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by Fun2WinPrizes on July 9th, 2005

Fun2WinPrizes

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If someone can sell a movie prop on an online auction for hundreds of dollars, why don't filmmakers sell EVERYTHING used in the movie?

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Answers. 4 helpful answers below.

  • by Cosmati on July 30th, 2005

    Cosmati

    Unless a prop is unique and identifiable, I don't believe there is much value in EVERY prop on a film. Generally, the majority of props used on a set are rented on a weekly basis from "prop houses" and therefore must be returned.

    Renting an item at a % of its value, is more cost effective than purchasing it, especially when its only needed for one scene or one day. Renting saves time because a prop house will have hundreds of lamps, guns, ashtrays -you name it- to choose from.

    Some houses (as in 'warehouse') have a general mix of things. Others are more specific and specialize in anything from vintage Americana, 19th century furniture, military, western and medical, to street and alley (for dumpsters, fire hydrants, street lamps) and greenery (yes, we rent trees, shrubs and flowers too).

    While its not uncommon for a production to purchase items, some stylized films such as a sci-fi, will have props custom fabricated. However, although a prop may sell for hundreds of dollars on an online auction, its less of a hassle to sell it to a prop house. This is how they maintain a fresh and ever changing inventory and continue to make hundreds of dollars in rental fees.

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  • by jin jang on January 19th, 2007

    jin jang

    When the movie ends the props and everthing used in the movie is sold.It depends on where you are on the feeding chain.The Director chooses what he wants first(which is usually nothing) then down the heads of the different departments and then the crew gets to go to a "Set Deck" sale.Only industry crew and prop shops can attend.By this time everything good is gone.Lastly the general public is invited.In a set deck sale the prices are insanely low such as 10 cents on the dollar.I work in the industry.

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  • by Jack Scotty on August 9th, 2005

    Jack Scotty

    It comes down to corporate liability. If someone finds or "steals" a prop from a movie set and they decide to sell it, the understanding is that they are buying something in as-is condition with some assumed risk.

    If the film studio sells the props, then you run into safety related issues. If someone bought the survival knife from the movie "Rambo" and then gave it to their kid, its not unlikely that there would be a lawsuit from a parent claiming that their kid poked his eye out because they didnt know that the knife had a sharp point on the end of it.

    So when props manage to make their way off of the movie set, usually its a crew member or some other employee who finds a way to sneak it out of the studio unless a producer who is trying to get rid of it promises to look the other way while it dissapears.

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  • by vernillat on July 11th, 2005

    vernillat

    Flooding the market with film props would probably mean a severe slump in prices. Rarity is what makes them expencive.

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