60 Interesting Moviemaking Behind-The-Scenes Pics

Lights, camera, action! When you imagine a film set, you might picture a demanding person sitting in their classic director’s chair shouting commands at PAs and actors. And, of course, there’s always someone holding a clapperboard before each take. But if you’re curious about what went on behind-the-scenes pics of your favorite films, you’re in luck.

Below is a list of fascinating posts from the “Behind the Clapperboard” Facebook page. Enjoy learning more about the film industry, and be sure to upvote the glamorous pics! From pics of Steven Spielberg chilling with Tom Hanks off-screen to shots of the cameramen and women who captured the world’s most iconic scenes, we’ve got something for all cinephiles on this list. (H/T)

01. The Terminator (1984). James Cameron

Cinematography: Adam Greenberg
Terminator Stop Motion: Pete Kleinow

Behind the Clapperboard

02. The Hunt For Red October (1990). John McTiernan

Cinematography: Jan de Bont
Photo by: Bruce McBroom

Behind the Clapperboard

03. True Lies (1994). James Cameron

Cinematography: Russell Carpenter
Camera Operator: James Cameron
Stunt Coordinator/Arnold Schwarzenegger Stunt Double: Joel Kramer
Jamie Lee Curtis Stunt Double: Jamie Lee Curtis
Photo by: Zade Rosenthal

Behind the Clapperboard

The Behind the Clapperboard Facebook page has been around since 2014, sharing some fascinating moments in film history that most of us never get to see. This page has everything from pictures of iconic directors to reveals of how some of the most memorable moments were recorded. And clearly, it’s captivated many viewers, as it has amassed an impressive 250k followers. The account’s description shares a quote from the beloved Martin Scorsese: “Cinema is a matter of what’s in the frame and what’s out.” And it certainly does a great job of giving us a glimpse into that “out of frame” side we rarely see.

Chances are you love watching films, but have you ever considered why the art of filmmaking is so important to society? According to Paul Jenkins at Brilliantio, watching movies is more than just a fun activity on a date or with your best friends on Friday night. (Although, it can be that too!) Every choice is well thought out and intentional, and finding all the brilliant, hidden information is the most exciting part for avid viewers. Ask any cinephile, and they’ll tell you how much painstaking effort goes into creating a beautiful film.

04. Jaws (1975). Steven Spielberg

Cinematography: Bill Butler
Production Designer: Joe Alves
Photo by: Louis Goldman

Behind the Clapperboard

05. Star Wars (1977). George Lucas

Cinematography: Gilbert Taylor
Photo by: John Jay

Behind the Clapperboard

06. Psycho (1960). Alfred Hitchcock

Cinematography: John L. Russell
Camera Operator: Leonard J. South
Script Supervisor: Marshall Schlom
Photo by: Eugene Cook

Behind the Clapperboard

Jenkins goes on to note how vital films are for pop culture. “Today, the film is considered one of America’s most popular art forms and perhaps even its most significant contribution to world culture,” he writes. “It’s hard to imagine our lives without motion pictures – those flickering images projected on a screen that have become iconic representations of our inner and outer realities, conveying ideas and feelings from one person or culture to another through space and time.”

Filmmaking is also a massive industry worldwide that has provided jobs for thousands of people involved in acting, directing, music making, production, screening, distribution, and more. Even producers of popcorn kernels and celluloid raw materials used to print films on reels rely on this industry. And if you’re ever traveled to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame or a Universal Studios tour, you’ve contributed to the movie world’s tourism as well.

07. E. T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982). Steven Spielberg

Cinematography: Allen Daviau

Behind the Clapperboard

08. The Shining (1980). Stanley Kubrick

Cinematography: John Alcott
Camera Operator: Kelvin Pike
Focus Puller: Douglas Milsome & Maurice Arnold

Behind the Clapperboard

09. Rocky II (1979). Sylvester Stallone

Cinematography: Bill Butler
Steadicam Operator: Garrett Brown
Photo by: Christine M. Loss

Behind the Clapperboard

Films give many of us a way to escape from the monotony of our everyday lives or feel love, wonder, and excitement when we’re struggling in our own lives. “Movies are the only art form that allows us to identify with the characters on an emotional level,” Jenkins writes. “We see them as people struggling with real problems and facing real challenges. We live vicariously through them and find our fears, desires, hopes, and aspirations.” Whatever we do or don’t want to experience for a few hours, we can find a film to take us to or out of those places.

10. Point Break (1991). Kathryn Bigelow

Cinematography: Donald Peterman
Boom Operator: Geoffrey Patterson
Photo by: Richard Foreman Jr.

Behind the Clapperboard

11. Saving Private Ryan (1998). Steven Spielberg

Cinematography: Janusz Kaminski Photo by: David James

Behind the Clapperboard

12. Quantum Of Solace (2008). Marc Forster

Cinematography: Roberto Schaefer
Stunt Double: Daniel Craig: Bobby Holland Hanton
Head Stunt Rigger: Diz Sharpe
Photo by: Susan Allnutt

Behind the Clapperboard

A great film also makes viewers think. We can see the world of a character entirely different from ourselves for a few hours, someone, we may have never encountered in our real lives. There might be messages about social issues, politics, religion, hope, love, triumph, and more that will stretch audiences’ empathy muscles. And films that present these new ideas can be great voices for social change.

” When films about war reflect the real world with gritty realism, rather than showing stylized depictions of soldiers marching into battle under waving flags, they can profoundly affect how viewers think about issues of war and peace,” Jenkins continues. “For example, the movie Saving Private Ryan depicted the horrors of World War II with gruesome special effects; the opening scene focused on the gruesome deaths of several characters-many viewers couldn’t watch it!”

13. Alien (1979). Ridley Scott

Cinematography: Derek Vanlint
Photo by: Bob Penn

Behind the Clapperboard

14. Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989). Steven Spielberg

Cinematography: Douglas Slocombe
Camera Assistant: Martin Kenzie
Dolly Grip: Colin Manning
Photo by: Murray Close
Vía Pedro Barnett-College Penella

Behind the Clapperboard

15. Skyfall (2012). Sam Mendes

Cinematography: Roger Deakins
Photo by: François Duhamel

Behind the Clapperboard

Before the pandemic, in 2019, 792 films were released in the United States and Canada. So clearly, hundreds, if not thousands, of directors are working hard to put their best stories onto the screen. But when it comes to some of the most impactful directors the world has yet to see, Paul Jenkins provides this list: Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Walt Disney, Martin Scorcese, Kathryn Bigelow, Roman Polanski, Jane Campion, George Lucas, Agnés Varda, Brian De Palma, Mira Nair, and Quentin Tarantino. And as far as films that have had a significant impact on society, Star Wars, The Sound of Music, To Kill a Mockingbird, Schindler’s List, Star Trek, Taxi Driver, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jaws, and Thelma and Louise are some of the world’s favorites.

16. Joker (2019). Todd Phillips

Cinematography: Lawrence Sher
Photo By: Niko Tavernise

Behind the Clapperboard

17. Apocalypse Now (1979). Francis Ford Coppola

Cinematography: Vittorio Storaro
Camera Operator: Piero Servo
Key Grip: Alfredo Marchetti

Behind the Clapperboard

18. Goodfellas (1990). Martin Scorsese

Cinematography: Michael Ballhaus
Camera Operator: David M. Dunlap
Photo by: Barry Wetcher

Behind the Clapperboard

As most of us don’t work in the film industry, plenty of aspects of the industry are total mysteries to us. So we consulted this list from New Dawn Films of unique filmmaking facts you’ve likely never heard. For example, did you know that Steven Spielberg and James Cameron never attended film school? “They also both don’t like to recommend students to do it. They both advocate for filmmakers to keep practicing and building their reel until they have enough experience to work on paid directing jobs,” the New Dawn team writes.

19. The Shining (1980). Stanley Kubrick

The Shining (1980). Stanley Kubrick
Cinematography: John Alcott

Behind the Clapperboard

20. Iron Man (2008). Jon Favreau

Cinematography: Matthew Libatique
Photo by: Zade Rosenthal

Behind the Clapperboard

21. Jaws (1975). Steven Spielberg

Cinematography: Bill Butler
Camera Operator: Michael Chapman
Photo by: Louis Goldman

Behind the Clapperboard

“Being a strong INTJ, Stanley Kubrick shot, produced, and created his first ever short film project in 1935! He then went on to sell it even though, at that time, it was completely unheard of, especially from a relatively unknown filmmaker,” the New Dawn team goes on to write. And when it comes to letting film distributors get sneak peeks of movies, it’s recommended that directors allow them to see the film simultaneously at the same place. If one distributor considers the film and decides it’s not so great, they’ll spread that information like wildfire.

22. Alien (1979). Ridley Scott

Cinematography: Derek Vanlint
Photo by: Bob Penn

Behind the Clapperboard

23. Return Of The Jedi (1983). Richard Marquand

Cinematography: Alan Hume & Alec Mills
Camera Operator: Peter McDonald
Photo by: Albert Clark

Behind the Clapperboard

24. Skyfall (2012). Sam Mendes

Cinematography: Roger Deakins

Behind the Clapperboard

As far as sounds in films go, you may have noticed the same ones many times. One scream in particular that’s been used in over 200 movies: is the Wilhelm Scream. This iconic sound was recorded over 60 years ago and is often used when a character is shot or falls off a building. The first time this scream was utilized was in the 1951 film Distant Drums, and since then, famous directors like Quentin Tarantino and Peter Jackson have been known to use it.

25. The Ten Commandments (1956). Cecil B. Demille

Cinematography: Loyal Griggs

Behind the Clapperboard

26. Superman (1978). Richard Donner

Cinematography: Geoffrey Unsworth
Camera Operator: Peter MacDonald
Photo by: Bob Penn

Behind the Clapperboard

27. Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022). Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert

Cinematography: Larkin Seiple
Photo by: Allyson Riggs

Behind the Clapperboard

We hope you’re enjoying this intimate look into the world of moviemaking. Be sure to keep upvoting the pics you find most fascinating, and let us know in the comments what your favorite film is and if you know anything about behind the scenes of that shoot. Then, if you’re interested in reading another A&D  article featuring surprising movie facts you’ve likely never noticed, look no further than right here!

28. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Stanley Kubrick

Cinematography: Geoffrey Unsworth

Behind the Clapperboard

29. Goldeneye (1995). Martin Campbell

Cinematography: Phil Meheux
Photo by: Keith Hamshere

Behind the Clapperboard

30. Poltergeist (1982). Tobe Hooper

Cinematography: Matthew F. Leonetti
Photo by: Bruce McBroom

Behind the Clapperboard

31. Seven (1995). David Fincher

Cinematography: Darius Khondji
Photo by: Peter Sorel

Behind the Clapperboard

32. The Shawshank Redemption (1994). Frank Darabont

Cinematography: Roger Deakins
Photo by: Michael P. Weinstein

Behind the Clapperboard

33. A Clockwork Orange (1971). Stanley Kubrick

Cinematography: John Alcott

Behind the Clapperboard

34. Nope (2022). Jordan Peele

Cinematography: Hoyte Van Hoytema
Photo by: Leigh Mierke

Behind the Clapperboard

35. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011). Brad Bird

Cinematography: Robert Elswit
Photo by: David James

Behind the Clapperboard

36. Edge Of Tomorrow (2014). Doug Liman

Cinematography: Dion Beebe
Camera Operator: Peter Field
Steadicam Operator: Peter Robertson
Boom Operator: Orin Beaton
Photo by: David James
Via Band Pro Film & Digital

Behind the Clapperboard

37. Inception (2010). Christopher Nolan

Cinematography: Wally Pfister
Photo by: Melissa Moseley

Behind the Clapperboard

38. The Shawshank Redemption (1994). Frank Darabont

Cinematography: Roger Deakins
Photo by: Michael P. Weinstein

Behind the Clapperboard

39. The Shining (1980). Stanley Kubrick

Cinematography: John Alcott
Steadicam Operator: Garrett Brown

Behind the Clapperboard

40. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). Ryan Coogler

Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw

Behind the Clapperboard

41. Back To The Future Part III (1990). Robert Zemeckis

Cinematography: Dean Cundey
Photo by: Ralph Nelson

Behind the Clapperboard

42. Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (1992). Chris Columbus

Cinematography: Julio Macat
Photo by: Melinda Sue Gordon

Behind the Clapperboard

43. Apocalypto (2006). Mel Gibson

Cinematography: Dean Semler
First Assistant Camera: Megan Forste

Behind the Clapperboard

44. Alien (1979). Ridley Scott

Cinematography: Derek Vanlint
Photo by: Bob Penn

Behind the Clapperboard

45. Top Gun (1986). Tony Scott

Cinematography: Jeffrey L. Kimball
Photo by: Ralph Nelson

Behind the Clapperboard

46. The Godfather (1972). Francis Ford Coppola

Cinematography: Gordon Willis
Photo by: Jack Stager

Behind the Clapperboard

47. Se7en (1995). David Fincher

Cinematography: Darius Khondji
Photo by: Peter Sorel

Behind the Clapperboard

48. Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (1977). Steven Spielberg

Cinematography: Vilmos Zsigmond
Photo by: Jim Coe

Behind the Clapperboard

49. Star Wars (1977). George Lucas

Cinematography: Gilbert Taylor
Camera Operator: Ronnie Taylor
Boom Operator: Ken Nightingall
Continuity: Ann Skinner
Photo by: John Jay

Behind the Clapperboard

50. The Revenant (2015). Alejandro G. Iñárritu

Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki
Camera Operator: P. Scott Sakamoto
Dolly Grip: Ryan Munro

51. Dunkirk (2017). Christopher Nolan

Cinematography: Hoyte Van Hoytema
Photo by: Melinda Sue Gordon

Behind the Clapperboard

52. Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989). Steven Spielberg

Cinematography: Douglas Slocombe
Vía Pedro Barnett-College Penella

Behind the Clapperboard

53. The 39 Steps (1935). Alfred Hitchcock

Cinematography: Bernard Knowles

Behind the Clapperboard

54. Dances With Wolves (1990). Kevin Costner

Cinematography: Dean Semler
Photo by: Ben Glass

Behind the Clapperboard

55. Back To The Future Part III (1990). Robert Zemeckis

Cinematography: Dean Cundey
Paraglide Operator: Raymond Stella
First Assistant Camera: Clyde E. Bryan

Behind the Clapperboard

56. Full Metal Jacket (1987). Stanley Kubrick

Cinematography: Douglas Milsome
Photo by: Gerard Maguire

Behind the Clapperboard

57. Blade Runner (1982). Ridley Scott

Cinematography: Jordan Cronenweth

Behind the Clapperboard

58. Dune (2021). Denis Villeneuve

Cinematography: Greig Fraser

Behind the Clapperboard

59. Dune (2021). Denis Villeneuve

Cinematography: Greig Fraser

Behind the Clapperboard

60. Bridge Of Spies (2015). Steven Spielberg

Cinematography: Janusz Kaminski
Steadicam Operator: Marcus Pohlus
First Assistant Camera: Denny Kortze
Photo by: Jaap Buitendijk

Behind the Clapperboard

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