Behind the Scenes of Filmmaking: Building Miniature Sets with Dollar Store Items

Using Purchased Miniature Sets

To me, filmmaking is synonymous with special effects. I incorporate compositing techniques not only in overt “effects scenes” but also in everyday sequences—it’s simply part of my visual language.

Miniature sets play a central role in this process. They allow me to recreate the compositions I envisioned in the script with surprising fidelity.

Take furniture, for example. It’s often essential for setting the tone of a scene. But building full-scale props like in stage plays is labor-intensive. If compositing is the foundation, then a 10 cm shelf or dresser is more than enough. These dollhouse-sized pieces are easy to store, even in large quantities.

Recently, dollar stores have begun selling incredibly detailed miniatures. I regularly pick up desks, chairs, and beds that I think might suit my projects.

The Rise of Realistic Miniatures

One major advantage of these newer miniatures is their lack of cartoonish distortion. Even Japan’s famously precise plastic models are often stylized to appear “more realistic” rather than simply scaled down. Many shapes are altered or simplified for manufacturing reasons.

Traditionally, miniatures—like toy desks—were heavily stylized, with exaggerated proportions that looked unnatural when composited into live-action footage. But today’s dollar store miniatures are surprisingly accurate, with minimal distortion. They blend seamlessly into film scenes.

This is a huge benefit for filmmakers. Compared to the time and cost of crafting similar miniatures from scratch, using ready-made items can reduce expenses to a fraction.

Sourcing Craft Materials: The Raw Materials Section

Of course, not all props can be bought pre-made. Most need to be built from scratch.

That’s where dollar stores come in again—this time as suppliers of raw materials.

You’ll find:

• Thick craft paper
• Various types of clay
• Wire
• Small wooden sticks and planks

These stores are surprisingly well-stocked. Inflation has affected quantities—clay packs are smaller now, and wire lengths are modest—but for miniature work, these sizes are often ideal.

Paints and varnishes aren’t universally high-performance, but for many uses, dollar store quality is perfectly sufficient. It’s worth familiarizing yourself with what’s available.

Sourcing Craft Materials: Repurposing Products

Beyond raw materials, there’s another powerful strategy: repurposing everyday products as building materials.

For instance, instead of buying a large acrylic sheet from a hardware store, you can cut up a small acrylic card case from the dollar store. It’s cheaper and often just the right size.

Other plastic items that work well include:

• Clipboards
• Cutting boards
• Garden markers

I also use puzzle-style floor cushions and cleaning sponges as raw materials.

One popular item is the small wooden “slatted rack” (sunoko). These are usually made from lightweight wood like magnolia, which isn’t strong enough for actual use but perfect for crafting. Disassembled, they yield several thin planks and a few square rods—great value for just 100 yen.

These racks are typically held together with water-soluble glue and metal wire. Soaking them in water dissolves the glue, allowing for clean disassembly.

Toys are another goldmine. By cutting, combining, and repainting them, you can quickly create miniature “devices.” Recently, I repurposed parts from a toy truck—flipped upside down and rearranged—to build a fictional chemical processing machine. It only appears for about 20 seconds in the film, but such shortcuts are essential for low-budget set building.

If you see someone deep in thought in the toy aisle, holding a product and imagining possibilities, they’re probably doing the same thing. Give them space—they’re crafting magic.

My Favorite Recent Discovery: Bamboo Skewers

One item I’ve come to rely on is the barbecue bamboo skewer—not the round kind, but rectangular ones measuring 3mm x 6mm and 30 cm long, sold in packs of 20.

These skewers are impressively straight, finely cut, and strong thanks to bamboo’s natural properties. I often glue two together to make a 6mm square beam.

In my 2024 film-in-progress, Dinosaur Spirit, many of the miniature sets feature these skewers. If you get a chance to see the making-of or the final film, keep an eye out for them.

The Joy of DIY Filmmaking

Much of the charm in DIY filmmaking lies in the unexpected ingenuity behind each solution. That’s what makes it memorable—something CG often lacks.

Using miniatures is already a creative choice. But sourcing materials in clever ways adds another layer of artistry. Why not embrace that challenge?

I hope this article sparks some ideas.