If a prop is shot for a scene, but never seen on screen…is it still screen-used?

[FandomLimb]

Okay, so hear me out…

I’m not talking about major props here, obviously. But I do graphic design in film and I make a LOT of graphics for props (license plates, packaging, newspapers, magazines, ID badges, SO MANY minor but necessary things), and probably 60-70% of what I made is never actually seen on screen, even though I know it’s there in the scene being shot. It’s just not the focus, or the actor is positioned so they’re blocking it the whole time, or whatever reason. The thing IS there and meets all the criteria for a prop actually being screen-used but it’s never seen.

What do we call that? Because production-made doesn’t fit the bill, in my mind. Production made is, to me, a prop that was made as a backup and lives in the props lockup with the screen-used ones, but don’t actually get shot.

I ask because I see things like BG license plates or other minor props being sold, and I’m curious as to whether calling them screen-used is accurate. And I don’t even mean “is it okay to list this thing as screen-used?” I just mean… if someone were to buy one of these things and tell you they were screen-used… knowing the exact case of being shot but not being seen on screen, would you think of it as screen-used or… something else?

 

[TazMan2000]

I believe that screen used has to be just that. If it's not seen on the screen, it's not screen used. Most props used in the production or designs previous to the film, usually don't have much value monetarily, with the exception of some movies such as Star Wars, Star Trek, etc. There are always niche collectors though. But props used on screen, even for a moment, depending on the film, can rake in big bucks.

Production used, would be a good moniker.

TazMan2000

 

[3Dsf]

If a person was cast, and given a script, and sent to wardrobe - but they never made it in front of the camera owing to script changes or illness or a million other reasons, would you consider them as being "in the film"? What if they filmed some scenes, but never made it to the final cut? What about the extra who was on set, but the camera cut away a split second before they would have appeared in a background scene?

I think the answer in all cases is no.

Which sucks for the performer, or sucks for the person who owns such a prop. But there it is.

 

[FandomLimb]

I think Taz nailed it with “Production Used.”

Thanks. (I should probably wait til after I’ve had coffee to ask these questions).

 

[TheBeast]

Taz being the man, all right.

However, as a newbie, I have already come to measure several grains of salt with the description.

I gather in many cases, production companies sell in lots that empty out storage facilities. Which was used, which were part of a pile to be used as necessary, can be tricky to sort.

Being fully ignorant, I am enjoying 'looks right' and staying far from any big bucks.

Let the flames begin!