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Original poster

Upset babies in movies

68 replies

MaMaD1990 · 28/01/2021 08:20

Now I'm aware people will think I'm being totally over the top, but I was watching a movie (life as we knew it) and I just felt so bad for the little baby when she was crying. She's not 'acting' upset, she genuinely crying and I was so sad in a bit where she was about to walk at the guy pushes her over onto her bottom to stall her so the woman can see her first steps. I just kept thinking "she must be looking at her mum or dad wondering why they are letting actors do this to her". Poor little thing. I wouldn't of thought twice about this before having a baby but does anyone else feel like this when they see a crying baby in a movie?!

OP posts:
Witchend · 28/01/2021 08:23

They wait until a baby is actually crying for another reason, then film it.
Also licencing laws have only a tiny amount of time a child can be on set (20 minutes comes to mind) which is why often they'll have several babies for one part.

5ambreakfastclub · 28/01/2021 08:32

Haha OP me and DH are exactly the same ! If a baby is crying in a film or on a tv show we can barely watch the scene 🙈 we get distracted worrying about him/her , very silly of course but I feel anxious watching !

BonnieDundee · 28/01/2021 08:37

I hate it too. A bit relieved to read they have to wait till they're crying but it doesnt sit right with me

MySocalledLoaf · 28/01/2021 08:39

I think they must sometimes just add the sound. Since having babies I’ve realised that sometimes there are crying sounds that the baby clearly isn’t making.

Original poster
MaMaD1990 · 28/01/2021 08:40

I'm pleased I'm not the only one! I'm not sure if them already crying makes me feel better or not. On the one hand they're already upset so they've not made them cry, but on the other hand all they must want is a cuddle from their mum or dad because they're upset, not to be held by some random actor. I think I need to avoid any movies based around babies!

OP posts:
Vtech · 28/01/2021 08:40

I can’t cope with it either. When my baby cries I comfort him instantly - it upsets me to think of the film baby having to crack out an acceptable scene before they’re comforted!

DoubleHelix79 · 28/01/2021 08:45

I'm more annoyed by movie / TV babies that appear to be sleeping peacefully or happily gazing into the world while their parents go about their lives, having long conversations with friends, enjoying a coffee, going shopping abd so on. DD gave us about 2 minutes max to do anything. I don't think i ever finished a conversation or a coffee when she was little.

Original poster
MaMaD1990 · 28/01/2021 08:50

@DoubleHelix79 it's funny you say that, when I had my DD I felt like I wanted to sue every single YouTube mum that lulled me into a fantasy that things are cheery and easy with a new baby. I was most upset when reality hit!

OP posts:
Fieldofyellowflowers · 28/01/2021 08:58

They wait until the baby is crying before they film the scenes. They don't make the baby cry. And normally the camera is only on the baby for a few seconds. When the camera moves so the baby is no longer in sight, they just play the sound of a baby crying.

TV/movie producers can't win. A thread a while back was complaining about how unrealistic the baby scenes were in 1917. Apparently, the baby looked too chubby and too well fed and that the fact that it wasn't screaming it's head off was unrealistic.

theconstantinoplegardener · 28/01/2021 09:00

My brother did some work filming babies for his Masters, years ago. They have ethical guidelines in place so they aren't allowed to do anything to make the baby cry. They just wait with their cameras ready until the baby starts to cry (eg because it's hungry) and then quickly film it, and that piece of film is edited in later. And mum or dad was always there to comfort them. I hate seeing babies cry in movies too, but don't worry - the baby will be very well cared for.

PeterPandemic · 28/01/2021 09:34

I was watching something the other day where the baby was screaming but its face wasn't in shot - so the actor parent went over and picked the baby up and turned to camera to show a perfectly happy and relaxed dry, non-red faced baby. Obviously the screaming was edited in.

luxxlisbon · 28/01/2021 09:39

Babies cry all the time, it isn't like they are nipping them to get a reaction.

Swimmum78 · 28/01/2021 09:51

Dont watch Under the Skin film then! Totally harrowing scene with a baby left on the beach. Even though I know the babys mum is really right there, it still haunts me!

AprilThe8th · 28/01/2021 09:55

I agree.I was watching a program where the dh was shouting in rage and throwing things and the toddler was distraught it was horrible.

BoattoBolivia · 28/01/2021 10:04

A family member was directing a film and needed a newborn when my dad was only 3 weeks old (and 3weeks early). It was really interesting. I was in the room with DD the whole time, usually feeding (she was almost constantly feeding). They needed sleeping shots, so I would feed till she slept, dh would whip her away , put her down, they would get about 30 seconds of film, she would get restless and they would give her straight back to me. When you watch the film,bit seems so much longer when she was away from me. They can do amazing things with editing. Half of the shots are bags of flour in a sling, but you would never know. A close up could even be the mother holing the child rather than the actor!

pigsDOfly · 28/01/2021 10:04

I seen many scenes in films and tv programmes with someone holding a 'screaming' baby that clearly isn't screaming because it's lying peacefully against the actors shoulder.

Also a lot of 'babies' in modern films are very cleverly made realistic models and aren't real babies at all.

And don't forget the careful editing that makes you think that the baby is in the scene but in actual fact isn't on camera.

You see that a lot with child actors in scary films. It's often all about the editing.

Soubriquet · 28/01/2021 10:09

I know which film you’re on about OP GrinGrinGrin

But yes, there are times where it’s clear the baby isn’t crying at all. The sound is just edited in

dancingthroughthedark · 28/01/2021 10:12

When my now adult ds was a baby he was the baby in one of those emergency 999 type reconstruction programmes. To watch the film you would think he was screaming the whole time and being thrown around all over the place but most of the scenes were a doll dressed just like him right down to the same brand of nappy so it looked identical. They recorded him for a few seconds when he did cry and used that. i was totally in control of what was happening the whole time. Towards the end he was carried by a paramedic into an ambulance whre I was sitting and passed straight to me out of shot. If you listen carefully you can actually her the paramedic say 'there you are mum!

HitchFlix · 28/01/2021 10:16

Yes! I'm always harping on about this to DH when there's an upset child on tv. Ever since I became a mum I find it unbearable and think the parents are arseholes to do it to their child!

minibike · 28/01/2021 10:19

@MySocalledLoaf

I think they must sometimes just add the sound. Since having babies I’ve realised that sometimes there are crying sounds that the baby clearly isn’t making.
I know what you mean!
Mummytoalmost3 · 28/01/2021 10:27

Oh my gosh this is me! I always wonder this, DH doesn’t get why it upsets me so much. I just can’t deal with a little child upset.

To be honest I can’t watch much these days! Since having DD I just can’t.

CokeAndPepsi · 28/01/2021 10:46

I have wondered this a million times!

CounsellorTroi · 28/01/2021 10:47

Also a lot of 'babies' in modern films are very cleverly made realistic models and aren't real babies at all.

Yes they probably use those reborn things a lot of the time.

CokeAndPepsi · 28/01/2021 10:51

Also what about when small kids have to call actors mum or dad for a scene? Isn’t that confusing?

I also wonder about movies where children have to say really inappropriate things. I can’t think of an example but there are tons of films where kids have to e.g. talk about being abused or comedies where they say swear words or ask awkward questions bc it is funny. How do they explain this to the children?

Squidwitch · 28/01/2021 10:54

If you see the film 'end of watch' there is a bizarre and plotwise uneccesary scene where two young children are taped up in a closet. They are very clearly distraught. It ruins the entire film. What kind of monster parent would agree to exactly put their child in the distressing situation that the child victims are fictitiously in!?

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