3 ms·

How do actors end up with expensive film props? It doesn't seem to be rare that actors and other people involved in movie production sell movie props. I always

How do actors end up with expensive film props? It doesn't seem to be rare that actors and other people involved in movie production sell movie props. I always wondered how this works: Do they buy it from the production company or is it all courtesies?

bluedevil2k 6y ago
Not too many years ago all the props of movies and TV shows were simply destroyed when the TV show or movie ended. There was no "collector market". Since the items were worthless to the studios when filming was complete, actors were allowed to take what they wanted. This is why you rarely see items from the early days of movies (1920-1950) for sale, they were rarely saved. The movie posters from the movies in those days were some of the only items preserved, and those can command premium prices, even into the millions for a poster like "Metropolis". It also makes you appreciate the fact that the ruby slippers from "Wizard of Oz" were saved. (Source - the Hollywood ride in Disney Studios)
- GekkePrutser 6y ago
  Yeah lots of stuff is just left to rot outside. Like that Enterprise Bridge (though it wasn't the one from the show but from the Vegas Experience)
thrav 6y ago
After a season or 2 — if it’s a hit — I bet it becomes pretty easy to negotiate ownership of items into your contract, since they can’t do the show without you anymore and it’s a relatively small price to pay. See Sex and the City wardrobe.
jasonv 6y ago
If they end up as producers on the show, they can often just get it granted to them, or included in the promotion obligations that are part of their contracts.
capableweb 6y ago
A lot of people (probably not big time actors though, more like taking and no one says no) end up stealing props and smuggling them out from production, as otherwise they wouldn't be able to get anything from the production. At least from the few people I've visited who had props at home, 90% of the props were stolen by them on the last day of shootings.

bluedevil2k 6y ago

Not too many years ago all the props of movies and TV shows were simply destroyed when the TV show or movie ended. There was no "collector market". Since the items were worthless to the studios when filming was complete, actors were allowed to take what they wanted. This is why you rarely see items from the early days of movies (1920-1950) for sale, they were rarely saved. The movie posters from the movies in those days were some of the only items preserved, and those can command premium prices, even into the millions for a poster like "Metropolis". It also makes you appreciate the fact that the ruby slippers from "Wizard of Oz" were saved. (Source - the Hollywood ride in Disney Studios)

GekkePrutser 6y ago
Yeah lots of stuff is just left to rot outside. Like that Enterprise Bridge (though it wasn't the one from the show but from the Vegas Experience)

thrav 6y ago

After a season or 2 — if it’s a hit — I bet it becomes pretty easy to negotiate ownership of items into your contract, since they can’t do the show without you anymore and it’s a relatively small price to pay. See Sex and the City wardrobe.

jasonv 6y ago

If they end up as producers on the show, they can often just get it granted to them, or included in the promotion obligations that are part of their contracts.

capableweb 6y ago

A lot of people (probably not big time actors though, more like taking and no one says no) end up stealing props and smuggling them out from production, as otherwise they wouldn't be able to get anything from the production. At least from the few people I've visited who had props at home, 90% of the props were stolen by them on the last day of shootings.