10 Movies That Took Extreme Measures To Shoot Scenes

7. The Entire Movie Was Shot Secretly In Disney World - Escape From Tomorrow

Vanilla Sky Tom Cruise
Cinedigm

2013's indie horror film Escape from Tomorrow attracted a ton of press after it was revealed that the film had been shot almost entirely on location at Disney World and Disneyland without the company's permission.

The film, a surreal indictment of the suggestion that Walt Disney World Resort is "the happiest place on Earth," required director Randy Moore to employ extensively sneaky guerrilla filmmaking techniques to get the 90-minute movie made.

Scenes were tirelessly rehearsed in hotel rooms before shooting started, and because the secretive nature of filming didn't allow any conventional lighting equipment, Moore also had to chart the path of the sun weeks ahead of time.

The cast and crew entered the park in smaller groups to avoid suspicion, and used "pro-sumer" camera equipment to blend in with tourists.

Phones were vital in maintaining the ruse, as it allowed the cast and crew to consult digital copies of the script, record sound, and also communicate without attracting park security. The main cast members also had digital recorders taped to their bodies to capture more sound.

Even once principal photography was completed, Moore opted to edit the film in South Korea to avoid Disney finding out, and didn't even tell his closest friends what he was up to.

After its surprise premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, many suspected Disney would take legal action against Moore, but they instead decided to make little mention of it.

The film quickly faded into near-obscurity after its October 2013 VOD release, though remains an impressive and provcative cult curio all the same.

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Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.