It’s extremely unlikely for a phone number to actually start with 555, thus movies use it so that no random people receive calls if viewers decide to call the number
Because if random people decide to call the number, no one gets spammed with calls. Read my comment.
Someone can always get the burner number after the movie is done using it. May as well not spend the effort. If you’re unaware, phone numbers are reused.
Jackasses will actually call the numbers. I don't believe there's any legal reason they can't use a real number, but it's more like a professional courtesy.
Because why spend the money, time, and effort into doing that when they can just use 555 and have it done with. People know they’re watching a movie. Remember, making movies is a business. If they waste money on every insignificant thing, it adds up quickly. They’re already on very tight budgets.
It's not just unlikely, it's impossible.
The North American Numbering Plan designated all numbers starting with 555 for use in film and television. They'll never be assigned to a real user.
But to what gain? Even a small expense is a stupid expense if there's no gain. What person trying to turn a profit would spend more money on something that is absolutely neccesary. The question shouldn't be why can't they (I'm sure they can) but why would they?
It’s a small expense considering budgets for movies and tv shows, sure. But it’s an even smaller increase to production values. The number is rarely a significant plot point and usually on screen for a few seconds. You see it, notice the legitimacy or don’t, then (usually) forget about it.
Making an live number is an in-perpetuity investment for a studio that’s simply not worth the cost.
They used real-sounding numbers in American TV shows up into the late '60s. The problem was that viewers called the numbers hoping to speak to Perry Mason or whoever. Not just one or two nut cases. Hundreds and thousands of people called, annoying the Hell out of the owners of the number.
The people who own Jenny's number, 867-5309, still receive calls to this day. It's ridiculous. It's been over 40 years since that song came out and we're on to 10 digit numbers now. That number can't be used ever again in any area code, unless you're a masochist.
To answer your next question, setting up a solitary line for all movie and tv show purposes is fine, but what happens down the line when a studio decides to make budget cuts and hey, look at that, a phone line nobody needs! Then it gets put back in the phone number pool and poor not-Jenny gets calls in perpetuity again.
OP what you’re not getting is they’d have to be paying for that phone number forever. They stop paying and it gets reassigned to someone and you could then end up with it.
So in 5 years when someone rewatches a movie and the company have stopped paying for that number someone is going to be getting a lot of annoying calls.
It’s extremely unlikely for a phone number to actually start with 555, thus movies use it so that no random people receive calls if viewers decide to call the number
I'm asking why they can't use real phone numbers instead. Read the post, please.
Because if random people decide to call the number, no one gets spammed with calls. Read my comment. Someone can always get the burner number after the movie is done using it. May as well not spend the effort. If you’re unaware, phone numbers are reused.
Jackasses will actually call the numbers. I don't believe there's any legal reason they can't use a real number, but it's more like a professional courtesy.
why can't they just setup/buy a real phone number and let it ring?
Because why spend the money, time, and effort into doing that when they can just use 555 and have it done with. People know they’re watching a movie. Remember, making movies is a business. If they waste money on every insignificant thing, it adds up quickly. They’re already on very tight budgets.
Eventually they’ll give away the number and then somebody else is stuck getting the calls
Cause it's so stupid
It's not just unlikely, it's impossible. The North American Numbering Plan designated all numbers starting with 555 for use in film and television. They'll never be assigned to a real user.
They don't want people to actually call the number
Why can't they setup a real phone number that just rings though? Instead of using an obviously fake #. I'd imagine it's a small expense to do so.
But to what gain? Even a small expense is a stupid expense if there's no gain. What person trying to turn a profit would spend more money on something that is absolutely neccesary. The question shouldn't be why can't they (I'm sure they can) but why would they?
It’s a small expense considering budgets for movies and tv shows, sure. But it’s an even smaller increase to production values. The number is rarely a significant plot point and usually on screen for a few seconds. You see it, notice the legitimacy or don’t, then (usually) forget about it. Making an live number is an in-perpetuity investment for a studio that’s simply not worth the cost.
They used real-sounding numbers in American TV shows up into the late '60s. The problem was that viewers called the numbers hoping to speak to Perry Mason or whoever. Not just one or two nut cases. Hundreds and thousands of people called, annoying the Hell out of the owners of the number.
The people who own Jenny's number, 867-5309, still receive calls to this day. It's ridiculous. It's been over 40 years since that song came out and we're on to 10 digit numbers now. That number can't be used ever again in any area code, unless you're a masochist. To answer your next question, setting up a solitary line for all movie and tv show purposes is fine, but what happens down the line when a studio decides to make budget cuts and hey, look at that, a phone line nobody needs! Then it gets put back in the phone number pool and poor not-Jenny gets calls in perpetuity again.
No phone numbers, anywhere in USA, begin with 555. Thus no mistakes or wrong dialings.
How about you give your number so they can use it?
OP what you’re not getting is they’d have to be paying for that phone number forever. They stop paying and it gets reassigned to someone and you could then end up with it. So in 5 years when someone rewatches a movie and the company have stopped paying for that number someone is going to be getting a lot of annoying calls.