How do actors stop breathing?

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I saw many movies when the actor/actress (in the movie) dies.

In some movies you can tell that the picture is paused when it is on the dead character.

But in other movies the actor is laying still without any move or even breath!!

How can they do that?

Are they just holding their breath or they wear something that hide their chest movement?

film-techniques acting

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edited 2 hours ago

A J♦

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asmgx

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up vote
3
down vote

favorite

1

I saw many movies when the actor/actress (in the movie) dies.

In some movies you can tell that the picture is paused when it is on the dead character.

But in other movies the actor is laying still without any move or even breath!!

How can they do that?

Are they just holding their breath or they wear something that hide their chest movement?

film-techniques acting

share|improve this question

edited 2 hours ago

A J♦

38.5k15205220

asked 2 hours ago

asmgx

210110

add a comment | 

up vote
3
down vote

favorite

1

up vote
3
down vote

favorite

1

1

I saw many movies when the actor/actress (in the movie) dies.

In some movies you can tell that the picture is paused when it is on the dead character.

But in other movies the actor is laying still without any move or even breath!!

How can they do that?

Are they just holding their breath or they wear something that hide their chest movement?

film-techniques acting

share|improve this question

edited 2 hours ago

A J♦

38.5k15205220

asked 2 hours ago

asmgx

210110

I saw many movies when the actor/actress (in the movie) dies.

In some movies you can tell that the picture is paused when it is on the dead character.

But in other movies the actor is laying still without any move or even breath!!

How can they do that?

Are they just holding their breath or they wear something that hide their chest movement?

film-techniques acting

film-techniques acting

share|improve this question

edited 2 hours ago

A J♦

38.5k15205220

asked 2 hours ago

asmgx

210110

share|improve this question

edited 2 hours ago

A J♦

38.5k15205220

asked 2 hours ago

asmgx

210110

share|improve this question

share|improve this question

edited 2 hours ago

A J♦

38.5k15205220

edited 2 hours ago

A J♦

38.5k15205220

edited 2 hours ago

A J♦

38.5k15205220

38.5k15205220

asked 2 hours ago

asmgx

210110

asked 2 hours ago

asmgx

210110

asked 2 hours ago

asmgx

210110

210110

add a comment | 

add a comment | 

2 Answers
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oldest

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up vote
1
down vote

You hyperventilate right before the take, the same technique as for swimming underwater [not highly recommended underwater, but in air, of course you can change your mind and breathe again at any time]. Also bear in mind, you're "dead" so not doing much in the way of running round getting out of breath.

Zombies would be a whole different question & answer ;)

The idea is that you reduce the carbon dioxide levels and slightly increase oxygen levels in your lungs, reducing the urgency to breathe again quite so quickly.

So, as you hear the 1st AD prepping for the take you breathe big and deep for 5 - 10 seconds. Each 1st AD uses a slightly different but predictable series of commands to the crew...

"Quiet please. For a take"

"Running up"

"Roll please" [to this a dozen others yell "Turning" right across the set]

Then sound says "speed"; you hear clappers announcing the take; camera ops say "set" [which is always the final signal that everything is ready to go].

"We're turning... and.. "

"Action!"

... you over-breathe until you hear the "and" right before action^[1] - then breathe right out.

Corpses do not breathe.

Corpses that breathe get shouted at ;)

"Cut. Reset. We can see the corpse breathing."

Not a good way to use the studio's money.

Corpses that don't breathe on camera get more work than those who do.

In the rehearsal takes you keep your eyes open and watch the cameras, so you know [and can either count in your head or work from any dialogue you can hear] when you need to be most still. At other times you can, of course, breathe shallowly until you know you're in frame. If you're not sure and you think it might be significant - ask. Someone can count you through a rehearsal.

The other thing to note, from an audience perspective, is that long 3 minute scene where you were amazed at the corpse not breathing for the whole thing probably took a day to shoot. He probably had to not breathe for no more than 30 seconds in any individual take.

^[1] The "and" before Action is often significant & highly emphasised. Background [supporting artists/extras/vehicles etc] often need to be in motion before the action actually starts to keep a fluid look to the scene. "Go on and" is a common phrase.

share|improve this answer

edited 1 hour ago

answered 1 hour ago

Tetsujin

16.4k55864

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

There are different ways to perform this scene.

Generally, actors/actresses have practice on breathing. They usually take a deep breath before "action" and leave it very slowly, so you can't see their chest moving.

Besides, the shot is taken in a way that audience don't get time to study their chest movement as you said and sometimes, they only take close up of face not the chest.

If there are still some movements, it gets fixed in post-production or sometimes it just gets ignored.

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

A J♦

38.5k15205220

add a comment | 

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

up vote
1
down vote

You hyperventilate right before the take, the same technique as for swimming underwater [not highly recommended underwater, but in air, of course you can change your mind and breathe again at any time]. Also bear in mind, you're "dead" so not doing much in the way of running round getting out of breath.

Zombies would be a whole different question & answer ;)

The idea is that you reduce the carbon dioxide levels and slightly increase oxygen levels in your lungs, reducing the urgency to breathe again quite so quickly.

So, as you hear the 1st AD prepping for the take you breathe big and deep for 5 - 10 seconds. Each 1st AD uses a slightly different but predictable series of commands to the crew...

"Quiet please. For a take"

"Running up"

"Roll please" [to this a dozen others yell "Turning" right across the set]

Then sound says "speed"; you hear clappers announcing the take; camera ops say "set" [which is always the final signal that everything is ready to go].

"We're turning... and.. "

"Action!"

... you over-breathe until you hear the "and" right before action^[1] - then breathe right out.

Corpses do not breathe.

Corpses that breathe get shouted at ;)

"Cut. Reset. We can see the corpse breathing."

Not a good way to use the studio's money.

Corpses that don't breathe on camera get more work than those who do.

In the rehearsal takes you keep your eyes open and watch the cameras, so you know [and can either count in your head or work from any dialogue you can hear] when you need to be most still. At other times you can, of course, breathe shallowly until you know you're in frame. If you're not sure and you think it might be significant - ask. Someone can count you through a rehearsal.

The other thing to note, from an audience perspective, is that long 3 minute scene where you were amazed at the corpse not breathing for the whole thing probably took a day to shoot. He probably had to not breathe for no more than 30 seconds in any individual take.

^[1] The "and" before Action is often significant & highly emphasised. Background [supporting artists/extras/vehicles etc] often need to be in motion before the action actually starts to keep a fluid look to the scene. "Go on and" is a common phrase.

share|improve this answer

edited 1 hour ago

answered 1 hour ago

Tetsujin

16.4k55864

add a comment | 

up vote
1
down vote

You hyperventilate right before the take, the same technique as for swimming underwater [not highly recommended underwater, but in air, of course you can change your mind and breathe again at any time]. Also bear in mind, you're "dead" so not doing much in the way of running round getting out of breath.

Zombies would be a whole different question & answer ;)

The idea is that you reduce the carbon dioxide levels and slightly increase oxygen levels in your lungs, reducing the urgency to breathe again quite so quickly.

So, as you hear the 1st AD prepping for the take you breathe big and deep for 5 - 10 seconds. Each 1st AD uses a slightly different but predictable series of commands to the crew...

"Quiet please. For a take"

"Running up"

"Roll please" [to this a dozen others yell "Turning" right across the set]

Then sound says "speed"; you hear clappers announcing the take; camera ops say "set" [which is always the final signal that everything is ready to go].

"We're turning... and.. "

"Action!"

... you over-breathe until you hear the "and" right before action^[1] - then breathe right out.

Corpses do not breathe.

Corpses that breathe get shouted at ;)

"Cut. Reset. We can see the corpse breathing."

Not a good way to use the studio's money.

Corpses that don't breathe on camera get more work than those who do.

In the rehearsal takes you keep your eyes open and watch the cameras, so you know [and can either count in your head or work from any dialogue you can hear] when you need to be most still. At other times you can, of course, breathe shallowly until you know you're in frame. If you're not sure and you think it might be significant - ask. Someone can count you through a rehearsal.

The other thing to note, from an audience perspective, is that long 3 minute scene where you were amazed at the corpse not breathing for the whole thing probably took a day to shoot. He probably had to not breathe for no more than 30 seconds in any individual take.

^[1] The "and" before Action is often significant & highly emphasised. Background [supporting artists/extras/vehicles etc] often need to be in motion before the action actually starts to keep a fluid look to the scene. "Go on and" is a common phrase.

share|improve this answer

edited 1 hour ago

answered 1 hour ago

Tetsujin

16.4k55864

add a comment | 

up vote
1
down vote

up vote
1
down vote

You hyperventilate right before the take, the same technique as for swimming underwater [not highly recommended underwater, but in air, of course you can change your mind and breathe again at any time]. Also bear in mind, you're "dead" so not doing much in the way of running round getting out of breath.

Zombies would be a whole different question & answer ;)

The idea is that you reduce the carbon dioxide levels and slightly increase oxygen levels in your lungs, reducing the urgency to breathe again quite so quickly.

So, as you hear the 1st AD prepping for the take you breathe big and deep for 5 - 10 seconds. Each 1st AD uses a slightly different but predictable series of commands to the crew...

"Quiet please. For a take"

"Running up"

"Roll please" [to this a dozen others yell "Turning" right across the set]

Then sound says "speed"; you hear clappers announcing the take; camera ops say "set" [which is always the final signal that everything is ready to go].

"We're turning... and.. "

"Action!"

... you over-breathe until you hear the "and" right before action^[1] - then breathe right out.

Corpses do not breathe.

Corpses that breathe get shouted at ;)

"Cut. Reset. We can see the corpse breathing."

Not a good way to use the studio's money.

Corpses that don't breathe on camera get more work than those who do.

In the rehearsal takes you keep your eyes open and watch the cameras, so you know [and can either count in your head or work from any dialogue you can hear] when you need to be most still. At other times you can, of course, breathe shallowly until you know you're in frame. If you're not sure and you think it might be significant - ask. Someone can count you through a rehearsal.

The other thing to note, from an audience perspective, is that long 3 minute scene where you were amazed at the corpse not breathing for the whole thing probably took a day to shoot. He probably had to not breathe for no more than 30 seconds in any individual take.

^[1] The "and" before Action is often significant & highly emphasised. Background [supporting artists/extras/vehicles etc] often need to be in motion before the action actually starts to keep a fluid look to the scene. "Go on and" is a common phrase.

share|improve this answer

edited 1 hour ago

answered 1 hour ago

Tetsujin

16.4k55864

You hyperventilate right before the take, the same technique as for swimming underwater [not highly recommended underwater, but in air, of course you can change your mind and breathe again at any time]. Also bear in mind, you're "dead" so not doing much in the way of running round getting out of breath.

Zombies would be a whole different question & answer ;)

The idea is that you reduce the carbon dioxide levels and slightly increase oxygen levels in your lungs, reducing the urgency to breathe again quite so quickly.

So, as you hear the 1st AD prepping for the take you breathe big and deep for 5 - 10 seconds. Each 1st AD uses a slightly different but predictable series of commands to the crew...

"Quiet please. For a take"

"Running up"

"Roll please" [to this a dozen others yell "Turning" right across the set]

Then sound says "speed"; you hear clappers announcing the take; camera ops say "set" [which is always the final signal that everything is ready to go].

"We're turning... and.. "

"Action!"

... you over-breathe until you hear the "and" right before action^[1] - then breathe right out.

Corpses do not breathe.

Corpses that breathe get shouted at ;)

"Cut. Reset. We can see the corpse breathing."

Not a good way to use the studio's money.

Corpses that don't breathe on camera get more work than those who do.

In the rehearsal takes you keep your eyes open and watch the cameras, so you know [and can either count in your head or work from any dialogue you can hear] when you need to be most still. At other times you can, of course, breathe shallowly until you know you're in frame. If you're not sure and you think it might be significant - ask. Someone can count you through a rehearsal.

The other thing to note, from an audience perspective, is that long 3 minute scene where you were amazed at the corpse not breathing for the whole thing probably took a day to shoot. He probably had to not breathe for no more than 30 seconds in any individual take.

^[1] The "and" before Action is often significant & highly emphasised. Background [supporting artists/extras/vehicles etc] often need to be in motion before the action actually starts to keep a fluid look to the scene. "Go on and" is a common phrase.

share|improve this answer

edited 1 hour ago

answered 1 hour ago

Tetsujin

16.4k55864

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

edited 1 hour ago

edited 1 hour ago

edited 1 hour ago

answered 1 hour ago

Tetsujin

16.4k55864

answered 1 hour ago

Tetsujin

16.4k55864

answered 1 hour ago

Tetsujin

16.4k55864

16.4k55864

add a comment | 

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

There are different ways to perform this scene.

Generally, actors/actresses have practice on breathing. They usually take a deep breath before "action" and leave it very slowly, so you can't see their chest moving.

Besides, the shot is taken in a way that audience don't get time to study their chest movement as you said and sometimes, they only take close up of face not the chest.

If there are still some movements, it gets fixed in post-production or sometimes it just gets ignored.

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

A J♦

38.5k15205220

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

There are different ways to perform this scene.

Generally, actors/actresses have practice on breathing. They usually take a deep breath before "action" and leave it very slowly, so you can't see their chest moving.

Besides, the shot is taken in a way that audience don't get time to study their chest movement as you said and sometimes, they only take close up of face not the chest.

If there are still some movements, it gets fixed in post-production or sometimes it just gets ignored.

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

A J♦

38.5k15205220

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

up vote
0
down vote

There are different ways to perform this scene.

Generally, actors/actresses have practice on breathing. They usually take a deep breath before "action" and leave it very slowly, so you can't see their chest moving.

Besides, the shot is taken in a way that audience don't get time to study their chest movement as you said and sometimes, they only take close up of face not the chest.

If there are still some movements, it gets fixed in post-production or sometimes it just gets ignored.

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

A J♦

38.5k15205220

There are different ways to perform this scene.

Generally, actors/actresses have practice on breathing. They usually take a deep breath before "action" and leave it very slowly, so you can't see their chest moving.

Besides, the shot is taken in a way that audience don't get time to study their chest movement as you said and sometimes, they only take close up of face not the chest.

If there are still some movements, it gets fixed in post-production or sometimes it just gets ignored.

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

A J♦

38.5k15205220

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

A J♦

38.5k15205220

answered 2 hours ago

A J♦

38.5k15205220

answered 2 hours ago

A J♦

38.5k15205220

38.5k15205220

add a comment | 

add a comment |