Behind the Scenes

From "The Shining" to "The Shawshank Redemption," from Hogwarts to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, find out how establishing shots immerse audiences in movies' settings.

By Bambi Turner

Rumors have surrounded the shocking horse scene in "The Godfather" for years -- did author Mario Puzo make it up, or worse, was it based on a true incident? And where does Frank Sinatra fit in? Read on for the scoop.

By Alison Cooper

Conspiracy theorists have been debunking the moon landing ever since Neil Armstrong took that first small step. But how (and why) does Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" fit in to this pervasive urban legend?

By Alison Cooper

Remember when you got the lyrics to the "Star Trek" theme stuck in your head? Oh, right. There are no lyrics to the "Star Trek" theme -- or are there?

By Alison Cooper

It's obvious today that making a movie near a nuclear test site is a terrible idea. But in 1956, Howard Hughes filmed "The Conqueror," starring John Wayne, less than 150 miles from one. Bad move? You be the judge.

By Alison Cooper

Perception is everything in Hollywood, which is why the industry keeps such tight control over box office numbers. But what do those numbers really mean, and what's the point of inflating them?

By Melissa Phipps

The cost of permits to shoot in most public places can wreak serious havoc on independent filmmakers' budgets. That's why they often resort to guerilla tactics for their movies. How do they get away with it?

By Alia Hoyt

Movies shown in 3-D can be polarizing — no pun intended. Some movie buffs embrace the third dimension, while others find it hard to watch. How does the RealD system optimize the experience?

By Nathan Chandler

If you loved the glowing lightsabers in the original "Star Wars" trilogy, you can thank rotoscoping. Who invented this technology, and is it still useful?

By Bernadette Johnson

Film doesn't last forever – particularly if it was used before 1950. What causes it to break down, and how do restorers put it back together?

By Chris Opfer

Andie ended up with Duckie in "Pretty in Pink" and Alex committed suicide in "Fatal Attraction." Except that they didn't. These are just two of the many movies where the endings were changed thanks to audience testing.

By Alia Hoyt

We take our food seriously. And if we were working a 16-hour day on a movie, we'd want to know exactly where and when we'd find nourishment. So who would we talk to: catering or the craft services folks?

By Alison Cooper

If you live in a town where they shoot a lot of movies, chances are you've seen or read about a street closing due to a film shoot. With all the traffic inconvenience this can cause, how do movie companies get away with it?

By Alison Cooper

Even with 300 people working together on a motion picture, each and every one (understandably) wants credit for their part in the magic. Ranking their work can get a little sticky.

By Alison Cooper

So, who is this best boy whose title we see rolling down the film credits in tiny type? Is he the best-behaved kid on the set? Not a chance! He's not even a boy.

By Alison Cooper

Just in case you think there's a group of folks who get paid to wander movie sets while clutching dolls, let us set you straight. Dolly grip is one of the most demanding film jobs out there.

By Alison Cooper

You would not know it from the word, but the gaffer is the head electrician on a film set. Where did the name come from and why is the job so important?

By Alison Cooper

Picture a soundstage with a concrete floor. Now, envision it covered in a jungle -- a jungle built from rented trees, vines, and flowers. Welcome to the greensman's world.

By Alison Cooper

A movie star isn't going to spend hours on a set so the crew can adjust the lighting -- but someone's got to do it. That's what a stand-in is for. Find out how to pretend to be Jennifer Aniston for a day.

By Alison Cooper

For more than 30 years, Alan Smithee directed some of the worst films on record, including one movie Roger Ebert called "spectacularly bad." And then in 2000, his name disappeared from credits. Whatever happened to Alan Smithee?

By Alison Cooper

You know it when you hear it: shrieking noises, dissonant chords, unexpected high notes. It's the music that scares you. But is there something about our biology that makes us fearful of certain sounds?

By Alison Cooper

You might have heard that Sandra Bullock got $77 million for "Gravity," but how much did the PA make? We've compiled a list of the most tedious, low-paying jobs in show business – that people still beg for.

By Alia Hoyt

Sept. 24, 2011, would have the 75th birthday of Jim Henson, the gentle, quirky puppet master who charmed the world with his lovable puppet characters. What makes Jim Henson's creative work and life so memorable -- and inspiring?

By Shanna Freeman

It may not seem like much to film on a boat, but it can actually be quite dangerous. What kind of gear would you need to keep yourself upright on a boat shoot -- and what camera equipment would you need to make your footage pop?

By Ed Grabianowski

Along with motion pictures, Hollywood has a knack for creating other things: controversy and scandal. So which scandals are the juiciest -- and why?

By Charles W. Bryant & Allison Wachtel