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Hollywood Jobs Each year, NPR's Susan Stamberg profiles behind-the-scenes pros who help make the movies happen.
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Hollywood Jobs
For Location Scouts, It's All About Making The Scene

Rudolph Valentino once entertained girlfriends (and boyfriends) in Room 1202 of L.A.'s Alexandria Hotel. Location manager Doug Dresser scouted the surreal space a decade ago — and recently took NPR's Susan Stamberg back for a visit. Courtesy Doug Dresser hide caption

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Courtesy Doug Dresser

Opinion

Oscars 2011: The 83rd Annual Academy Awards

For Location Scouts, It's All About Making The Scene

Among the earliest production crew members hired on a film, they help directors turn words into pictures — and help manage the chaos of a movie set. For the second of this year's Hollywood Jobs stories, NPR's Susan Stamberg tags along to see the sites.

For Location Scouts, It's All About Making The Scene

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Objectively Speaking, It's All About The Prop Master
Katie Falkenberg/For NPR

Opinion

Oscars 2011: The 83rd Annual Academy Awards

Objectively Speaking, It's All About The Prop Master

When The Social Network needs 60 vintage computers that work — or Steven Spielberg needs live crabs, and needs them in motion — it's prop masters who move heaven and earth to make it happen. In the first of her annual Hollywood Jobs stories, NPR's Susan Stamberg profiles some of the field's best.

Objectively Speaking, It's All About The Prop Master

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Long Before Computers, How Movies Made Us Believe

When Atlanta burns in Gone with the Wind, what you're actually seeing is leftover sets from King Kong and The Garden of Allah set aflame in a lot in Culver City, Calif. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer hide caption

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Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Long Before Computers, How Movies Made Us Believe

Once upon a time, scenery and special effects were crafted entirely by human hands. NPR's Susan Stamberg reveals some of the surprising secrets behind Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Dr. Zhivago and other classics.

Long Before Computers, How Movies Made Us Believe

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Belief On The Big Screen: Secrets Of Special Effects
Cindy Carpien/NPR

Oscars 2010

Belief On The Big Screen: Secrets Of Special Effects

A spaceship lands. Humans become avatars. A man in a cape can fly. Special effects have made movies magical for decades. NPR's Susan Stamberg goes backstage to learn how moviemakers frighten, fool and thrill the audience.

Belief On The Big Screen: Secrets Of Special Effects

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How Hollywood Gets Fed: A Lesson In Craft Service

"A lot of times when parents are in this industry, they really don't get to see their children," says Charlie Scott III (left). "In the morning, you know, Dad's gonna be there. Like death and taxes." Cindy Carpien/NPR hide caption

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Cindy Carpien/NPR

Oscars 2010

How Hollywood Gets Fed: A Lesson In Craft Service

Gone are the days when actors brought their own lunches to the set in brown paper bags. It's a full-time job feeding the hundreds — sometimes thousands — of men and women working each day on major films. Susan Stamberg spends a day with craft service — the crew responsible for the snacks that keep moviemakers going during long days of filming.

How Hollywood Gets Fed: A Lesson In Craft Service

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The 81st Annual Academy Awards

At 91, Shoemaker To The Stars Is Still In Business

The man behind Charlton Heston's sandals in The Ten Commandments is 91-year-old Willie Rivera, who began making shoes at the age of 13 in Mexico City. He moved to Los Angeles in the 1950s and has dressed the feet of legends such as Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Lily Tomlin and Bill Cosby.

At 91, Shoemaker To The Stars Is Still In Business

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The 81st Annual Academy Awards

A Movie's Look, From Toilet To Villain's Lair

Lighting, props, sets and costumes all contribute to the "look" of a movie — and production designer J. Michael Riva, the grandson of Marlene Dietrich, makes sure all those elements integrate seamlessly for a film. He has worked on blockbusters such as The Goonies and A Few Good Men.

A Movie's Look, From Toilet To Villain's Lair

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The 80th Annual Academy Awards

Hollywood Jobs: You Thought Actors Were Trouble?

NPR's Susan Stamberg profiles the crafts and crew members who keep movies rolling. On the Hotel for Dogs set, she meets the trainers responsible for every bark and wag.

Hollywood Jobs: You Thought Actors Were Trouble?

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The 80th Annual Academy Awards

When Continuity Counts, Call a Script Girl — Er, Guy

Best boy, key grip: Hollywood's full of oddly named jobs. In an Oscar-season tradition, NPR's Susan Stamberg looks for the stories behind those strange credits. Hint: A script supervisor doesn't just copy the screenplay; it may be the hardest job on the set.

When Continuity Counts, Call a Script Girl — Er, Guy

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Costume Designer Dips into Hollywood's Closet

Hollywood costume designer Julie Weiss has clothed celebrities from Marlon Brando to Demi Moore. She shares some favorite stories, including how she earned an Oscar nomination for her designs in the 2002 film Frida.

Costume Designer Dips into Hollywood's Closet

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An Actor's Best Friend? The Casting Director

In the final part of a series on the movie industry, we take a look at the Hollywood job on which so many acting jobs depend: the casting director. Casting directors are on the front line for actors, agents and directors. They must be fans and professionals at the same time.

An Actor's Best Friend? The Casting Director

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On the Set: Decoding Film Production Jobs

Behind every director is an army of men and women, marshaling dozens of cables, wires and lights. They work away from the spotlight so when the call for "Action!" comes, the cameras can roll. Susan Stamberg zooms in on two of these key offscreen players: the sound mixer and key grip.

On the Set: Decoding Film Production Jobs

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