What happens to movie props and sets after filming?

Philippines
December 29, 2010 8:16am CST
Hi everyone! I was just able to watch "Silence of the Lambs: The Inside Story" and one of the things they talked about was the set. It was a big abandoned warehouse, about the size of 2 football fields, and in there, the prison cell of Hannibal and the Jame Gumb lair was built. It's a pretty big set. After watching the film, I wondered, what happens to movie sets and props after a filming has finished? I understand that sometimes, actors and staff are allowed to bring home props. What about the set? SOTL wasn't done in a company's studio so they can't keep it there. Would the set be destroyed? Or will some of it be brought to the company studio? Or even be sold to the public? Thanks for reading and have a nice day!
4 responses
• United States
30 Dec 10
My boyfriend is a long time actor and most of the time the props become rubbish and thrown out in the trash. There may be some pieces that they keep when they know in advance they will film it yearly or sequel. But the majority of the time it goes in the trash bin and i can't help but think it is a waste.
• Philippines
30 Dec 10
Oh, I see. That sure is a lot of waste if everything goes into the bin. I hope they could send it somewhere to get recycled or something. Thanks for the response, have a nice day!
@ifa225 (14364)
• Indonesia
29 Dec 10
hello Enslin, i ever read that The set from Eclipse- the cullen's house- was sold. in fact, they can get more profit when they sell it. many fans want to have it and want to pay it higher than it cost
• Philippines
30 Dec 10
Ooooh, interesting. That fan who bought the house must be really happy. Thanks for the response and have a nice day!
@jazzsue58 (2666)
19 Mar 11
Not every set is bought in. Often, film or TV companies will see a likely ruined barn or garage and approach the landowners to use it. We had a fantastic mouldy old underground passageway near me, ferns growing and everything. It was used for a couple of screen shots - then the council painted it over! But a lot of properties are used for external and even internal scenes - Harry Potter for example is real places, NOT sets. Also what you see isn't always what's there. Modern software allows filmmakers to create sets that in real life were just green screen studio lots. They can also film real interiors then superimpose actors onto them. As for the props, they're often auctioned off, online or places like Christie's and Sotheby's in New York.
• United States
29 Dec 10
Most go into a warehouse to be resused. built stages are generally torn aprt and the materials salvaged. Some of the famous props are used for promation or sometimes auctioned to the public. I remember a caouple years ago they had a big Start Trek auction.