Unveiling the Most Expensive Shots in Movie History
The art of filmmaking is as much about visual spectacle as it is about storytelling. Among the myriad of elements that go into making a blockbuster, one cannot overlook the most spectacular and often the most expensive shots. In this article, we delve into the history and cost of some of the most eye-popping and pricey shots ever featured in movies. From the grandeur of The Wizard of Oz to the tragedy of Twilight Zone: The Movie, we'll explore the sheer expense and industry drama behind some of the most memorable sequences.
Chapter 1: The Wizard of Oz - The Closing Shot
One shot that stands out as one of the most expensive in cinematic history is the final scene of The Wizard of Oz. Filmed in 1939, this iconic sequence where Dorothy transitions from black-and-white to color pop culture is a marvel of both technology and cost. The shot required enormous amounts of transpo costs, with adjusted figures placing the cost at approximately 22 billion dollars when accounting for inflation to 2014 dollars.
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Chapter 2: Sahara - The Plane Crash into a Truck
While not the most expensive shot outright, the opening scenes of Sahara, a 2005 film, certainly stand as some of the most wasteful in terms of expenditure. Directed by Breck Eisner, the movie garnered significant backlash due to its financial issues. One of the most notable shots was of a vintage plane crashing into a truck, costing an astounding $2 million. Eisner's perfectionism led to this shot being re-shot multiple times, with even a complete re-vamp of production to capture the desired visuals. Ultimately, this shot was cut from the final print, making it an oddity in the annals of film history.
Chapter 3: Tragic Shots and Accidents
The story of film isn't just about grand shots and grandeur. It also includes dark moments where technology and human commitment lead to tragic outcomes. The filming of Twilight Zone: The Movie in 1983 serves as a somber reminder of these perils. During the production, a helicopter crash resulted in the deaths of three people: veteran actor Vic Morrow, child actress Myca Dinh Le, and child actress Renee Shin-Yi Chen. This tragic event underscores the risks involved in high-flying aerial shots, and the need for stringent safety measures in production.
Chapter 4: The Cost of Dreams
Other notable shots that have garnered significant cost include those in Vanilla Sky and I Am Legend. The sequence where Tom Cruise is seen alone in Manhattan in Vanilla Sky is estimated to have cost around $15 million. Similarly, a similar desolate scene from I Am Legend is believed to have cost approximately $5 million. These figures alone may be staggering, but we must not overlook the pioneering Gravity, which employs a breathtaking 13-minute-long opening shot. Under a conservative budget assumption, this shot alone is estimated to have cost around $14 million, making it one of the most expensive in relative terms.
These shots are not just piles of numbers; they are testaments to the lengths filmmakers go to craft unforgettable scenes. From the aesthetic splendor of The Wizard of Oz to the tragic accident of Twilight Zone: The Movie, these shots remind us that the art of filmmaking is a delicate balance of creativity, technology, and, at times, tragedy.