# Why aren't movies required to list all of the filming locations? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 17, 2016, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110 "2016-07-17T09:42:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110/21 "2016-07-17T15:45:22Z")
The credits that are given at the end of a movie aren’t there because there is any standard film industry rule or any city or state or national or international law requiring them. They exist mostly because there is a contract between each of person working on the film and the company producing the film stating that the names of all the actors/directors/screenwriters/editors/cinematographers/producers/miscellaneous crew members have to be listed in the credits. It’s often as important to such people as the salary (or cut of the profit) that those people get. The money someone may be paid on a small independent film may be just barely enough for them to get by on during the time of production of the film. If that small independent film becomes well known though, the credit that a member of the cast or crew gets may be important for future jobs that they get. Furthermore, as I understand it, although the Internet Movie Database is generally very good about transferring the credits of a movie to their database, there is no official status to that database. It’s just an online database operated by people who are generally very careful in their data collection. There’s no law or industry rule that says that the makers of a film have to send their credits to the IMDb. The people working at the IMDb don’t feel required to do extra research beyond reading the credits in creating the entry for a film. Yes, sometimes there is information there that’s not in the credits (particularly if the film is old), but the IMDb isn’t required by anyone to search for it. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110/22 "2016-07-17T16:25:00Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > I hate it when they use locations I know because it causes a dissonance in me. The Wife and I were watching a film shot mostly in lower Fairfield County CT, and we kept hitting a wall whenever a character would, for instance, drive along a road in Westport, turn into the gates of a cemetery in Bridgeport, and pull up to a mausoleum which was who-knows-where. This can be a major problem for people who live in popular locations. Ask any New Yorker about scene accuracy. Or any Angelino who winced when Mel Gibson started chasing a bad guy on foot in Reseda, turned a corner and was on Hollywood Blvd. I totally disagree with the OP, and if I ever owned property that was in a movie I would demand that the location be undisclosed as part of the contract. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110/23 "2016-07-17T16:28:31Z")
I wrote: \> . . . between each of person working on the film . . . I meant: \> . . . between each person working on the film . . . ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110/24 "2016-07-17T17:13:18Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > … > > I totally disagree with the OP, and if I ever owned property that was in a movie I would demand that the location be undisclosed as part of the contract. I agree with all of this. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110/25 "2016-07-17T17:30:05Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > **Guanolad** has the answer. From the movie producer’s point of view, there’s no reason to. It has no effect on the movie or who sees it. Also, the property owner may not want people traipsing all over after the movie is released. > > You may want to see the E.T. house, but the owners don’t want a steady stream of fans disrupting their lives. It grows old very fast. And their rights are more important since it’s their property. Reminds me of the house that was used for Walter White’s house in Breaking Bad. While I’m sure the credits never listed its location, fans of course were able to figure it out, and the people who live there (an elderly couple) has had to ask the public to stop throwing pizzas on their roof since the show aired (seriously). ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110/26 "2016-07-17T18:06:16Z")
Way back when, many scenes were filmed in sound stages in Hollywood. Even car driving scenes. I should think it would “ruin it” for movie watchers to know it was all a put-on. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110/27 "2016-07-17T18:15:21Z")
As mentioned above credits only reflect what some contract demands are in them. Cities get mentioned because the city gives tax breaks and filming permits in order to convince more movies to film there. ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110/28 "2016-07-17T18:50:12Z")
As a person who’s crewed plenty of films without a credit, I endorse Wendell Wagner’s post. It takes so many people to create a big budget feature that to list them all in the credits would be impractical. As an example, many times you’ll see the name of the Key Grip, but much less often will you see the name of the Best Boy or of the rest of the Grips, even though they work long hours every day of production. So those of us with more specialized assignments, who might come in and work for a week or two, or people who are further from the camera, like drivers? Very rarely. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110/29 "2016-07-17T21:27:30Z")
> [@TheSundial](#): > > It can be frustrating, especially with Homegrown, when I would like to know where specific locations are and it’s not listed anywhere or on IMDB, simply because fans most likely don’t know the exact locations either. So it just remains a mystery, on purpose or by accident. When a filming location is found by locations scouts there’s clearly something special about them and it’s too bad that it’s not possible to know where some are, and we will die not knowing. You’ve stumbled on the conspiracy. Most movies aren’t shot on location in actual American towns, they’re filmed in elaborate soundstages on the moon. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110/30 "2016-07-17T22:10:07Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > What do you mean, required? Required by whom? Do you think Congress should pass a law requiring this? And what should be the punishment for breaking said law? Does every goddamn thing in the world have to be either prohibited or mandatory? > > Do you also want them to be required to say exactly who originated every word of dialog or every movement or gesture? Or who applied every actor’s makeup or sewed every article of clothing? I, too, am wondering who it is that the OP thinks should be doing the “requiring” here. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110/31 "2016-07-17T22:21:08Z")
> [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](#): > > It takes so many people to create a big budget feature that to list them all in the credits would be impractical. As an example, many times you’ll see the name of the Key Grip, but much less often will you see the name of the Best Boy or of the rest of the Grips, even though they work long hours every day of production. Occasionally I’ve sat all the way through the credits. (Particularly for the Marvel movies, where there is often a scene at the very, very end.) In these films in particular, it’s amazing how many people are involved. The credits will mention special visual effects by [company] and then go on to list like a hundred names. And then there will be ten or twelve other effects companies listed as well. ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110/32 "2016-07-17T22:33:59Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Occasionally I’ve sat all the way through the credits. (Particularly for the Marvel movies, where there is often a scene at the very, very end.) In these films in particular, it’s amazing how many people are involved. The credits will mention special visual effects by [company] and then go on to list like a hundred names. And then there will be ten or twelve other effects companies listed as well. True, and as Wendell points out, this happens as a function of the contract that’s negotiated between the production company and the vendor. In my experience negotiating these issues, the production company’s default position is to refuse granting a screen credit (as mentioned, it costs money to put those names up there), but if the vendor has enough leverage to get all those names into the credits, it’ll happen. Smaller vendors often don’t have that luxury; and in the case of the company I worked for, unless we were hired for the duration of the shoot, we knew better than to ask. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110/33 "2016-07-17T22:42:26Z")
Mostly, I was posting because I’m amazed at how many people are involved in some of the big-budget films. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110/34 "2016-07-17T22:54:11Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Occasionally I’ve sat all the way through the credits. (Particularly for the Marvel movies, where there is often a scene at the very, very end.) In these films in particular, it’s amazing how many people are involved. The credits will mention special visual effects by [company] and then go on to list like a hundred names. And then there will be ten or twelve other effects companies listed as well. Hey, they don’t call it the movie “industry” for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110/35 "2016-07-17T22:55:05Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Mostly, I was posting because I’m amazed at how many people are involved in some of the big-budget films. Yep, and it may just be a fraction, is my point. Me, I’m mostly posting because after everybody else has left the party, I’m still talking to the lampshade. Oops, I’m doing it again. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110/36 "2016-07-17T22:56:00Z")
> [@Me\_Billy](#): > > Way back when, many scenes were filmed in sound stages in Hollywood. Even car driving scenes. I should think it would “ruin it” for movie watchers to know it was all a put-on. Why would you think that? Because I can only think of one occasion when this was even mentioned. It no more ruins a movie than the realization that it’s just actors playing a role and not real people. Or realizing it’s just light projected on a screen. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110/37 "2016-07-17T23:17:59Z")
First hunger games movie was filmed here in NC so the state put out a guide to the film locations. And of course they were then overrun with fans. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110/38 "2016-07-17T23:32:17Z")
The owners of the house used in The Goonies put sheets up to cover their home to make it unrecognizable. They’re frustrated by all the movie fans who will just walk onto their property peeping through their windows or posing for photos next to the house. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110/39 "2016-07-17T23:44:06Z")
Bob Denver’s contract for Gilligan said his credit placement was up to him. When they did not move everyone’s credit before the show, he said for them to move his name to closing credits. As you might expect they responded by moving all the main cast credits before the show. ---
**Author:** ![bmoak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@bmoak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110/40 "2016-07-18T13:17:32Z")
The owners of the house used in the Conjuring are suing the studio for failing to keep the location of the house secret. Apparently, they are besieged by the curious coming by at all hours of the day and night, including “ghost hunters” skulking around the property at 3am. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-movies-required-to-list-all-of-the-filming-locations/760110.md?page=3)