behind the scenes library

 

Behind the Scenes pulls back the curtain and lets you see how movies are made, from the initial script, the casting and how the jaw-dropping special effects come to life.

Featured Article:  Inside 'Speed Racer'

Speed Racer and his tricked-out Mach 5 have had a cult following since it premiered in 1967. Now, Warner Bros. has turned this popular anime cartoon into a live-action movie. Buckle your seat belt and get ready for quite a ride as we go inside "Speed Racer." See more »

An Amityville Primer

An Amityville Primer

HowStuffworks brings you up to speed on the story behind the "based on a true story" remake of "The Amityville Horror." Read about the real-life murders at 112 Ocean Avenue, the best-selling book and the family at the center of the controversy.

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Creating the Kranks Neighborhood

Creating the Kranks Neighborhood

Sometimes reality just doesn't do the trick. To get the right feel for the movie "Christmas with the Kranks," filmmakers had to build a fake wintry Chicago neighborhood on a parking lot in California. See how they did it.

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How 'The Da Vinci Code' Doesn't Work

How 'The Da Vinci Code' Doesn't Work

Could a sacred story be hidden for centuries, only to be revealed in one of the most famous works of art in the Western world? That's the story according to "The DaVinci Code." Take a look at the evidence.

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How Harry Potter's Wand Works

How Harry Potter's Wand Works

The Harry Potter universe would not be complete without magic wands. Have you ever wanted to know how these wands work and why they seem to have a mind of their own? You can learn about these magic wands in this section.

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How James Bond Works

How James Bond Works

With his dry wit and impeccable style, James Bond has been defying death and ruining the plans of megalomaniacal madmen in service of Queen and country for more than 50 years. Learn more about the history of James Bond and the leading men who portray him.

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How King Kong Works

How King Kong Works

When director Peter Jackson and Weta Digital effects studio completed the Lord of the Rings trilogy, they began work on their next project: creating King Kong. In this article, we'll find out how the latest King Kong incorporates human performance an

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How Muppets Work

How Muppets Work

These raucous characters of felt and wool have claimed a top spot in the television world and American pop culture for over 50 years. But what exactly is a Muppet? Learn about the Muppets construction and the Muppeteers who bring them to life.

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How Narnia Works

How Narnia Works

Nearly every child dreams about being away from parents and traveling from the mundane world to someplace extraordinary. In this article, we'll explore the inspirations behind the Chronicles of Narnia as well as the mythical world itself.

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How Sci-fi Doesn't Work

How Sci-fi Doesn't Work

Yes you read right. We've broken down why sci-fi doesn't work in most movies. Although some fictional technology has come to pass, most onscreen science is still pure fiction. If you've ever been curious about laser beams or interstellar travel, read

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How Spy Gadgets Work

How Spy Gadgets Work

In this article, we'll check out the gadgets that James Bond has used and learn more about the tools that real secret agents have employed to gather information eliminate rivals and avoid detection.

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Inside "Defiance"

Inside "Defiance"

"Defiance" is not your typical Holocaust movie, and not just because the reigning James Bond plays the hero. It's a story of three brothers who dared to fight back and save their fellow Jews during the Holocaust.

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Inside "Hotel For Dogs"

Inside "Hotel For Dogs"

W.C. Fields famously warned against working with animals and children, but the makers of "Hotel for Dogs" ignored that advice. How did they get 70 dogs and nearly twice as many trainers to behave?

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Inside "Quantum of Solace"

Inside "Quantum of Solace"

Forty-six years since James Bond first battled baddies in "Dr. No," Ian Fleming's martini drinking, Aston Martin-driving British superspy is back in his 22nd installment "Quantum of Solace."

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Inside "Terminator Salvation"

Inside "Terminator Salvation"

How do you inject new blood into an old, but beloved film franchise, while keeping the die-hard fans happy? That's the question McG hopes he answers in the latest installment of the "Terminator" series.

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Inside "The Day the Earth Stood Still"

Inside "The Day the Earth Stood Still"

Fifty-seven years after the original debuted in America, the sci-fi classic gets a modern remake, with a giant robot, alien spheres and Keanu as Klaatu. But the main point remains the same: man is mistreating their fellow man and the planet.

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Inside "Twilight"

Inside "Twilight"

They're sexy, dangerous and live forever -- no wonder vampires have always held a fascination for mere mortals. And the current vamp-related pop culture phenomenon is "Twilight," the story of a teenage girl and her vampire love.

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Inside '10,000 BC'

Inside '10,000 BC'

The making of "10,000 BC" was truly a mammoth undertaking. The crew created all sorts of ancient beasts for the prehistoric movie -- and battled fierce weather on two continents.

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Inside '21'

Inside '21'

"21" is a movie based on the best-selling book, Bringing Down the House, about a group of math prodigies who use card-counting to win big in blackjack. How does card-counting work, and can you still get away with it?

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Inside '300'

Inside '300'

Twenty-four centuries after a small army of 300 Spartan warriors held off 100,000 Persian invaders the story author and illustrator Frank Miller captured so vividly in his 1999 graphic novel has been realized on screen as "300" by director Zack Snyder.

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Inside 'Bee Movie'

Inside 'Bee Movie'

Jerry Seinfeld's animated labor-of-love "Bee Movie" was born out of a joke Seinfeld made to Steven Spielberg. Get the rest of the buzz about the movie and its making.

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