Babies in films

[CalamityK2]

When a baby is required to cry in a film or TV programme, do they actually MAKE it cry (take its teddy away or something) or do they wait until it cries naturally and then quickly get ready and start filming?

[Ethel]

Several techniques are used.

The usual one is to record the sound of the baby crying when it is crying naturally and then when filming, make sure the baby is facing away from the camera, and mix the sound in.

Or the baby is filmed crying when it happens to be crying and then the footage is edited/spliced in.

Very often there is no baby in the shot at all - they use lifelike dolls and pre-recorded sound.

[spudqueen]

I thought it quite funny the other week in Lost when Claires baby was crying but then the camera angle changed and you could see the babys face, and it wasn't crying at all!

[CalamityK2]

Thanks for that!

I had sort of figured out most of it (I always laugh at the "plastic babies" that members of the cast carry around so casually - it sticks out like a sore thumb when it's a fake baby) - it was an episode of "Lost" (just how addictive is that show??) that got me thinking; the baby in it was genuinely bawling for real during the scene.

Thanks for your reply.

[CalamityK2]

LOL snap!!

No, it was really crying in the scene I meant - and believe me, I know crying babies.....

[devilwoman]

yes i've noticed in mostly soaps babies crying like theyre in real distress, then you get a glimpse of the baby's face and its not crying at ,all the other week, terry brought tj back from their day out and said to dawn shh he,s asleep, clearly he was'nt cos he turned his head to look at the camera, it is funny when this kind of thing happens

[Alibobs]

I think they stick pins in them...........................!