What Happens to the Props and Costumes Used in a Movie Production?

A movie production needs a number of props and costumes during filming. The art department led by the production designer and art director takes charge of producing these production materials. After completing the shoot, the said art requirements are usually thrown away, sold, auctioned, or kept by the production company.

Tokens and Giveaways

After using the props and costumes for the movie, they can be given to the actors or members of the production crew interested to keep them. At times, they are intentionally given away to these people as tokens of appreciation or memorabilia items for their work in the project. There are also instances that they are kept by the ones who made or invented them or they are given to fans or even to charity.

Rentals and Warehouse Stocks

Unlike disposable ones that are typically thrown away after filming, durable and hardwearing props and costumes are either kept by the movie studio or sold in props and costume rental shops. Often times, they stock them in their warehouses for possible use in future productions and exhibitions in future events and conventions. There are also times that the studios maximize their earning potential for these items through their own props and costume rental shops.

Auction and Wholesale and Retail Items

Aside from the actual production companies directly selling their movie props and costumes to interested individuals and companies, these items can also get sold in their own movie stores. When they are sold to third-party entities, the acquired items are typically aimed for resell or auction in online stores, specialty shops, and novelty stores. Auctioned ones are usually those that are ideal collector's items, especially those used in blockbuster movies and historical films or those used by A-list actors.

Museum Items

For some legendary, historical, and pioneering films or even some popular movies, iconic props and costumes end up in museums. These are mostly art and film museums interested in acquiring motion picture items. Even smaller local museums may find interest in getting these props and costumes, especially if the film was shot or it specifically featured the particular state, city, or town where the museum is located. Some movie studios also have their own museums or exhibition areas where props and costumes originally stocked in their warehouses can get featured.