Children/babies crying in films and on TV?

[KennDodd]

When you have a crying baby or young child in a film or on TV do the film makers make them cry so they can shoot the scene? If so how?

They don't have just one baby on set, they usually have several. They probably won't have all that long to wait before one or other of them cries anyway. Then they shoot the scene, which will take literally seconds, then the baby is back with mum or dad etc.

Young children are usually older than they look (they've been deliberately chosen and cast in the role for that reason) and will be old enough to take direction and be able to cry on demand.

There are shitloads of rules and regulations covering child performers, and no, you're not allowed to upset them to make them cry!

Very strict rules about child performers etc. My husband works on a film set (unfortunately not a hunky actor). The child always has a licenced chaperone, or for babies and younger ones their parents. They are never made to cry, perhaps a quick take from mum, quick first shoot and back. Parents are always in their eye line and passed straight back. Twins are frequently used for one baby. Many scenes you can hear the baby crying but it's an edit of the baby at a later time and visual cuts are added. Or something of set while waiting spooks them (never on purpose) and they quickly act around.

Is that the same for toddlers as well? You can't so easily just get away with a double.

I always wondered about crying babies on TV and if they just pinch them before the scene. Actually one idea, they could just do their vaccinations on set then whip them in to do the scene (sorry, world's most shit idea). Even when they cry they're then kept from the comfort of their parents. Still, I don't suppose any babies are damaged in production.