Movie directors have a much harder job than you may realize. They have to be adaptable to the ever-changing film industry and ready to deal with any conflicts and issues that arise on set.
A director has to manage the different personalities and opinions of actors and producers, brands, special effects, and camerapeople, all while keeping the audience in mind. Yep, being a director is no easy task!
But did you know that there are also many tricks of the trade when it comes to directing films? Like people from many other professions, directors know how to get around certain situations so that the audience is none-the-wiser.
For example, did you know that the sound of bones breaking in a film is usually created by breaking carrots and celery? Or that children who star in horror films generally never know what the film is actually about.
And have you ever thought about the food used in movies? Apparently, most directors opt to use fake food because real food spoils too quickly and results in unnecessary waste.
There are plenty more directors' tricks of the trade that we think you'll find interesting. So, we've put together a list of 11 of them for you to enjoy!
1. Have you ever noticed that bad guys never use Apple products?
Apple has a rule that they will allow film characters to be shown using Apple products - but only the good guys! The giant company doesn't want their products ever to be seen in the hands of a bad guy.
So, next time you're watching a movie, keep your eyes peeled for the Apple logo. You will notice it is always shown in a positive light only.
2. films used to make a lot of people feel dizzy
You may have heard people say they can't watch 3D films because it makes them feel dizzy or sick. That's because our brains have a hard time deciphering what's real and what's an illusion.
Nowadays, directors know that if they make 3D scenes where objects fly past very fast, our eyes don't have time to focus on them, and we have less chance of feeling dizzy. They also use small particles like snow and ash because our brains don't automatically focus on them.
3. Children in horror films usually don't know what the movie is about
Most children in horror films have no clue that they're even acting in a horror movie. Since scenes are rarely filmed in chronological order, a small child would struggle to piece together what is actually happening in the film.
When children have to appear in a particularly scary or gory scene, the directors do their best to make it seem like a game for the child. Many other factors, such as scary sounds and music, are added post-production, so the scene will never appear as threatening during filming.
Advertising agencies make film trailers, not the directors
Directors are incredible at making blockbuster movies, but they're not always so good at marketing. So, when it comes to making a movie trailer, they outsource the task to special companies who know exactly how to sell a film.
Carrots and celery are used to make the sounds of broken bones
When the sound editors need to create the sound of someone's bones breaking, they turn to carrots and celery. Those poor little veggies!
4. Scenes with mirrors are challenging to film
Particular angles are needed when a scene is filmed near mirrors. The directors need to make sure that no other crew members or props and cameras are visible in the reflection.
For this scene in Terminator 2, the directors used dummies and stunt performers. There is no mirror: in front of the camera, you can see Schwarzenegger with a stunt double doing something with his head, while Linda is standing next to the camera with a dummy.
5. Sometimes, the bloopers are on purpose
Did you notice how in The Dark Knight Rises, Batman enters a tunnel in the stock exchange scene during the day and exits it in complete darkness? Often, directors make these types of "bloopers" on purpose; after all, Batman looks far more impressive in the dark!
6. There is a company that provides snow for the movies
The snow used in films is usually fake and is almost always provided by a company called Snow Business. Real snow can be challenging to shoot because it melts under the cameras.
7. Extras aren't allowed to look at the camera... ever
Extras are never allowed to look directly into the camera. In fact, they can even be fired if they do.
Extras are also advised not to wear clothing with bold logos or lettering. And if an extra looks even a little bit like one of the starring actors, you can guarantee they won't get much air time.
8. The food in movies is rarely real
The food we see in films is more often than not fake. This is because, of course, real food spoils very quickly, which results in a lot of unnecessary wastage.
9. The green screen is green for a reason
When creating special effects, a bright green background is used because green is as far from the colors of the human eye as possible. However, a blue background might be used if the actor has green eyes.
Hollywood is known for a wide variety of things, and without a doubt, "secrets" are definitely one of them. So, there you have it: some of the best-kept secrets of the film industry.
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