faires costumed as a medieval barbarian with fur and buckskin leggings and boots and an elaborate tunic made of fish-scale-shaped, metal-studded armor, a broadsword in his hand.

``You can be anything you want to be. And at the faire, the atmosphere helps you interact with others doing the same thing. In a safe way, you can be somebody you would like to have been in a different century. It's like having Halloween at a different time of year.''

Leather and knives

The craftsmen who help faire-goers fulfill their fantasies love their work. Kusiak fingers the supple leather with a sensuous touch; Samson beams as he runs his finger along a shiny blade.

Kusiak's crew includes sons Sean, 11, and Pepi, 17, and daughter Melanie, 18. In a tiny workroom nearly filled by a single work table, Sean and Melanie design custom leatherwork and Pepi stretches, stitches, glues and carves it into belts, boots, scabbards and other items.

Down the hall, Samsom's workshop includes chisels, knives and grinders. Presented with an idea for a fancy knife or sword, he first carves a design for the hilt and handle in heavy plastic, makes a mold of the shape, then casts the design in metal; the blade is ground just so, with sparks flying. Assembled, the cutlery looks wicked and deadly, but Samson shows how he flattens the blades' edges so they're as dull as table knives - ready only for show, not for war.

For both craftsmen, the arts that have become their livelihood began as hobbies. Both became fascinated the first time they saw others' work, studied and practiced their skill, and finally opened their own shop.

At first, the new firm concentrated on supplying costumes and props for the movies and television. Samson's swords and knives have been featured in scores of movies, including ``Conan the Barbarian,'' ``Batman & Robin,'' ``First Knight,'' and the upcoming ``The Mask of Zorro.'' He's also made blades for TV's ``BeastMaster III'' and others, and for theatrical productions of ``Othello,'' ``Macbeth'' and the Conan the Barbarian live stage show at Universal Studios.

Kusiak's leather goods also have been used in a variety of films. And her contacts have led to more personalized work, like the specially designed leather director's chair she's making for martial arts expert and actor Jackie Chan.

Forged for combat

For movie and TV stuntwoman Janie Liszewski of Newhall - an expert in martial arts, fighting, fencing and horseback riding - dressing up in Reel Props' outfits is work, not play.

``I always wanted to work on `Hercules' or `Xena,' '' said the dark-haired athlete. ``I love the time period and the way they fight - it's so aggressive. I love it.''

Recently, she got her chance - a Wonder Woman-type comic book character come to life on a recent episode of NBC's ``Profiler.'' Not only did she wear the briefest of female superhero costumes, made of butter-colored leather and bronze in just two days by Kusiak, she also got to wield one of Samson's swords - specially rigged by special-effects experts to shoot flames.

``When I first saw the outfit all done, I started jumping up and down, it was so beautiful,'' Liszewski said. ``The brass was gleaming, the leather was almost the same color as my skin. It's the best costume I've ever worn in film or TV. It's the most detailed, the most formfitting, the most me.''

Although the craftsmen love movie work - it does pay the bills - they also love working with ordinary customers who come in with an idea they envision fashioned in leather or steel.

Samson, who fell in love with swords while reading ``The Three Musketeers'' and other romantic novels as a boy, studied sword-making on his own.

``I discovered how hard it is to make a good one,'' he said.

``You've created these things and you see them in a movie and you go, `Whoa! Look at that! It works!' But I don't see many movies. What I really like is to make a sword for somebody who knows what they want. They pick it up and smile, and I know I've done it right.''

Mark ye olde calendar

Verily, ye lords and ladies, maychance ye'll have a right fyne time at many marvelous faires throughout the land of Southern California this year. Mayhap these might appeal to thee:

Today through June 21 - Southern Renaissance Pleasure Faire, weekends at Glen Helen Regional Park in Devore, San Bernardino County. [phone].

May 2-31 - Crossroads Jousting Tournament and Renaissance Festival, weekends plus Memorial Day, Riverview Park, Corona. [phone].

July 11-12 - Ojai Renaissance Festival & Shakespeare at the Lake. [phone].

July 18-19 - Central Coast Renaissance Festival, El Chorro Regional Park, San Luis Obispo. [phone].

Aug. 29-30 - Long Beach Renaissance Arts Festival, Long Beach. [phone].

Sept. 19-20 - Santa Barbara Renaissance Faire, Santa Barbara. [phone].

For more information on Renaissance events and activities, check out the Renaissance Herald's Web site at: renaissanceinfo.com.

- Carol Bidwell

CAPTION(S):

4 Photos, Box

Photo: (Cover--Color) KNIGHT MOVES

Lords and ladies arm for adventure with help from Burbank prop company

(2) Leather and steel are the materials of choice for Reel Props costumes, modeled by Billy Rodriguez, left, Jaan Calderon, Janie Liszewski and Jody Samson.

(3) The Burbank shop turns out period leather goods, swords and clothing for Hollywood productions and Renaissance Faire play-actors.

(4) Bladesmith Jody Samson: ``What I really like is to make a sword for somebody who knows what they want. They pick it up and smile, and I know I've done it right.''

Evan Yee/Daily News

Box: Mark ye olde calendar (See Text)