Kathleen Valenti

Movie Magic

Ah, Hawaii… land of gentle breezes, Aloha spirit, and irritable dinosaurs.

The latter reserved for the big screen, of course.

I just returned from a lovely Oahu getaway with Ian, during which we went to Kualoa Ranch, a full-time ranch and sometime film location known as the backlot of Hawaii. What surprised me–in addition to how many people love George of the Jungle–was how often the valley of this majestic locale has served as the backdrop for a variety of Major Motion Pictures(TM).



As you may have guessed, key scenes from a couple of the Jurassics (most notably Park and World) were filmed here, as well as other prehistorically themed movies, like Tyrannosaurus Azteca (really), and rom-coms in which hardly anyone was devoured by giant lizards, such as Along Came Polly, 50 First Dates, and You, Me & Dupree. Although the location’s vertigo-inducing caldera walls and glimpses of azure sea are undoubtably iconic, the land also plays chameleon with help from prop masters and set designers.


This is my favorite part of movie magic.

As a baby copywriter, I cut my teeth on TV and video shoots that employed directors who used actual film, along with gaffers and grips who made light work of heavy equipment. Even on our micro-shoots, we’d have the benefit of working with prop masters who could make it rain cereal. Not exactly the giant ball that chased Indiana Jones, but close. Their efforts would be complemented in post-production by foley artists who would create sound design that would telegraph mood as well as sound.

Whether held together by plaster or generated by the sound of crumpled paper, these movie magicians were masters of turning make-believe into make-it-feel-real.

Books have similar sorcery. Sometimes plots that begin thin as paper are transformed into something sustantive and moving. Dialogue breathes life into wooden characters. Authors use illusion and misdirection to make the reader see something that’s not there–or miss what’s right in front of them.

Suspension of disbelief is part and parcel to pretty much any form of entertainment, whether it’s on-screen or on the page. It’s the result of the right setting, masterful illusion, and the creator and viewer saying “yes” to the power of possibility and the wonder of story. It’s a special kind of magic that has the ability to transport to anywhere and everywhen.

Do you like behind-the-scenes glimpses of movies, TV shows, or books? Does it enhance the experience, or do you prefer not knowing that giant bolder is made out of Styrofoam?

34 thoughts on “Movie Magic”

  1. Every Saturday night my husband and I watch old B movies and some of them you can tell that the boulders are Styrofoam and other things just aren’t real but are still fun to watch. I had a friend back in the 80’s that was an extra in one of Mel Gibson’s movies that was being filmed in Southern Maine. That was cool. She took vacation time hoping she would be picked. I’ve been to some of the places where Stephen King’s movies were filmed in Maine too but long afterwards.

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      2. Whenever we’re in Cannon Beach we have to do Goonies stuff! And I love, love, LOVE behind-the-scenes stuff. Give me any kind of backstage tour and I’m in pig heaven. My pal Ted worked for many years on Beverly Hills 90210 and he showed us around the set. Up close it’s simply rediculous, but looks perfect on screen. I commented on how dirty the carpet was and he said, “You’ll never see anyone’s feet,” and by golly he was right!

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  2. I love getting the insider perspective. It doesn’t diminish my enjoyment. I like learning the artistry of prop-making, etc. My son works in special effects, so we’ve heard a lot about how things are done against a green screen and how the special effects work. There’s actually a lot of math involved in trying to make things look real while in motion.

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  4. For movies, I’d rather just see the finished product. But for books, I’m always interested in the nuts and bolts, looking for something I can apply to my own writing.

    Tom Burns

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  5. I totally like going behind the scenes! When we visit Universal Studios, I’m always excited to understand how things were done and appreciate learning from experts. Plus, I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for sound magic; I don’t know why it delights me so much.

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    1. I love sound design, too, and the sticklers for perfection make my heart happy. I’ve worked with engineers who review the sound effects libraries, decide the options aren’t quite right, then make their own. Magic. (And, oh my gosh, Universal Studies is so great!!)

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  6. Ooo…I’ll have to visit Kualoa Ranch next time I’m on O’ahu–it sounds super fun! Do they sell souvenir dinosaurs?

    I remember visiting Universal Studios in the early ’70s, and they showed us how they poured cornflakes on the ground and covered them with that snowy detergent that was popular back then to imitate snow and the crunching sound as people walked on it in the movie “Airport.” (I guess it must have been as they were walking across the tarmac to board the plane.)

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  8. After a brief acting career, I worked for AFI (American Film Institute). My duties included assisting in casting, setting schedules, and arranging loans from major studios for costumes and locations. For me, it was way more fun than being on camera. That happy time behind-the-scenes made me all the more in awe of every film I watch today.

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    2. Gay, that sounds like such a cool job! A bestie from college just retired from being a set dresser. Worked on a lot of movies and most recently, almost the entire run of Criminal Minds.

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  9. When I lived in NYC I regularly tripped over TV shows being filmed on my way to work (mostly cop shows). I was always jealous of the enormous spreads they had out for the cast and crew. Sometimes I’m a little disappointed by behind-the-scenes secrets–like, the teensy tiny Titanic model and those miniature Imperial Skywalkers. They shot a ridiculous movie in the dead of winter at my New England college once–all my friends were extras (and got richly paid!), but I just managed to get hit by a slow-moving station wagon as I tried to cross a main road (the driver was watching Bo Derek and Anthony Hopkins instead of the crosswalk). I did check out the cast trailers–Bo swathed herself in white fur and apparently subsisted on celery sticks washed down with Fresca. Later I stood behind Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt as they waited to film a scene in my Brooklyn neighborhood way back when (As Good as it Gets). I was shocked to hear Jack tell Helen to “shut the eff up.” Not very magical.

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    1. WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAA. First, you got hit by a car?!!! Secondly, Jack was salty to Helen??!!! (I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but…!) And third, guffaw re: Fresca! Such a blast from the past.

      That is some rich BTS movie history right there, Lisa. The most exciting movie thing that happened in Bend was the filming of St. Helens. My best friend got to be an extra who ran away in terror at the volcano’s rumbling. I was filled with envy.

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  11. I love everything about the movies and have since I was a child and my father managed four movie theatres in our hometown of Harlingen, Texas–The Arcadia, Rialto and Grande Theatres and the Rio in Mercedes. I saw lots of movies and all for free all the way through college. He started in 1930 as an usher. My father quit and became postmaster in 1962 but got an honorary movie pass for years. Most of my birthday parties were on a Saturday morning at the Arcadia with a special movie that was not to be released for a couple of months usually. One was “Perry,” and another was “Pinocchio,” both Disney movies. Then I had “G.I. Blues” with Elvis. I could invite everyone, and everyone came because they got a free movie, popcorn and a drink. I have collected movie autographs and memorabilia since the late 1950s. I love to know how the movies were made and watch them over and over again. I also love books set in old theatres or with movie props, etc. Margarat Dumas has a set of three books (wish there were more) set in a movie palace with a ghost of an usherette that died in the 1930s. They are wonderful.

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  12. Just love visiting places that have had a part to play in amazing movies.
    As a digital nomad I tend to prioritise this in my travels.

    So much so I built an app that helps people find their next travel destination inspired from filming locations of their favourite movies. 🎬🌏

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