Back to back film production

Filming sequels "back to back" refers to the practice of filming two or more movies as one production, reducing costs and time.

Trilogies are common in the film industry, particularly in the science fiction, fantasy and adventure genres. Production companies may choose, if the first film is a financial success, to greenlight a second and a third film at the same time, and film them "back to back".

Examples

• The 1985 film Back to the Future was a success, the two sequels Back to the Future Part II and Back to the Future Part III were in production, with only a short break in principal photography, continuously between 1988 and 1989, with some of the filming of the third film overlapping with the second.

• The Toxic Avenger Part II and The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie were filmed as one movie but was later re-edited into two.

• Critters 3 and Critters 4 were shot back to back and were released in 1991 and 1992 respectively.

• The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions were released only six months apart in 2003.

• Kill Bill was filmed as one film and split into two volumes releases six months apart.

• The sequels Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End were released almost a year apart in 2006 and 2007

• The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed entirely back-to-back from 1999 until 2000 with pickup shots done for each of the "sequels" from 2001 to 2004. Likewise, both parts of The Hobbit are being shot back to back. Production started in March 2011.

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Part 2 were filmed back to back as though it was one movie.

• The two parts for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn were filmed back to back

• Superman: The Movie and Superman II were shot simultaneously. Note that there was a change of director after the first movie was released even though over 80% of the second film was finished.

• The as-yet-untitled sequels to Avatar are being filmed back-to-back

• The two parts for Skyline sequels being filmed back-to-back

• Transformers 4 and 5 may be filmed back-to-back.

• If Final Destination 5 is a success,then 2 sequels,Final Destination 6 and 7 will be filmed back-to-back

External links

• Two Part Trilogy at TV Tropes