Secret Techniques In Movies (10 pics)

1

Everythig Should Be Silent

In real life, everyday sounds, like a chip bag crinkling, ice clinking, or live music, are expected. But in movies, clear dialogue takes priority, so many props are designed to stay silent. Prop masters create soundless versions of common items: paper bags might be made from fabric, and ice cubes from soft plastics like silicone. These substitutes help scenes feel natural without interfering with audio. In some cases, real items are altered to reduce noise, for example, in Tammy, Melissa McCarthy's paper fast food bag was sprayed with a mix of water and glycerin to muffle its crinkle.

2

Dolla Dolla Bill Yall

Using real money in films isn’t illegal, but the risk of theft or misuse usually leads productions to use prop cash. Still, fake money is tightly regulated under the Counterfeit Detection Act of 1992. It must be one-sided and either 75 percent smaller or 150 percent larger than actual bills. Prop houses also have to label it clearly, for example, “motion picture use only,” and print it on material noticeably different from real currency. Any prop money used must be destroyed after filming wraps. Simply printing off fake twenties doesn’t cut it.

3

Real Can Be Cheaper

Sometimes the most convincing props are just the real thing—because it’s cheaper. In Poltergeist, the production used actual human skeletons in the now-famous pool scene since real bones were less expensive than crafting realistic fakes. Similarly, for Lord of War, it was more cost-effective to buy 3,000 real AK-47s than to manufacture convincing replicas.

Edible Illusions

Prop food needs to look good on camera and hold up through multiple takes, which means it often isn’t what it seems. Egg yolks can’t run, and ice cream can’t melt, so food stylists get creative. A scoop of “ice cream” might be made from powdered sugar and canned frosting, while egg yolks, like in Midsommar, could be frozen spheres of orange and mango. The same goes for less appetizing props, edible dirt can be made by blending sandwich cookies, and bugs might be crafted from dates or gelatin molds. It doesn’t need to taste great, but it has to be safe to eat.

4

Syrup Is Thicker Than Water

Horror films have long relied on fake blood to deliver their signature gore. While dyed corn syrup and chocolate syrup are classic choices, prop blood can be tweaked for different uses, thicker for close-ups, more sprayable for action scenes, or safe to ingest if actors need to swallow it. When fake blood has to be consumed, it must be fully edible. For HBO’s True Blood, food stylist and former phlebotomist Melissa McSorley developed a drinkable version using wheatgrass, cran-cherry and pomegranate juice, plus food coloring to get that deep red tone vampires crave.

5

Meaty Treat

Raw meat isn’t safe to eat, but actors sometimes need to pretend otherwise in TV shows and horror films. Rather than using real raw meat, prop masters and food stylists often make a safer, edible version using marshmallows, Rice Krispies, butter, and red velvet cake mix. The result is a sticky, red mixture that closely resembles ground beef but is sweet and safe to eat.

6

Lighting the Set

Regulations around pyrotechnics and open flames vary by location, but many cities require film productions to get weekly permits and approval from the local fire marshal for scenes involving fire, like campfires or fireplaces. Depending on how many flame sources are used, each one might need its own permit. Because of these strict rules and licensing requirements, prop masters rarely handle fire-related props unless the scene involves fewer than 10 candles or 3 tiki torches. For anything more, a licensed Pyrotechnic Operator must be on set to manage the flames safely and legally.

7

Rule of Three in Props

As an audience member, you probably won’t notice that a prop used again and again is actually two or three identical versions. But prop masters plan for it. Breaks, malfunctions, or losing your best friend in the ocean, so having backups is standard practice. Prop master Hannah Rothfield puts it simply, “You should have at least three extras of any prop, because accidents happen all the time.”

Even Prop Guns Are Armed And Dangerous

Prop guns are one of the most common and dangerous in film, from action series like John Wick and James Bond to sci-fi like Alien and Star Wars. These range from rubber models to real firearms modified to fire blanks. Only trained prop masters and armorists are allowed to handle and secure them. Despite strict safety rules, serious accidents have happened, most notably the fatal shooting of Brandon Lee on The Crow, and the 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust, involving Alec Baldwin. The Actors’ Equity Association advises treating all prop guns as real and loaded, and actors must avoid handling them off-script.