# In movies, how do prop departments plan for retakes with destructible props? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 22, 2014, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-movies-how-do-prop-departments-plan-for-retakes-with-destructible-props/702137 "2014-10-22T11:18:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-movies-how-do-prop-departments-plan-for-retakes-with-destructible-props/702137/41 "2014-10-29T18:11:12Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Sure, they can afford to prepare six wrapped packages. The prop department has now told the director that he can only shoot the scene six times. Since different shots might be needed for one scene, the director will need to shoot it multiple times anyway. Even if the acting & tech stuff is perfect for each shot, the paper might not rip in exactly the same way every time. In fact, it probably won’t. So I don’t mind the boxes. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-movies-how-do-prop-departments-plan-for-retakes-with-destructible-props/702137/42 "2014-10-29T19:33:44Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Since different shots might be needed for one scene, the director will need to shoot it multiple times anyway. Even if the acting & tech stuff is perfect for each shot, the paper might not rip in exactly the same way every time. In fact, it probably won’t. > > So I don’t mind the boxes. Anyway, it’s the thought that counts, right? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-movies-how-do-prop-departments-plan-for-retakes-with-destructible-props/702137/43 "2015-01-08T20:35:17Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > …Actors are trained to only take the minimum number and size of bites… In the DVD extras for _Bonnie and Clyde_, I learned that the young Michael J. Pollard hadn’t been thus trained. There’s a scene where the main cast is in a car eating takeout hamburgers. Pollard was hungry when shooting started and wolfed down several burgers in the first take or two. When the scene had to be shot again and again, he had to eat more and more, and started to get a bit queasy. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-movies-how-do-prop-departments-plan-for-retakes-with-destructible-props/702137/44 "2015-01-08T23:22:39Z")
In _Diamonds Are Forever_ Bond tips the car on it’s side to drive it through the alley. After the wrap they noticed the shot of the car emerging from the alley is of one balanced on the other side. They had to film a piece of business to account for the car having changed from one side to the other. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-movies-how-do-prop-departments-plan-for-retakes-with-destructible-props/702137/45 "2015-01-11T23:45:17Z")
My first thought was of the burning of Atlanta scene in Gone With the Wind where they burned down most of the studio backlot. A certain one take scene. Today on NPR I only heard a part of the interview on the show “the splendid table,” with the chef for Downtown Abby. The plates and plates of real food used. About every two takes they refresh the plates. Things like fish are seldom used. Now I wish I was paying more attention. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-movies-how-do-prop-departments-plan-for-retakes-with-destructible-props/702137/46 "2015-01-12T02:50:06Z")
I understand they only had one steam locomotive to run off the Bridge on the River Kwai, so they really had to get it right the first take. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-movies-how-do-prop-departments-plan-for-retakes-with-destructible-props/702137.md?page=2)