Movies and TV Stack Exchange
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Questions tagged [props]

Inanimate objects used in film or tv productions to propel the storyline or that help to define a character by association.

Inanimate objects used in film or tv productions to propel the storyline or that help to define a character by association.

Wikipedia Page: Theatrical property

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Why do so many movies & TV shows feature recognizable, un-branded or re-branded products?

I've particularly noticed this in the past with cars in movies & TV shows. A car will quite obviously be of a certain make and/or model, identifiable by certain body features, but it will have all of its logos and brand markings removed. I've also…
Iszi
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What purple items have Samuel Jackson's characters had?

Samuel Jackson's (Mace Windu's) purple lightsaber was supposedly at his behest because that's his favorite color. Are there other conspicuously-purple items that Jackson's characters have had?
Nick T
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Why do they sometimes not use a real operating system in films?

Why is it that sometimes TV shows and movies use real operating systems (ie: Windows, Mac OS or Linux) and computers but then sometimes hide the logos or use a fake OS with an unrealistic GUI?
Cameron
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Is the Stay Puft brand brought into any other films?

Many directors or writers keep using brands in other movies they make. Such examples include Abrams with the Slusho brand and Tarantino Red Apple cigarettes. Also many brands are used only in fiction to replace known brands, Spyder Fynder instead…
Kevin Howell
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Why are needles pushed in so far in movies?

Having seen a lot of needles used in movies I've always wondered why they are inserted so deep - it's like they're trying to inject stuff into the bones! Why aren't needles used the way they should be?
Mikael Dúi Bolinder
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How are car model years identified?

This is some question that has always been in my mind. I ask here because I have mostly seen it in American movies and TV series, not so in those from other parts. Typically in a movie, a suspect is fleeing a crime scene and there's always some…
Victor Jalencas
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What is the history of these computer props?

I first noticed these computer/instrument... Mainframes? On Stargate SG-1. (Background right) (Background centre) I've seen them in other shows too, such as Batwoman's batcave. (Background left) I'm sure I've seen these in other shows too. They…
user
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Why is disarming bombs so hard?

Here we have a typical Hollywood bomb, which is featured with relatively minor variations in hundreds (if not thousands) of titles: However, just looking at it, I’m confused. Why are these bombs supposedly so difficult to defuse? It seems like the…
StephenS
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Why do some movies have photoshopped pictures of the 'family'

I've seen it on quite a few movies where they show pictures of the family in some past gathering or with friends but usually they are photoshopped in some background or their faces are shopped onto someone's elses body and not that well made. If you…
Josue Nadal
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How are straight razor throat slit scenes done?

I am watching Midsomer Murders season 1 episode 3, “Death of a Hollow Man”. In it, the first killing happens during a stage play. A character in the play slits his throat. This kills the actor because safety tape was not covering the blade of an…
Detective Chimp
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Why do newspapers in film have random article text?

Sometimes a film uses a newspaper as a prop (with the camera showing the paper). I've noticed in many films, the article being focused on will have a correct title (which is what drives the plot forward), and perhaps a paragraph of logical text, but…
Haedrian
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Why does police software look like video games in movies and tv?

While many times technology is depicted as needed to embellish the story or further the plot, there are certain occasions that what is shown on screen is just fake, with no real reason. One example is the user interfaces in all police software,…
qwazix
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Why is smoking shown as cool in movies?

For example, James Bond, Man with No Name(Clint Eastwood), Tyler Durden, etc. It seems that smoking is associated with coolness and having an edge. Where and why did this trope start?
ALT
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