Culture & entertainment
Discover facts about culture & entertainment. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Culture & entertainment
Movie explosions require fire departments, city fees and local permits
Even a staged fireball can mean city fees and coordination with the local fire department; practical action scenes must also follow permits and zoning rules.
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Awards-show audiences have stand-ins, too
When a guest leaves a visible seat, a seat filler can temporarily occupy it so camera shots don't show a distracting gap. The job is to look like part of the…
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Why comedy writers save their worst jokes
Comedy writers keep archives of rejected jokes in case a premise becomes useful later. Late-night monologues can be built from scraps that once seemed too…
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Stunt design is getting its own Oscar at the 100th ceremony
The Academy announced a competitive Achievement in Stunt Design award for films released in 2027, with the first presentation planned for 2028. It recognizes…
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Music videos strictly film artists in extreme slow motion
For the slow-motion look, artists lip-sync to a track played at double speed, then the footage is slowed to normal—making their frantic performance look…
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The Wild West's movie towns were reused endlessly
Studios reused wooden facades in the desert, repainting details like saloon doors to make the same sets look like different frontier towns.
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John Wick's revenge begins with his wife's last gift
The puppy arrives after his wife's death, giving the retired assassin a new attachment while he grieves. Killing it destroys that connection and pulls him…
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Children's authors hate their own film adaptations
The author of the famous chocolate-factory story publicly disowned a beloved film adaptation, objecting to changes that altered the story’s message.
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Who really writes famous memoirs
Famous people often work with paid writers who interview them and shape their anecdotes into polished prose.
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Why slasher movies kill someone so quickly
Slasher films often kill the first victim within the opening ten minutes, delivering an early burst of violence before the rest of the story unfolds.
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The first feature-length movie nearly disappeared
Australia's The Story of the Kelly Gang ran for over an hour when it opened in 1906. By the end of World War II, all known prints were thought lost; later…
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Stunt drivers undergo extreme physical conditioning
They train to withstand the forces of crashes in heavily modified cars, including high-speed impacts with concrete barriers.
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James Bond's creator also gave a family a flying car
Ian Fleming wrote Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a children's adventure about the Pott family and an extraordinary restored automobile. The car has a will of its…
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The one-page-per-minute rule of screenwriting
A screenplay page is often treated as roughly a minute of screen time, but it’s a rule of thumb—not a rigid formula that gets scripts tossed.
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You can take a class in the car moves movies tell you not to try
Australia's Stunt Driving School teaches controlled handbrake turns and spins in prepared cars. The setting matters as much as the stunt: an instructor, a…
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Your favorite comedian may be buying their jokes
Some comedians hire writers to punch up their material, so not every joke in a special comes from the performer alone.
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Stallone says Rocky IV's real punches sent him to intensive care
In his account of filming with Dolph Lundgren, Stallone describes being hit hard and later needing hospital treatment. He retells the episode in the…
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Why concert halls hand out cough drops
Some concert halls offer lozenges to reduce throat-clearing during performances, when even a small cough can interrupt a delicate solo.
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Comedians test new jokes in tiny clubs
Even established comedians test rough jokes in small clubs, where audience reactions show what works before they take the material to an arena.
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Why orchestras make musicians audition behind a curtain
A curtain hides candidates from judges, and some auditions even require musicians to remove their shoes so footsteps won’t reveal their gender.
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Action stars train in real judo for fight scenes
For convincing fight scenes, actors may spend months learning judo throws and weapon handling at specialized training facilities.
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An intimate movie scene can be choreographed as carefully as a stunt
SAG-AFTRA's protocols give intimacy coordinators a role in agreeing boundaries, planning movement, and coordinating garments or barriers. The aim is to make…
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A screenwriter can use a pseudonym without simply surrendering the credit
The Writers Guild's screen-credit rules distinguish an approved pseudonym from withdrawing a name altogether. Withdrawal can forfeit rights attached to the…
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A movie's box office may include empty seats
Studios and brand partners can boost reported ticket sales by buying seats in bulk, even when many of those seats go unused.
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