Crying! at DVinfo.net

Christian Hede Madsen · December 5th, 2005, 12:14 PM

Hi Everybody.

I am in the middle of a shoot and I need to get one of my actors to cry.
I have directed crying-scenes before and with a long back-ground story, patience and trust, they have turned out great.
But this girl is only 11 years old. She does not feel that strong about the character, no matter how much I explain about her terrible back-ground.
I have also tried the " think about...", but it did not bring out the performance I wanted.
I do not want to frighten her or anything like that, what I am looking for is something" that makes her tears run;)".
I mean something she could put under or in her eyes, so that she will cry.
With tears running, she can deliver the performance i need.
I just need something to make it "start".
And believe me...I have tried.
It was almost acceptable, but not as "wild" and uncontrolled as I wanted it to be!

I hate doing it this way, but you know how it is:(

Hope you can help me guys!

Richard Alvarez · December 5th, 2005, 12:43 PM

Same thing that makes you cry.

Onions.

Cut one, and put a TINY ammount on her upper lip. MAKE SURE THIS IS OKAY WITH HER MOM/GUARDIAN.

Rick Steele · December 5th, 2005, 01:32 PM

I'm always amazed at actors that seem to do this at will.

Perhaps you can invoke a memory of a lost pet? (I'm not really sure what the rules are here regarding certain "mental" images).

Steven Davis · December 5th, 2005, 02:17 PM

I was under the impression there are little tear makers that you can wear.

May be it was a dream.

Richard Alvarez · December 5th, 2005, 02:42 PM

In terms of working with children... NEVER put anything in their eyes.

There are 'glycerin' tears, that you can put on the actors cheeks just before the shot, which move slowly down the face. Some people use baby oil to the same effect. The problem being they don't ORIGINATE from the tear ducts. Whereas using a bit of onion juice on the lip MIGHT do the trick.

It is usually a difficult process, and an emotionally 'tricky' one to stimulate a child to the point of tears. It can be done, but you must not cross the line between ASKING the child to cry, and MAKING the child cry.

Emotionally bullying an actor is never justified.

Adam Keen · December 5th, 2005, 03:04 PM

I believe the part of the onion that makes you tear up is the center part.

Have her watch an emotional film.

Have her eat some really spicy food.

I tear up when I poke my eye. How about physically bullying? ;)

Tear gas...mace...

-Adam "cruel to children" Keen

Christian Hede Madsen · December 6th, 2005, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Alvarez

In terms of working with children... NEVER put anything in their eyes.

There are 'glycerin' tears, that you can put on the actors cheeks just before the shot, which move slowly down the face. Some people use baby oil to the same effect. The problem being they don't ORIGINATE from the tear ducts. Whereas using a bit of onion juice on the lip MIGHT do the trick.

It is usually a difficult process, and an emotionally 'tricky' one to stimulate a child to the point of tears. It can be done, but you must not cross the line between ASKING the child to cry, and MAKING the child cry.

Emotionally bullying an actor is never justified.

I would nevet bully a child or put anything that could cause infection in her eyes...

I think I will go for the onion...

thanks guys:)

Sean McHenry · December 6th, 2005, 11:51 AM

I would also think dredging up a childhood trauma for the sake of tears is probably a bad thing. Tricky situation. I'm thinking if the young actress has had actualy professional coaching she might be able to pull it off without looking fake but I would go with the glycerin or the baby oil.

If it were my kid, I wouldn't wnat them reliving the death of a loved one for example, at a younger age like this, for the sake of something that might be effectivly faked.

Sean

Chris J Davie · January 4th, 2006, 07:08 AM

When filming a small scene in the movie king arthur (where I was dying on the battlefield) makeup used "clear eyes" eye drops to get the tears coming. Whether it worked on screen or not is anybodys guess as they scrapped that scene from the final edit

Petr Marusek · January 4th, 2006, 11:49 AM

This is cruel but it works. Find out what toy the child is most attached to. Get identical toy and smash it by stepping on it. The child will burst in tears and emotions. Have the cameras rolling. Then give her her own toy back, her mom, and some gift she would love. Everyone will be happy.

Mike Marriage · January 4th, 2006, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petr Marusek

This is cruel but it works. Find out what toy the child is most attached to. Get identical toy and smash it by stepping on it. The child will burst in tears and emotions. Have the cameras rolling. Then give her her own toy back, her mom, and some gift she would love. Everyone will be happy.

LOL... Evil... but I like it.

Matt Sawyers · January 7th, 2006, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petr Marusek

This is cruel but it works. Find out what toy the child is most attached to. Get identical toy and smash it by stepping on it. The child will burst in tears and emotions. Have the cameras rolling. Then give her her own toy back, her mom, and some gift she would love. Everyone will be happy.

Haha, that should work...i guess if worse comes to worse, lol, evil things....

Brian Duke · January 7th, 2006, 03:03 AM

Someone told me a good slap will do the job .... LOL

Petr Marusek · January 7th, 2006, 07:40 AM

Yeah, but then you're slapping a minor. I say, slap the mom. It should work equally well and if she's from Hollywood, she probably loves it. :-))

K. Forman · January 7th, 2006, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petr Marusek

This is cruel but it works. Find out what toy the child is most attached to. Get identical toy and smash it by stepping on it. The child will burst in tears and emotions. Have the cameras rolling. Then give her her own toy back, her mom, and some gift she would love. Everyone will be happy.

By age 11, I doubt that the loss of a toy would bring tears... better get her pet instead ;)

December 5th, 2005, 12:14 PM	#1
Christian Hede Madsen Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gudhjem Denmark Posts: 93	Crying! Hi Everybody. I am in the middle of a shoot and I need to get one of my actors to cry. I have directed crying-scenes before and with a long back-ground story, patience and trust, they have turned out great. But this girl is only 11 years old. She does not feel that strong about the character, no matter how much I explain about her terrible back-ground. I have also tried the " think about...", but it did not bring out the performance I wanted. I do not want to frighten her or anything like that, what I am looking for is something" that makes her tears run;)". I mean something she could put under or in her eyes, so that she will cry. With tears running, she can deliver the performance i need. I just need something to make it "start". And believe me...I have tried. It was almost acceptable, but not as "wild" and uncontrolled as I wanted it to be! I hate doing it this way, but you know how it is:( Hope you can help me guys!

December 5th, 2005, 02:17 PM	#4
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	I was under the impression there are little tear makers that you can wear. May be it was a dream. __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

December 6th, 2005, 11:51 AM	#8
Sean McHenry Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hilliard, Ohio Posts: 1,193	I would also think dredging up a childhood trauma for the sake of tears is probably a bad thing. Tricky situation. I'm thinking if the young actress has had actualy professional coaching she might be able to pull it off without looking fake but I would go with the glycerin or the baby oil. If it were my kid, I wouldn't wnat them reliving the death of a loved one for example, at a younger age like this, for the sake of something that might be effectivly faked. Sean __________________ ‘I don’t know what I’m doing, and I’m shooting on D.V.’ - my hero - David Lynch http://www.DeepBlueEdit.com

December 5th, 2005, 12:43 PM	#2
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Same thing that makes you cry. Onions. Cut one, and put a TINY ammount on her upper lip. MAKE SURE THIS IS OKAY WITH HER MOM/GUARDIAN.

December 5th, 2005, 01:32 PM	#3
Rick Steele Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado USA Posts: 654	I'm always amazed at actors that seem to do this at will. Perhaps you can invoke a memory of a lost pet? (I'm not really sure what the rules are here regarding certain "mental" images).

December 5th, 2005, 02:42 PM	#5
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	In terms of working with children... NEVER put anything in their eyes. There are 'glycerin' tears, that you can put on the actors cheeks just before the shot, which move slowly down the face. Some people use baby oil to the same effect. The problem being they don't ORIGINATE from the tear ducts. Whereas using a bit of onion juice on the lip MIGHT do the trick. It is usually a difficult process, and an emotionally 'tricky' one to stimulate a child to the point of tears. It can be done, but you must not cross the line between ASKING the child to cry, and MAKING the child cry. Emotionally bullying an actor is never justified.

December 5th, 2005, 03:04 PM	#6
Adam Keen Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 49	I believe the part of the onion that makes you tear up is the center part. Have her watch an emotional film. Have her eat some really spicy food. I tear up when I poke my eye. How about physically bullying? ;) Tear gas...mace... -Adam "cruel to children" Keen

January 4th, 2006, 07:08 AM	#9
Chris J Davie New Boot Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14	When filming a small scene in the movie king arthur (where I was dying on the battlefield) makeup used "clear eyes" eye drops to get the tears coming. Whether it worked on screen or not is anybodys guess as they scrapped that scene from the final edit

January 4th, 2006, 11:49 AM	#10
Petr Marusek Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 155	This is cruel but it works. Find out what toy the child is most attached to. Get identical toy and smash it by stepping on it. The child will burst in tears and emotions. Have the cameras rolling. Then give her her own toy back, her mom, and some gift she would love. Everyone will be happy.

January 7th, 2006, 03:03 AM	#13
Brian Duke Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hollywood, California Posts: 899	Someone told me a good slap will do the job .... LOL

January 7th, 2006, 07:40 AM	#14
Petr Marusek Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 155	Yeah, but then you're slapping a minor. I say, slap the mom. It should work equally well and if she's from Hollywood, she probably loves it. :-))