5 Things You Likely Don't Know About Filming Movies

The realm of creating movies is like another world. There is a great deal involved in it, from costs to scouting and much more. People who work in the industry will tell you that it can be difficult and tiring, but rewarding at the end of the day. The behind the scenes bits are just as (or possibly more) exciting than the films themselves. Here are some interesting things that you should know about filming movies in Los Angeles.

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Production Costs

There is a lot that goes into production costs. It is advised that the budget for a film be 50 percent higher than the amount it will take to produce it, because that is what marketing the movie will cost. It's well worth it to spend money on putting ads on billboards, in magazines, and creating trailers that will go on the Internet, TV and radio. The fate of a movie is sealed within the first week of its release, making the few months preceding the release extremely important.

Success

Contrary to popular belief, no one in the industry can fully predict what films will be a hit or a miss. Something that is off the wall and different than the recent successes may end up being at the top of the box office charts, while a high production project with a leading star may not do so well. Every single movie is unique, and must be treated as such.

However, it is ideal to have at least one big name actor in the film, because people are much more likely to go see a movie that features someone with which they are familiar. Even if the other main characters are up-and-coming names, you can't go wrong with this model.

Investment Sources

Wall Street investors have been backing Hollywood for many years. Firms are able to package studio films and resell to investors, who are then able to make a profit of between 15 to 28 percent on average, depending on if the movie was a hit or not. Hedge funds even began to get put into such deals in the mid-2000's.

You may be surprised to learn that Avatar was made with 60 percent of its investment coming from outside investors. This made this expensive movie with grand CGI effects far less of a risk for the production team to film.

Fun Facts About Early Films

The first ever film animation was created in 1906. It's called “Humorous Phases of Funny Faces”, and it was made by J. Stuart Blacton. Film animations began to be popular with the introduction of Mickey Mouse (originally Mortimer Mouse) in 1927. The first full-length animated film came out in 1937 - “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. The longest movie, “The Cure for Insomnia”, has a run time of about 87 hours.

Style Changes

Up until the 1920's, movies were made using fairly basic formulas. Though there were many directors working for the several studios that were around at the time, it was not only the 1920's that they began to branch out into their own directing styles. During this decade, actors and actresses were noticed more and made to participate in publicity campaigns that limited their activities and behaviors, especially while out in the limelight.

The above facts should add to your interest in and appreciation of films produced in the LA area. If it makes you want to know even more, you can look to All Pictures Media for relevant information. Regardless of whether or not you intend to work in the film industry, it's a fun pastime to learn more about it.