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No Audiophiles in Hollywood

A thought just came to me that a lot of movies show us the lives of fictional people doing the everyday things that real people do. However, we never see anyone sitting down and listening to a high end system.

The only thing that I can remember is when the billionaire played by Robert Redford put on an LP on what appeared to be a high end turntable in the movie "Indecent Proposal".

I have never seen exposed tubes on-screen, or an amp of any type for that matter. Big speakers, fuggedaboudit...it seems hifi does not fit the decor scheme of movie sets, or more realistically, audiophiles are rarer on earth than Klingons and Romulans and hollywood does not know of their existence.

It would seem that some of the well heeled actors, directors and producers would own a killer 2 channel system and periodically include one in a scene when the character has discretionary income.

We've all seen scenes with the wife complaining about the husband always watching sports, but never complaining about him pampering his hi-fi rig.

We've all seen characters with automobiles and other toys that we've envied, but never a stereo system to make you salivate.

Anyone ever see a hi-fi system onscreen worth mentioning?

Just a thought.
mitch4t
tvad
9,467 posts
 
My educated guess would be that the cost of renting audiophile gear to put in a Hollywood production for the limited amount of background set dressing would be prohibitively expensive. Producers like to spend their dollars elsewhere.
vegasears
922 posts
 
Check out Mel Gibson's system in the movie "What Women Want"
mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t OP
1,486 posts
 
Tvad...can't be the cost with $100m budgets commonplace nowadays.

Think of the product placement mileage Martin Logan or Genesis would get placing a pair of their speakers in Stately Wayne Manor in a Batman movie along with a Krell or Audio Research stack with a Wadia cd player. If the audio companies are smart, they would provide the stuff on loan at no cost. Other companies pay to have their products prominently displayed.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Mitch4t, you contradict yourself within three sentences when you mention at the top of your post that the cost can't be the reason with $100m budgets, and then say later in your post that companies should provide the placement at no cost. Your second statement is more likely. The problem, though, is hi end audio gear is not as readily recognizable as a brand as, say, a Coke can, or an Audi or BMW badge. And, unlike a car or Coke product that can reappear over and over again throughout a film in several locations, a stereo is a location specific item that may get limited exposure, thereby bringing into question the value of paying for such high priced props.

One has to realize that the largest portion of a films' budget goes to above the line costs...specifically cast salaries.

Are you aware that the terminal building in "Terminal" was built entirely as a self-contained set in a large warehouse, and all the shops were actual functioning stores stocked with real product? In fact, some of the franchises provided free food, coffee, and ice cream for the cast and crew throughout the shoot. Now, that's product placement.
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