Have you ever watched a dramatic chase, an emotional dinner scene, or a jaw-dropping explosion on screen and wondered, “How did they pull that off?” Most movie lovers enjoy the
magic of film without ever seeing the hard working crew behind the camera. After spending over 40 years in the film industry as a Key grip, grip, electrician, and key crew member, I’ve got a collection of behind-the-scenes stories that might just change the way you watch movies forever.
In my book, Let’s Roll Some Film, I take readers through decades of unforgettable experiences on set—some hilarious, some chaotic, all unforgettable. What I’ve learned over the years is this: the magic you see on screen is often the result of unpredictable weather, last-minute
problem-solving, and an army of talented people working behind the scenes.
Let’s take Shoot the Moon (1981), for instance. You’ll see a dramatic kitchen argument scene
where food is flying, plates are breaking, and emotions are high. What you don’t see is the prop team—myself included—cleaning up sticky floors, mopping up hot chocolate spills, and preparing reset after reset with freshly plated food and unbroken dishes. It was exhausting,
repetitive work, but essential for getting the perfect take. By the end of that day, we were more than just a crew—we were part of the cleanup crew at a fast-food restaurant we never signed up for!
Working at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) gave me front-row access to some of cinema’s most iconic visual effects. Before computer graphics took over, every flying object, explosion, or collapsing house had to be created physically. In Poltergeist, for example, the chaotic bedroom scene with flying books and flapping pages was created one object at a time—shot on blue screen and later combined. For the imploding house at the movie’s climax? We built a scale
model, rigged it with cables, fans, air cannons, and a vacuum system, and shot the entire thing in five seconds. The finished effect looked like pure magic, but behind the scenes, it was weeks of prep and precise choreography.
And then there was Return of the Jedi. Those fast-paced speeder bike chases through the
redwoods? We didn’t use CGI. Instead, we filmed the forest at just a few frames per second
using a Steadicam operator walking along ramps we built through the woods. When played back at normal speed, it looked like the bikes were flying. That’s what it took to create that feeling of speed and immersion.
Not every day was about effects and stunts, though. Sometimes, it was just about getting the job done with whatever you had. One day, I was asked to shoot scenes around the Golden Gate
Bridge for a project with a Chinese film crew. We needed a convertible at the last minute, so I borrowed a friend’s Oldsmobile and mounted a camera rig in the backseat. What was supposed to be a two-day job turned into four, and my buddy walked away with a nice little bonus—cash in hand.
After all these years, I’ve realized that the true “movie magic” isn’t just what you see on screen—it’s what happens when weather throws your schedule off, when you have to rig a
16-foot barrel out of rotting wine staves, or when your crew launches a surprise water balloon attack on set just to boost morale.
In Let’s Roll Some Film, I share these stories and many more—not just to show what went into making the scenes you love, but to highlight the unsung heroes of the industry. Next time you watch a movie and think, “How did they get that shot?”—just know, there’s a good chance
someone was ankle-deep in mud, covered in bugs, or mopping up milkshakes just out of frame. Because that’s what it takes to create movie magic.
Ready to see your favorite movies through a new lens?
Grab your copy of Let’s Roll Some Film at davidchildersbooks.com.