Has anyone ever had their car in a movie?

[Tom Boehm]

A local car club I belong to has been approached by a production company wanting 60's and 70's cars for a movie shot locally. Has anyone out there done this before? Did you have a good experience? Are there things to watch out for to avoid having a bad experience?

I seem to remember stories in the Self Starter about guys who have done this. Some had good experiences and some did not. I have a 1973 non Cadillac car.

[Vince Taliano #13852]

Hi, I documented one of the times I participated in an article below.  Then, you can watch the intro to the video.

https://www.clcpotomacregion.org/forms/CLCPR.0604Newsletter.pdf -- pages 11-14

[Cadillac Jack 82]

I'd be careful.  If the car's an "extra" then you should be okay, but if used by cast/crew it could easily get damaged.

[Lexi]

I'd be careful.  If the car's an "extra" then you should be okay, but if used by cast/crew it could easily get damaged.

This topic was well covered in an earlier thread. If I can locate such I will post it for you. Tim's advice is good. Left with the impression that most here are not totally comfortable having to lease their car to strangers, and for good reason. I personally know of lots of horror stories. Remember the old car adage that says; "No one will look after your car as well as you do". Clay/Lexi

[Carfreak]

We've done it quite a few times and always the vehicles have been static and/or under our own control at all times.

A few times my husband has been paid as an extra drive our vehicles.

One time we dropped off a fire truck the night before so they could measure for a magnetic sign. The next morning, my husband arrived very early, but not before they had already put a large sticker over our gold leaf lettering. That was an expensive mistake for the production company.

[jwwseville60]

I used to work in film/TV.
I still have friends who are top end producers of commercials/films.
They say:

Under NO circumstances should you let a production team have your classic car. Dont do it. They dont give a hoot in hell about you or your car whatsoever. They will do anything at all to finish a production on time and on budget, including risking lives. They will trash your baby, say: "sorry, it was an accident," and pay out a minimum price to you unless you have a 100% solid contract. I hope you have an expensive lawyer because they have dozens on a payroll.

There are pro companies that rent out classic cars. Their cars are not very well taken care of with very, very few exceptions. Most of these are junkers, which is why Hollywood and commercial production companies desperately want our rare classic rides. We car collectors have already fixed them up with time, effort and money.

The original Tuckers in the famous film were all privately owned. The studio paid a fortune in rent for them. Several were damaged. This was hushed up and lots of cash changed hands.

If the studio agrees to fix any car damage they will get it fixed for VERY cheap. Sometimes they dont tell the owner! Dont be a sucker. Dont be starstruck by anyone. Ive known several celebrities and directors/producers and they will always 100% disappoint you. They're arrogant, attention hound, low IQ nutjobs. And good liars.

This rule applies to houses, boats, art, furniture and properties as well. Anything.

[Jay Friedman]

My '49 was used in Driving Miss Daisy.  It was Boolie's car in the first few scenes.  So that light would not reflect off chrome into camera lenses, the car was sprayed with some sort of grease like chemical. They told me they would detail the car following filming to clean it up

One scene of Dan Akroyd (Boolie) driving the car with Hoke (Morgan Freeman) as passenger was filmed from the hood through the windshield.  To do this they put a mattresses over the hood and strapped a camera onto it.  Cables were run under the car to a battery pack in the trunk.  This necessitated removing the spare tire.  When I got the car back after 6 weeks, the greasy stuff was still all over it and my spare tire was missing.  By this time the production company had left town, so there was no one I could ask about my tire.  I went to the house where they did most of the filming where a watchman said he knew nothing about it.  He and I searched the premises and finally found the tire in the basement. A good wash and wax got rid of the greasy stuff.

My wife and I were invited to watch filming with the car one day, where we got to chat with Morgan Freeman.  It was fun seeing the filming and pleasing to know that the car was famous for the proverbial 15 minutes, but it was June of that year so we didn't have the car during car show season.  Because of that and the above mentioned annoyances I don't think I'd want to do it again.

[Clewisiii]

When I judge the budget of a movie with classic cars, I look at the condition of the cars. I find a low budget movie has more cars in perfect or shinned condition.  Often because they are trying to get cars for free and ask the actual owners to drive or park in the background to, "Be in a movie". The owners want to show their cars in the best condition so everything is clean and overly shinny.

Big budget movies have cars more like you would have actually seen them on the road. Dirty, scratches, people slamming doors in anger or emphasis.

[Carfreak]

There was a one season TV show called Sticker Shock. They transported owners vehicles to Long Beach, California, where the cars were discussed and values assigned by supposed experts.

We knew of about 40 to 45 of the cars involved in the show and more than half were damaged including one being totaled. And a big reason probably why they didn't have a second season.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

I've heard enough horror stories to know it's not for me although I suppose it depends on the $$$.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

I've heard enough horror stories to know it's not for me although I suppose it depends on the $$$.

No amount of $$$ or having to cut a Hagerty check for a car that's no longer worth the 15 minutes of fame.

[PHIL WHYTE CLC 14192]

I used to work in film/TV.
I still have friends who are top end producers of commercials/films.
They say:

Under NO circumstances should you let a production team have your classic car. Dont do it. They dont give a hoot in hell about you or your car whatsoever. They will do anything at all to finish a production on time and on budget, including risking lives. They will trash your baby, say: "sorry, it was an accident," and pay out a minimum price to you unless you have a 100% solid contract. I hope you have an expensive lawyer because they have dozens on a payroll.

There are pro companies that rent out classic cars. Their cars are not very well taken care of with very, very few exceptions. Most of these are junkers, which is why Hollywood and commercial production companies desperately want our rare classic rides. We car collectors have already fixed them up with time, effort and money.

The original Tuckers in the famous film were all privately owned. The studio paid a fortune in rent for them. Several were damaged. This was hushed up and lots of cash changed hands.

If the studio agrees to fix any car damage they will get it fixed for VERY cheap. Sometimes they dont tell the owner! Dont be a sucker. Dont be starstruck by anyone. Ive known several celebrities and directors/producers and they will always 100% disappoint you. They're arrogant, attention hound, low IQ nutjobs. And good liars.

This rule applies to houses, boats, art, furniture and properties as well. Anything.

So true.
I used my car in a tv show once, never again. I won't do weddings or proms either.
I rented out my old house a few times and it went well except for one time where someone took some shears to one of my trees. That finished it for me.
I was asked one time to supply 2 cars and 3 motorcycles for a film. I asked how much they would pay, they told me "nothing, but your vehicles will be in a film". Guess what my answer was! Phil

[jwwseville60]

As an aside to this topic...

I stopped letting close friends borrow my classic cars long, long ago in my naive 30s. I need to be with them in the car. Just because it's a beloved family member or a dear, dear close friend doesnt mean they can drive an eccentric classic car worth a plug nickel. They think it will drive like a modern car with huge ABS brakes, tight steering, good handling and computer traction control. That is until....

When they hit a curb and bend the wheel sideways, they will say: "Wow! I couldnt see anything because the hood is so long. Why is the hood so BIG?"

Really....?

Weddings are a drunken saturnalian mess, and the giddy wedding party will trash your convertible by sitting on the top mechanism drinking champagne and eating cake. Cake!
Sticky fluids of all kinds end up in the power window switches. Leather seats ripped at the seams under the weight of 8 besotted young lions. Carpets trashed. Cocaine residue on the inside glove box door. This happened to a friend's pristine white/red 63 Caddy a while back in the southern Miami suburbs. His newlywed 27 year old daughter had the car for three days, whereabouts unknown.

Proms? Are you kidding? Dont even think about it.
Prom night at 18, I crashed Dad's spanking new Wagoneer into two parked cars after four wheeling down a steep, wet grass hill sideways with ten screaming people on board. I had a champagne bottle between my legs. It took me forever to pay him back.

I like sharing my collection with others and giving rides, but it's a bad odds Vegas rigged crap shoot to let people drive them. Stay close and inside your ride is my advice. Better yet, be the driver.

[Lexi]

So true.
I used my car in a tv show once, never again. I won't do weddings or proms either.
I rented out my old house a few times and it went well except for one time where someone took some shears to one of my trees. That finished it for me.
I was asked one time to supply 2 cars and 3 motorcycles for a film. I asked how much they would pay, they told me "nothing, but your vehicles will be in a film". Guess what my answer was! Phil

As Phil and others have noted, renting out your vehicle is indeed a "crap shoot". I have far too much time and money poured into my car to risk having it comprommised by misadventure or just plain stupidity. Clay/Lexi

[Tom Boehm]

I'd be careful.  If the car's an "extra" then you should be okay, but if used by cast/crew it could easily get damaged.

Thank you to all the people who responded. This post seems to be a good summary of all the responses. I am leaning toward not following up on this movie shoot opportunity even if they just want to use my car as an "extra".

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

No amount of $$$ or having to cut a Hagerty check for a car that's no longer worth the 15 minutes of fame.

Not even if the amount you were receiving was equal or greater than top market value of the car?

[Lexi]

This topic was well covered in an earlier thread. If I can locate such I will post it for you. Tim's advice is good. Left with the impression that most here are not totally comfortable having to lease their car to strangers, and for good reason. I personally know of lots of horror stories. Remember the old car adage that says; "No one will look after your car as well as you do". Clay/Lexi

Here is the link. Lots of horror stories here. How some individuals can treat historical objects and rolling art, is beyond me. Clay/Lexi

https://forums.cadillaclasalle.club/index.php?topic=166381.msg505430#msg505430

[Tom Boehm]

Thank you for finding this thread.

[tcom2027]

I put my '46 Chrysler New Yorker coupe in an independent production years ago. I drove it and had no problems at all. I donated the use and was paid scale for the driving along with some scenes as an extra. Was a lot of fun.

"THe Majestic" was filmed near us and the company hired a number of cars for it, I didn't get in on that movie. None of the guys I know who leased cars to them had any problems. The shoot took a fair amount of time and the owners made very good money.

Unfortunately the film was a dud at the box office,losing $32 million.

tony

[Steve W]

Around 2003-2005 I had two cars...a 68 Camaro SS convertible, red with black interior, and a 66 GTO convertible, red with black interior (that's the colors they were when I bought them!) They looked relatively stock, in nice condition.

I had them registered with a local, Hollywood car agency, and they were both used for a Bacardi calendar and a commercial(IIRC their logo colors are also black and red?) Also, the GTO was used at a Hollywood "industry party" for models to pose with. And the Camaro was used for a Latino video shoot, and some independent movie featuring Dee Wallace. All of these paid good $$...and I was on the set with them to keep them from being marred with the models high heels (they seem to not know, or care, that you don't just drag your shoes all over someone's fender or hood), or in the case of the party where the super self-absorbed idiots don't realize you don't use a classic car as a cocktail table. The only time there was ever an issue was when the Camaro was on a process trailer and lighting crew dropped a pole on the retracted convertible top (They paid 500.00 extra, but I wonder what might have happened if I hadn't been there to see it!) And in every case, we had contracts, specialized insurance, and they paid promptly and even paid for detailing after the job was completed.

I eventually got a little too busy to keep going out with the cars, and soon after, a personal "lifestyle change" had me selling both cars.

All-in-all, if I had a bunch of spare time, I would consider registering my 68 Coupe deVille, but only because it's a driver-quality survivor car that would still look good on camera.  But if I had cars like some of the beautifully restored ones that a lot of you members have, I'd be VERY careful!

I still flinch when I watch "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" and that scene at the Spahn Ranch where Brad Pitt throws that "Manson hippie" on the hood of that beautiful 66 Cadillac (in real-life owned by actor Michael Madsen,,,the same car he drove in "Reservoir Dogs"!)  Yikes!