Favourite picks from Prop Store's Live Auction of film and TV artefacts...

On October 16, 2014 our friends at Prop Store will offer a dazzling array of original costumes, props and production materials from the world of film and television in their inaugural live auction event. having had a chance to browse the extensive auction catalogue, here are just a few of my favourite pieces that will be up for sale (and not surprisingly for me, many come from the science fiction genre).

Scarran Captain Jenek costume and prosthetics 

worn by Jason Clarke in Farscape

I'm currently rewatching the entires series of Farscape on Blu-ray, so seeing the incredible detail of this elaborate alien Scarran 'Captain Jenek' costume and prosthetic mask is amazing.

Many people didn't like the mix of Jim Henson puppets and strange new worlds in this sci-fi show which ran for four seasons from 1999 to 2003 and culminated in The Peacekeeper Wars mini-series in 2004, but I loved the fact that the series about the ragtag fugitive crew of the sentient spaceship 'Moya' took huge risks, they didn't always work, but it made for some pretty unique and compelling TV viewing (plus I can't deny had a little crush on Ben Browder's 'John Crichton').

Jason Clarke wore this spectacular alien costume in season four (it really is amazing this is a TV costume), which I believe was designed by Farscape Series Costume Designer Terry Ryan, and it's expected to sell for £10,000-£12,000 or more. Time to raid my piggy bank I think.

Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan costume worn by Virginia Hey in Farscape

One of my favourite characters from the sci-fi series was 'Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan', or 'Zhaan' for short, played by Virginia Hey. Her exotic blue-skin make-up, spiritual wardrobe and the fact she was plant life really showed how Farscape dared to be different.

The bald-headed Delvian priestess wore this full-length blue dress with gold neckpiece and bracelets during the show's second season and I was sad to see her go early in the third season, when the actress apparently left because of problems with the extensive body makeup used to create her alien look.

This look plus other Zhaan costumes will be available to buy during the auction and this outfit will sell for £1,500-£2,000.

Captain Kirk costume worn by William Shatner 

in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

Next up is a costume Star Trek fans will go crazy for, 'Captain James T. Kirk's' movie costume worn by William Shatner in 1984's Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.

This vision of futuristic fashion in burgundy was designed by Robert Fletcher for the third Star Trek cinematic installment in which the crew of the Enterprise boldly go in search of their fallen Vulcan, 'Spock'.

This multi-layered ensemble will set you back upwards of £10,000-£12,000, so you true fans had better get your cheque books ready.

Colonial Viper Pilot helmet and jacket from Battlestar Galactica

If you're a fan of spacebound sci-fi, then you'll probably also love this Colonial Viper Pilot helmet and jacket from Glen A. Larson's late 70's classic, Battlestar Galactica.

I absolutely loved the show when I was a kid, the Cylons were the best villains, and was gutted when the show was cancelled. I would have loved to have had one of these custom-made brown suede jackets with their gold clasps, not to mention the Egyptian-inspired Viper pilot helmets.

Oscar-winning Costume Designer Jean-Pierre Dorléac was responsible for creating the look of these iconic Battlestar Galactica uniforms and this helmet and jacket combo will set you back £13,000-£15,000.

Minotaur costume from Gladiator

Next up is a truly monstrous creation from Ridley Scott's Roman epic from 2000, Gladiator.

Janty Yates was Costume Designer on the movie starring Russell Crowe and if you're a fan of the movie, be sure to check out these other original movie costumes from Gladiator on display previously at Universal Studios Hollywood.

This Minotaur warrior with its over-sized faux rotting flesh skull and fur cloak and tail faced off against Russell Crowe's 'Maximus' in the arena and is certainly something you wouldn't want to come across on a dark night.

Selene Death Dealer costume worn by Kate Beckinsale 

in Underworld: Evolution

From one mythical creature to another and this black PVC bodysuit worn by Kate Beckinsale as the Death Dealer 'Selene' in the 2006 sequel Underworld: Evolution, the second in the film franchise about warring vampires and Lycans (werewolves).

I have no idea how the actress squeezed into this sexy skin-tight outfit, or in fact breathed or moved, but she did and looked fabulous, and I know all you cosplayers will go crazy for the corset detail on this gothic horror costume designed by Wendy Partridge.

This killer outfit can be yours for £8,000-£10,000 and worth every penny.

Wedding dress worn by Andie MacDowell 

in Four Weddings and a Funeral

Next up for a very different change of pace is a wedding dress from 1994's romantic comedy, Four Weddings and a Funeral, to show you the range of memorabilia on offer in this auction.

This wedding gown designed by Lindy Hemming was worn by Andie MacDowell as 'Carrie' when she marries Hamish (Corin Redgrave) at a Scottish castle. This cream silk dress with its beautifully ornate sequin and beaded bolero jacket with short sleeves would make the perfect wedding gown, especially as you can feel like a Hollywood star on you special day for as little as £800-£1,200.

Ujio Samurai Warrior costume worn by Hiroyuki Sanada 

in The Last Samurai

Here's another spectacular costume that would be the prize of any collection, 'Ujio's' Samurai Warrior costume worn by Hiroyuki Sanada in 2003's period war epic, The Last Samurai, starring Tom Cruise.

Ngila Dickson was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for these fantastic recreations of authentic period samurai armour and this one features seventeen separate applied layers to create the finished look. You can marvel at this screen-used costume in your own home for around £15,000-£20,000.

Ripley's flamethrower used by Sigourney Weaver in Alien

And finally, here's one original iconic prop that caught my nerdy eye leafing through the extensive auction catalogue, 'Ellen Ripley's' flamethrower from Ridley Scott's genre-defining classic Alien from 1979.

This incinerator unit was used by the plucky heroine to try and kill the alien life-form aboard the Nostromo. This supercool weapon prop is expected to sell for £25,000-£35,000, those aliens don't stand a chance.

These amazing costumes and props are why I love movies and TV, and writing this blog so much. These are just some of my favourite pieces from the U.K. auction, there are far too many to feature here, but be sure to check out the PropStore interactive auction catalogue for the full story.

There are items available from the Star Wars, Batman, Indiana Jones and James Bond film franchises, plus many more exciting screen-used pieces from many film genres.

If you live in London you can also visit a special museum-grade exhibition to preview this sale and get up close with hundreds of authentic costumes and props from movie and TV history to be held at Vue Cinema at Westfield Shopping Centre, White City from October 1 to October 16.

The live auction itself will take place on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 4pm in the U.K., so check out PropStore's website for more details.

Hmm, do I really need to pay my mortgage this month?

All photos courtesy of Sarah Sorkin at Prop Store.

Cylons from Battlestar Galactica and Caprica on display...

I'm a huge sci-fi nerd and comic book geek, so whenever I see any exhibit from the science fiction genre I always get a little more excited than by other displays. On my latest outing to Universal Studios Hollywood on April 15, 2014, to check out their latest offering of screen-used costumes and props, my heart almost skipped a beat with I glimpsed these Cylons from Battlestar Galactica and Caprica on display.

Battlestar Galactica and Caprica Cylons 

on display at Universal Studios Hollywood

Before anyone points it out, yes I know that the Cylon Centurion is actually an animatronic prop used in The Battle of Galactica attraction on Universal Studios famous ride-along backlot Tour from 1979 to 1992, which took place within a Cylon ship, but it's still pretty cool, especially as the moving red eye visor still works.

The attraction was based on the 1978 hit TV series by Glen A. Larson, which capitalised on the popularity of Star Wars on the big screen, and reportedly cost $7 million (or even more) to make the first seven hours (which included the pilot episode) and you could really tell the production values. I absolutely loved the original Battlestar Galactica when I was a child (and don't get me started on Buck Rogers) and hated when the spacefaring series came to an end.

Animatronic Cylon from The Battle of Galactica Universal Studios Tour

If you're of fan of the original series or the recent TV revival, be sure to check out these fantastic costumes and props from Battlestar Galactica on display.

Meanwhile the other futuristic-looking robot prop is actually from the TV show Caprica, which was a prequel to the modern day revival of Battlestar Galactica. The show followed the lives of two families, the 'Graystones' and the 'Adamas', and the evolution of the robotic Cylons on the planet Caprica of the Twelve Colonies.

U-87 Cylon prototype TV prop from Caprica

In the series the Cylons were designed by Graystone Industries to be soldiers, this U-87 prototype or 'Cybernetic Lifeform Node' was a design homage to the original series Cylon Centurions (without their shiny silver exterior). This prototype robot body housed the avatar consciousness of 'Daniel Graystone's' dead daughter, 'Zoe', who died in a terrorist attack but whose virtual self lived on and was downloaded into this robotic model.

Caprica TV billboard

If you're a fan of the Syfy show, be sure to check out these other cool original costumes and props from Caprica previously on display at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Kandyse McClure's Command Uniform from Battlestar Galactica on display...

In the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica TV series which ran from 2004 to 2009, Kandyse McClure played Petty Officer and later 'Lt. Anastasia 'Dee' Dualla' of the Colonial Fleet, serving on both the Galactica as well as the Pegasus Battlestar.

Original command uniform worn by Kandyse McClure

as Dee in Battlestar Galactica

Kandyse McClure in Battlestar Galactica costume

Gleene Campbell was series Costume Designer on Battlestar Galactica and this command uniform was photographed on display at Universal Studios Hollywood on January 7, 2011.

Battlestar Galactica command uniform on display

If you like this costume and are a fan of the show, be sure to check out Starbuck's Viper flight-suit and original Colonial Warrior costume from the classic late 70's Battlestar Galactica television series.

Battlestar Galactica TV poster

Universal Studios Hollywood latest movie costume and prop exhibit...

The NBC Universal Experience attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood is a treasure trove of authentic props, wardrobe and movie memorabilia and is regularly updated with new costume displays from new and past Universal films and NBC TV shows at least every six months.

NBC Universal Experience exhibit January 2011

Over the coming days Hollywood Movie Costumes and Props will showcase the latest original outfits, props, masks and models on display from the worlds of fantasy, horror, comedy, sci-fi, animation and more.

Authentic costumes from new movies and classic television shows

This selection from behind-the-scenes of Hollywoodland include:

Original costumes from The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Outfit worn by Meryl Streep in It's Complicated

Emily Blunt's period dress and hat from The Wolfman, plus prosthetic werewolf legs and cowl

A command uniform from the new Battlestar Galactica TV show

Original jacket, gun prop and 'Twiki' robot helmet from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Animation maquettes from The Tale of Despereaux

Hoverboard props from Back to the Future II

Prosthetic Sleestak mask from the Land of the Lost movie remake

'Who' life mask from The Grinch

Plus original props from movies like The Blues Brothers, The American, Scott Pilgrim vs The World and classic TV shows like Murder, She Wrote

As you can see there's lots to enjoy, so come back soon for more details and photos here at Hollywood Movie Costumes and Props.

Classic and new Battlestar Galactica costumes on display...

In 1978 Glen A. Larson created the Battlestar Galactica TV show, which was later re-imagined in 2003 by Ronald D. Moore and David Eick as a mini-series, which then spawned a critically acclaimed TV series that ran from 2004 to 2009.

The sci-fi shows followed the survivors of the Twelve Colonies, which had been decimated by the robotic Cylons, as they searched, in a fleet of ragtag spacecraft led by the last Colonial warship Battlestar Galactica, for the fabled Thirteenth Colony of Earth.

Classic and new series Battlestar Galactica costume exhibit

at Universal Studios Hollywood

This fantastic costume and prop exhibit was photographed at Universal Studios Hollywood on June 21, 2010, with outfits from both the cult classic 1978-1979 series and the re-imagined show on display.

1970's Battlestar Galactica Colonial Warrior costume

Jean-Pierre Dorleac was the original series Costume Designer and was also responsible for other great wardrobes in 1980's TV shows like Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Airwolf, Automan and Quantum Leap, to name but a few.

Classic Battlestar Galactica TV poster

Gleene Campbell was the Costume Designer for the modern day version of Battlestar Galactica and was even nominated along with his team for a 2004 Emmy for Outstanding Costumes for a Series.

Admiral Duty Blues costume worn by

Michelle Forbes in Battlestar Galactica

This 'Duty Blues' outfit was worn by Michelle Forbes when she notoriously guest-starred as 'Admiral Helena Cain' in Battlestar Galactica episodes 'Pegasus', the two-part 'Resurrection Ship' and the 2007 TV movie 'Razor'.

Michelle Forbes in costume as Admiral Cain

Also on display with the original costumes was this 'Top Gun' tankard prop used in the season two episode 'Scar'. 'Starbuck' (Katee Sackhoff) concedes the title of 'Top Gun' to her rival pilot 'Kat' and lets her drink from the coveted beer stein after she shoots down a scarred Cylon Raider that has been stalking the fleet.

Beer stein prop from the 2004-2009 Battlestar Galactica

Finally be sure to check out Katee Sackhoff's 'Starbuck' Viper pilot flight-suit that was previously on display at Universal Studios Hollywood.