DeWitt Law Firm - July/August 2024

LIGHTS, CAMERA, CASH WHY REAL MONEY CAN’T TAKE CENTER STAGE

You can’t print money. Real currency is printed on a unique blend of cotton and linen available only to the U.S. government. Prop money can’t feel like the real deal. It has to be on paper and printed at a lower resolution. Robert De Niro didn’t like how the prop money felt in his hands while filming “Goodfellas.” To get around it, the prop master withdrew money from his bank account for De Niro to use. At the end of each scene, no one could leave until all the money was counted and returned. So, next time one of your favorite movie characters has cash to burn, remember, those are fake bills in the flames!

Have you ever wondered how moviemakers can afford to blow up piles of money on the big screen? It turns out that it’s tricky, as the government has a set of strict rules to follow when studios feature U.S. currency on screen. So, roll out the red carpet because we’re about to explore the laws of prop money. Identical bills are illegal. Prop money can’t look identical to actual bills because of concerns about whether it could be circulated to the public and used. This happened after a “Rush Hour 2” scene where they blew up billions of dollars in prop money. Extras took home some of the fake cash and tried to use it in Las Vegas. The Secret Service got involved immediately,

shutting down the shoot and confiscating the bills. If the money is a replica, it must be either 75% smaller or 150% larger than real bills. One of the most common methods studios use is printing only one side of the fake money. The design can also be altered slightly, like changing the shading or picture. Real cash can’t be destroyed. Even though blowing up or burning money on camera can pump up the action for the audience, legal tender cannot be destroyed in movies. Anyone can be charged with a federal crime, punishable by 10 years in prison and fines for destroying money. Only the Federal Reserve has that power. Technically, it’s illegal to even flatten a penny.

PUCKS, PLAYOFFS, AND PRIDE Just Call Moe and the Solar Bears’ Winning Partnership There’s nothing better on a warm Orlando day than hitting the ice — for some hockey, that is. As the proud sponsors and exclusive personal injury and family law firm of the Orlando Solar Bears, we’ve had many opportunities to enjoy the cool excitement of hockey this season. We partnered with this fantastic local team last August for their 2023-24 season and are excited to be a part of the Orlando Solar Bears family. This is the first time we’ve partnered with a professional sports team, and we chose them because of their commitment to this city and their dedicated fan base. We want to congratulate the Solar Bears on an epic season and praise the team’s efforts and dedication. The Bears played hard during the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs, but were eliminated in the second round by the Florida Everblades in game five. The Florida Everblades went on to win the Kelly Cup.

Congrats to 2023-24 season award-winners Tyler Bird (Player of the Year and Clutch Performer), Brayden Low (Most Valuable Player), Jimmy Mazza (Dan Snyder Award), Chays Ruddy (Rob Kenny Community Service), and Robin Broderick (Top Shelf Award). We’ve loved being a part of this amazing season, and we can’t wait to see how fast the pucks will fly next year! We proudly support this team, from handing out great Just Call Moe swag at tailgates and other Solar Bears events to cheering on the players from the sidelines. We hope to see you next season on the ice! To learn more about the Orlando Solar Bears, visit orlandosolarbearshockey.com. Tickets for the 2024-25 season are available now.

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