How do actors stop breathing when playing “dead”?











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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 movement or even breath!!



How can they do that?



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










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  • 6




    I'm more impressed by how their eyes don't flicker/twitch. Personally, if I'm not tired I can't keep my eyelids still.
    – TheWanderer
    Nov 4 at 19:10






  • 150




    Method actors will actually die for these scenes.
    – Anthony
    Nov 5 at 1:43






  • 5




    @Anthony so that's why there are fewer and fewer of them these days!
    – jingx
    Nov 6 at 21:11










  • @Anthony Yes, they are brilliant - but it's so hard to find one.
    – Volker Siegel
    6 hours ago















up vote
91
down vote

favorite
9












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 movement or even breath!!



How can they do that?



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










share|improve this question




















  • 6




    I'm more impressed by how their eyes don't flicker/twitch. Personally, if I'm not tired I can't keep my eyelids still.
    – TheWanderer
    Nov 4 at 19:10






  • 150




    Method actors will actually die for these scenes.
    – Anthony
    Nov 5 at 1:43






  • 5




    @Anthony so that's why there are fewer and fewer of them these days!
    – jingx
    Nov 6 at 21:11










  • @Anthony Yes, they are brilliant - but it's so hard to find one.
    – Volker Siegel
    6 hours ago













up vote
91
down vote

favorite
9









up vote
91
down vote

favorite
9






9





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 movement or even breath!!



How can they do that?



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










share|improve this question















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 movement 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















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Nov 3 at 11:40









Tetsujin

17.4k66065




17.4k66065










asked Nov 3 at 6:43









asmgx

6551313




6551313








  • 6




    I'm more impressed by how their eyes don't flicker/twitch. Personally, if I'm not tired I can't keep my eyelids still.
    – TheWanderer
    Nov 4 at 19:10






  • 150




    Method actors will actually die for these scenes.
    – Anthony
    Nov 5 at 1:43






  • 5




    @Anthony so that's why there are fewer and fewer of them these days!
    – jingx
    Nov 6 at 21:11










  • @Anthony Yes, they are brilliant - but it's so hard to find one.
    – Volker Siegel
    6 hours ago














  • 6




    I'm more impressed by how their eyes don't flicker/twitch. Personally, if I'm not tired I can't keep my eyelids still.
    – TheWanderer
    Nov 4 at 19:10






  • 150




    Method actors will actually die for these scenes.
    – Anthony
    Nov 5 at 1:43






  • 5




    @Anthony so that's why there are fewer and fewer of them these days!
    – jingx
    Nov 6 at 21:11










  • @Anthony Yes, they are brilliant - but it's so hard to find one.
    – Volker Siegel
    6 hours ago








6




6




I'm more impressed by how their eyes don't flicker/twitch. Personally, if I'm not tired I can't keep my eyelids still.
– TheWanderer
Nov 4 at 19:10




I'm more impressed by how their eyes don't flicker/twitch. Personally, if I'm not tired I can't keep my eyelids still.
– TheWanderer
Nov 4 at 19:10




150




150




Method actors will actually die for these scenes.
– Anthony
Nov 5 at 1:43




Method actors will actually die for these scenes.
– Anthony
Nov 5 at 1:43




5




5




@Anthony so that's why there are fewer and fewer of them these days!
– jingx
Nov 6 at 21:11




@Anthony so that's why there are fewer and fewer of them these days!
– jingx
Nov 6 at 21:11












@Anthony Yes, they are brilliant - but it's so hard to find one.
– Volker Siegel
6 hours ago




@Anthony Yes, they are brilliant - but it's so hard to find one.
– Volker Siegel
6 hours ago










6 Answers
6






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
125
down vote



accepted










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 and 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.



It's also helpful if you're in place a good few minutes before the take, so you have time to relax and not have just rushed to set at the last minute, already breathless.



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.

They do not have inflated chests, so you cannot start with an in-breath, you must have breathed right out.



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 and 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.



Just a late note on




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




I don't think I've ever seen this done [I'm not saying it's never ever been done, but I've never spotted it]. The eye is really very sensitive to movement and a total still image would be quite jarring and noticeable.



After comments and other answers...

Note: it's considerably harder to hold your breath whilst breathed out, as opposed to in. You don't have the lungful of oxygen in reserve and the rise in carbon dioxide is more concentrated.

If you didn't know already, the "urgency to breathe" reflex is not triggered by lack of oxygen, but by increase in carbon dioxide concentration.






share|improve this answer



















  • 8




    Just in regards to the last point, I can't find any example where it's been done, but I could imagine to remove that jarring effect of a still image, the image could be larger than what's shown on screen and the focus seemingly moving from one part of the image to another, creating the effect from the viewer's perspective of movement, even if the image itself is static. But since I don't have a source, it's just an interesting concept, not necessarily something that's successfully used.
    – Davy M
    Nov 3 at 14:26






  • 14




    That technique of panning & zooming inside an image is known after one of its most famous protagonists - Ken Burns
    – Tetsujin
    Nov 3 at 14:54








  • 1




    Urgency to breath in is, afaik, much less than that to breath out.
    – TaW
    Nov 4 at 21:09






  • 3




    About using a still shot -- I think you're right; it sounds like one of those effects they got away with on 1960's TV that we've learned to notice. Anyway, I heard that sometimes they film the "corpse" in slow motion, to minimize any accidental twitching or breathing.
    – Shawn V. Wilson
    Nov 5 at 3:28










  • Hmm. Why not just breathe shallowly throughout? I know that I can breathe without any visible signs whatsoever. Maybe it’s not a common skill but at least to me it’s not particularly hard. No need to hold your breath. As mentioned in another comment, stopping involuntary movements (eye lids etc.) is much harder.
    – Konrad Rudolph
    Nov 5 at 12:06




















up vote
15
down vote













A couple more options here.




  1. Editing. Let the actor hold their breath for as long as the scene requires, then cut-away for something else, then cut back and miraculously, the actor is still not breathing. Or simply show a still shot while other actors are speaking in the background.



  2. Prosthetics. Just use a fake chest shell covering the actor's chest, covering any movements.



    Tony Stark is a fairly extreme example (although most corpses don't have bare chests and hands digging around inside them, making this effect easier):



    enter image description here








share|improve this answer



















  • 7




    Wow, only now seeing this still frame in tandem with the topic at hand did I just realize (despite having seen that movie a dozen times or so) they likely used a fake chest, rather than CGI/SFX for this scene.
    – TylerH
    Nov 5 at 20:07










  • Funny you say that. I watched this movie again at the weekend and the first thing I thought of was a fake chest - it just seemed the easiest (and cheapest) way of doing this. I mean, it worked for John Hurt all those years ago...
    – Snow
    Nov 6 at 6:21


















up vote
11
down vote













Here is what a professional actor says in an answer to a related question on Quora:




I am an accomplished actor and have had to do scenes where I have
died, the first thing to do is to prepare for the shot, the director
will tell just how long the camera will be focused on you. Before the
shot you will be taken to the makeup department to be made up to look
like you are dead if this to be a scene that you are in a coffin at a
funeral.



As an example when I did an episode of a murder show on ID
Discovery and played a murdered victim where the camera would be
focused on me for a period of time, when the director was ready for the
shot he would ask for a hand signal when I was ready in which I would
take a deep breadth and then hold it and hold my position. The director
would the take the shot and film for about 40 to 45 seconds and then
cut. In some cases the editor can also cheat a shot using a still
image of you in position and your still image is matted into the scene
where other actors are moving but you are not.



Another
thing is done with some actors when their death involves the eyes
to be opened and since you are not really dead your eyes will
sometimes blink while some actors can hold this for a few seconds,
what’s done then is that the rest of the shot is live but the editor
creates a still of only your face and then mattes it back on to your
face. There are many things that can be done in post
production to accomplish this effect to make it look as real as
possible.







share|improve this answer























  • Re the last sentence: In post, you can even make an actor not blink for a whole movie (even if their character is alive - sort of)
    – Hagen von Eitzen
    Nov 7 at 21:39


















up vote
7
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.






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    up vote
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    down vote













    They are simply holding their breath.



    In addition to what was said, with a little bit of training* you can hold your breath 3 minutes. There is hardly a take over 20 seconds in today's movies, so it is very easy.



    *Training: during the day, whenever you are bored, like waiting in line, watching TV, or sitting on the bus, just hold your breath. Start with 20 or 30 seconds, and add 5 seconds when it's easy or every day. After three weeks, you'll easily manage 3 to 5 minutes (unless you're chain-smoking or have health issues).






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    Aganju is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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    • 1




      True, but I don't see how it answers the question.
      – Duckisaduckisaduck
      Nov 4 at 20:30










    • free divers can hold it for 10mins+ while swimming, so 3mins is easily achievable with a bit of practice.
      – RozzA
      Nov 5 at 9:33






    • 2




      Note it's considerably harder to hold your breath whilst breathed out, as opposed to in. You don't have the lungful of oxygen in reserve & the rise in carbon dioxide is more concentrated.
      – Tetsujin
      Nov 5 at 9:46










    • @RozzA Keep in mind that free divers exploit the mammalian breathing reflex - that requires cold water in your face. It's much easier to hold your breath in cold water, and it gets even easier as you gain depth and pressure. Indeed, one of the reasons why you shouldn't free-dive unattended is that you might not be able to swim up again - as you rise and the pressure drops, you can easily lose consciousness, drop again, pressure increases, you regain consciousness... This can happen even in a public pool, and is one of the things lifeguards are trained to look for.
      – Luaan
      Nov 7 at 9:38


















    up vote
    4
    down vote













    This has been adressed in an answer to this related question on Quora:




    In a movie, or single camera TV show, the shot never lingers long enough on the “dead” actor to give away the fact that they are faking it. By cutting away at the right time, the audience doesn’t have enough time to study the “corpse”.



    Also, you will see that the DP frames the shot as a medium close up on the actor, instead of holding a wide master which would show the chest movement.
    That being said, when playing dead, the best technique would be to take a deep breath in before “Action” and then slowly let your air out of your lungs (through the nose) during the shot. This will keep you still and your chest won’t be rising and falling. This is the same technique you use when you swim underwater.



    One thing that you cannot control is the pulsating cartorid artery on the side of your neck. That pulse comes from your heartbeat. Sometimes you can see it in close ups of “dead” actors. With CG VFX though, the filmmakers can digitally fix that.



    If you’re cast on a show where you are going to play dead, make sure that you avoid the coffee at craft service. The caffeine will make it very hard for you to relax, and your neck will be throbbing away, making it difficult to pull off the shot. Many actors get cast to play murder victims in procedural dramas, so these are some good techniques to keep in mind.







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    Mateen Ahmed is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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      6 Answers
      6






      active

      oldest

      votes








      6 Answers
      6






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes








      up vote
      125
      down vote



      accepted










      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 and 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.



      It's also helpful if you're in place a good few minutes before the take, so you have time to relax and not have just rushed to set at the last minute, already breathless.



      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.

      They do not have inflated chests, so you cannot start with an in-breath, you must have breathed right out.



      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 and 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.



      Just a late note on




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




      I don't think I've ever seen this done [I'm not saying it's never ever been done, but I've never spotted it]. The eye is really very sensitive to movement and a total still image would be quite jarring and noticeable.



      After comments and other answers...

      Note: it's considerably harder to hold your breath whilst breathed out, as opposed to in. You don't have the lungful of oxygen in reserve and the rise in carbon dioxide is more concentrated.

      If you didn't know already, the "urgency to breathe" reflex is not triggered by lack of oxygen, but by increase in carbon dioxide concentration.






      share|improve this answer



















      • 8




        Just in regards to the last point, I can't find any example where it's been done, but I could imagine to remove that jarring effect of a still image, the image could be larger than what's shown on screen and the focus seemingly moving from one part of the image to another, creating the effect from the viewer's perspective of movement, even if the image itself is static. But since I don't have a source, it's just an interesting concept, not necessarily something that's successfully used.
        – Davy M
        Nov 3 at 14:26






      • 14




        That technique of panning & zooming inside an image is known after one of its most famous protagonists - Ken Burns
        – Tetsujin
        Nov 3 at 14:54








      • 1




        Urgency to breath in is, afaik, much less than that to breath out.
        – TaW
        Nov 4 at 21:09






      • 3




        About using a still shot -- I think you're right; it sounds like one of those effects they got away with on 1960's TV that we've learned to notice. Anyway, I heard that sometimes they film the "corpse" in slow motion, to minimize any accidental twitching or breathing.
        – Shawn V. Wilson
        Nov 5 at 3:28










      • Hmm. Why not just breathe shallowly throughout? I know that I can breathe without any visible signs whatsoever. Maybe it’s not a common skill but at least to me it’s not particularly hard. No need to hold your breath. As mentioned in another comment, stopping involuntary movements (eye lids etc.) is much harder.
        – Konrad Rudolph
        Nov 5 at 12:06

















      up vote
      125
      down vote



      accepted










      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 and 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.



      It's also helpful if you're in place a good few minutes before the take, so you have time to relax and not have just rushed to set at the last minute, already breathless.



      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.

      They do not have inflated chests, so you cannot start with an in-breath, you must have breathed right out.



      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 and 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.



      Just a late note on




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




      I don't think I've ever seen this done [I'm not saying it's never ever been done, but I've never spotted it]. The eye is really very sensitive to movement and a total still image would be quite jarring and noticeable.



      After comments and other answers...

      Note: it's considerably harder to hold your breath whilst breathed out, as opposed to in. You don't have the lungful of oxygen in reserve and the rise in carbon dioxide is more concentrated.

      If you didn't know already, the "urgency to breathe" reflex is not triggered by lack of oxygen, but by increase in carbon dioxide concentration.






      share|improve this answer



















      • 8




        Just in regards to the last point, I can't find any example where it's been done, but I could imagine to remove that jarring effect of a still image, the image could be larger than what's shown on screen and the focus seemingly moving from one part of the image to another, creating the effect from the viewer's perspective of movement, even if the image itself is static. But since I don't have a source, it's just an interesting concept, not necessarily something that's successfully used.
        – Davy M
        Nov 3 at 14:26






      • 14




        That technique of panning & zooming inside an image is known after one of its most famous protagonists - Ken Burns
        – Tetsujin
        Nov 3 at 14:54








      • 1




        Urgency to breath in is, afaik, much less than that to breath out.
        – TaW
        Nov 4 at 21:09






      • 3




        About using a still shot -- I think you're right; it sounds like one of those effects they got away with on 1960's TV that we've learned to notice. Anyway, I heard that sometimes they film the "corpse" in slow motion, to minimize any accidental twitching or breathing.
        – Shawn V. Wilson
        Nov 5 at 3:28










      • Hmm. Why not just breathe shallowly throughout? I know that I can breathe without any visible signs whatsoever. Maybe it’s not a common skill but at least to me it’s not particularly hard. No need to hold your breath. As mentioned in another comment, stopping involuntary movements (eye lids etc.) is much harder.
        – Konrad Rudolph
        Nov 5 at 12:06















      up vote
      125
      down vote



      accepted







      up vote
      125
      down vote



      accepted






      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 and 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.



      It's also helpful if you're in place a good few minutes before the take, so you have time to relax and not have just rushed to set at the last minute, already breathless.



      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.

      They do not have inflated chests, so you cannot start with an in-breath, you must have breathed right out.



      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 and 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.



      Just a late note on




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




      I don't think I've ever seen this done [I'm not saying it's never ever been done, but I've never spotted it]. The eye is really very sensitive to movement and a total still image would be quite jarring and noticeable.



      After comments and other answers...

      Note: it's considerably harder to hold your breath whilst breathed out, as opposed to in. You don't have the lungful of oxygen in reserve and the rise in carbon dioxide is more concentrated.

      If you didn't know already, the "urgency to breathe" reflex is not triggered by lack of oxygen, but by increase in carbon dioxide concentration.






      share|improve this answer














      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 and 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.



      It's also helpful if you're in place a good few minutes before the take, so you have time to relax and not have just rushed to set at the last minute, already breathless.



      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.

      They do not have inflated chests, so you cannot start with an in-breath, you must have breathed right out.



      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 and 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.



      Just a late note on




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




      I don't think I've ever seen this done [I'm not saying it's never ever been done, but I've never spotted it]. The eye is really very sensitive to movement and a total still image would be quite jarring and noticeable.



      After comments and other answers...

      Note: it's considerably harder to hold your breath whilst breathed out, as opposed to in. You don't have the lungful of oxygen in reserve and the rise in carbon dioxide is more concentrated.

      If you didn't know already, the "urgency to breathe" reflex is not triggered by lack of oxygen, but by increase in carbon dioxide concentration.







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited Nov 5 at 16:47









      Napoleon Wilson

      40.7k33253492




      40.7k33253492










      answered Nov 3 at 8:13









      Tetsujin

      17.4k66065




      17.4k66065








      • 8




        Just in regards to the last point, I can't find any example where it's been done, but I could imagine to remove that jarring effect of a still image, the image could be larger than what's shown on screen and the focus seemingly moving from one part of the image to another, creating the effect from the viewer's perspective of movement, even if the image itself is static. But since I don't have a source, it's just an interesting concept, not necessarily something that's successfully used.
        – Davy M
        Nov 3 at 14:26






      • 14




        That technique of panning & zooming inside an image is known after one of its most famous protagonists - Ken Burns
        – Tetsujin
        Nov 3 at 14:54








      • 1




        Urgency to breath in is, afaik, much less than that to breath out.
        – TaW
        Nov 4 at 21:09






      • 3




        About using a still shot -- I think you're right; it sounds like one of those effects they got away with on 1960's TV that we've learned to notice. Anyway, I heard that sometimes they film the "corpse" in slow motion, to minimize any accidental twitching or breathing.
        – Shawn V. Wilson
        Nov 5 at 3:28










      • Hmm. Why not just breathe shallowly throughout? I know that I can breathe without any visible signs whatsoever. Maybe it’s not a common skill but at least to me it’s not particularly hard. No need to hold your breath. As mentioned in another comment, stopping involuntary movements (eye lids etc.) is much harder.
        – Konrad Rudolph
        Nov 5 at 12:06
















      • 8




        Just in regards to the last point, I can't find any example where it's been done, but I could imagine to remove that jarring effect of a still image, the image could be larger than what's shown on screen and the focus seemingly moving from one part of the image to another, creating the effect from the viewer's perspective of movement, even if the image itself is static. But since I don't have a source, it's just an interesting concept, not necessarily something that's successfully used.
        – Davy M
        Nov 3 at 14:26






      • 14




        That technique of panning & zooming inside an image is known after one of its most famous protagonists - Ken Burns
        – Tetsujin
        Nov 3 at 14:54








      • 1




        Urgency to breath in is, afaik, much less than that to breath out.
        – TaW
        Nov 4 at 21:09






      • 3




        About using a still shot -- I think you're right; it sounds like one of those effects they got away with on 1960's TV that we've learned to notice. Anyway, I heard that sometimes they film the "corpse" in slow motion, to minimize any accidental twitching or breathing.
        – Shawn V. Wilson
        Nov 5 at 3:28










      • Hmm. Why not just breathe shallowly throughout? I know that I can breathe without any visible signs whatsoever. Maybe it’s not a common skill but at least to me it’s not particularly hard. No need to hold your breath. As mentioned in another comment, stopping involuntary movements (eye lids etc.) is much harder.
        – Konrad Rudolph
        Nov 5 at 12:06










      8




      8




      Just in regards to the last point, I can't find any example where it's been done, but I could imagine to remove that jarring effect of a still image, the image could be larger than what's shown on screen and the focus seemingly moving from one part of the image to another, creating the effect from the viewer's perspective of movement, even if the image itself is static. But since I don't have a source, it's just an interesting concept, not necessarily something that's successfully used.
      – Davy M
      Nov 3 at 14:26




      Just in regards to the last point, I can't find any example where it's been done, but I could imagine to remove that jarring effect of a still image, the image could be larger than what's shown on screen and the focus seemingly moving from one part of the image to another, creating the effect from the viewer's perspective of movement, even if the image itself is static. But since I don't have a source, it's just an interesting concept, not necessarily something that's successfully used.
      – Davy M
      Nov 3 at 14:26




      14




      14




      That technique of panning & zooming inside an image is known after one of its most famous protagonists - Ken Burns
      – Tetsujin
      Nov 3 at 14:54






      That technique of panning & zooming inside an image is known after one of its most famous protagonists - Ken Burns
      – Tetsujin
      Nov 3 at 14:54






      1




      1




      Urgency to breath in is, afaik, much less than that to breath out.
      – TaW
      Nov 4 at 21:09




      Urgency to breath in is, afaik, much less than that to breath out.
      – TaW
      Nov 4 at 21:09




      3




      3




      About using a still shot -- I think you're right; it sounds like one of those effects they got away with on 1960's TV that we've learned to notice. Anyway, I heard that sometimes they film the "corpse" in slow motion, to minimize any accidental twitching or breathing.
      – Shawn V. Wilson
      Nov 5 at 3:28




      About using a still shot -- I think you're right; it sounds like one of those effects they got away with on 1960's TV that we've learned to notice. Anyway, I heard that sometimes they film the "corpse" in slow motion, to minimize any accidental twitching or breathing.
      – Shawn V. Wilson
      Nov 5 at 3:28












      Hmm. Why not just breathe shallowly throughout? I know that I can breathe without any visible signs whatsoever. Maybe it’s not a common skill but at least to me it’s not particularly hard. No need to hold your breath. As mentioned in another comment, stopping involuntary movements (eye lids etc.) is much harder.
      – Konrad Rudolph
      Nov 5 at 12:06






      Hmm. Why not just breathe shallowly throughout? I know that I can breathe without any visible signs whatsoever. Maybe it’s not a common skill but at least to me it’s not particularly hard. No need to hold your breath. As mentioned in another comment, stopping involuntary movements (eye lids etc.) is much harder.
      – Konrad Rudolph
      Nov 5 at 12:06












      up vote
      15
      down vote













      A couple more options here.




      1. Editing. Let the actor hold their breath for as long as the scene requires, then cut-away for something else, then cut back and miraculously, the actor is still not breathing. Or simply show a still shot while other actors are speaking in the background.



      2. Prosthetics. Just use a fake chest shell covering the actor's chest, covering any movements.



        Tony Stark is a fairly extreme example (although most corpses don't have bare chests and hands digging around inside them, making this effect easier):



        enter image description here








      share|improve this answer



















      • 7




        Wow, only now seeing this still frame in tandem with the topic at hand did I just realize (despite having seen that movie a dozen times or so) they likely used a fake chest, rather than CGI/SFX for this scene.
        – TylerH
        Nov 5 at 20:07










      • Funny you say that. I watched this movie again at the weekend and the first thing I thought of was a fake chest - it just seemed the easiest (and cheapest) way of doing this. I mean, it worked for John Hurt all those years ago...
        – Snow
        Nov 6 at 6:21















      up vote
      15
      down vote













      A couple more options here.




      1. Editing. Let the actor hold their breath for as long as the scene requires, then cut-away for something else, then cut back and miraculously, the actor is still not breathing. Or simply show a still shot while other actors are speaking in the background.



      2. Prosthetics. Just use a fake chest shell covering the actor's chest, covering any movements.



        Tony Stark is a fairly extreme example (although most corpses don't have bare chests and hands digging around inside them, making this effect easier):



        enter image description here








      share|improve this answer



















      • 7




        Wow, only now seeing this still frame in tandem with the topic at hand did I just realize (despite having seen that movie a dozen times or so) they likely used a fake chest, rather than CGI/SFX for this scene.
        – TylerH
        Nov 5 at 20:07










      • Funny you say that. I watched this movie again at the weekend and the first thing I thought of was a fake chest - it just seemed the easiest (and cheapest) way of doing this. I mean, it worked for John Hurt all those years ago...
        – Snow
        Nov 6 at 6:21













      up vote
      15
      down vote










      up vote
      15
      down vote









      A couple more options here.




      1. Editing. Let the actor hold their breath for as long as the scene requires, then cut-away for something else, then cut back and miraculously, the actor is still not breathing. Or simply show a still shot while other actors are speaking in the background.



      2. Prosthetics. Just use a fake chest shell covering the actor's chest, covering any movements.



        Tony Stark is a fairly extreme example (although most corpses don't have bare chests and hands digging around inside them, making this effect easier):



        enter image description here








      share|improve this answer














      A couple more options here.




      1. Editing. Let the actor hold their breath for as long as the scene requires, then cut-away for something else, then cut back and miraculously, the actor is still not breathing. Or simply show a still shot while other actors are speaking in the background.



      2. Prosthetics. Just use a fake chest shell covering the actor's chest, covering any movements.



        Tony Stark is a fairly extreme example (although most corpses don't have bare chests and hands digging around inside them, making this effect easier):



        enter image description here









      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited Nov 7 at 10:23

























      answered Nov 5 at 11:24









      Snow

      6,01821732




      6,01821732








      • 7




        Wow, only now seeing this still frame in tandem with the topic at hand did I just realize (despite having seen that movie a dozen times or so) they likely used a fake chest, rather than CGI/SFX for this scene.
        – TylerH
        Nov 5 at 20:07










      • Funny you say that. I watched this movie again at the weekend and the first thing I thought of was a fake chest - it just seemed the easiest (and cheapest) way of doing this. I mean, it worked for John Hurt all those years ago...
        – Snow
        Nov 6 at 6:21














      • 7




        Wow, only now seeing this still frame in tandem with the topic at hand did I just realize (despite having seen that movie a dozen times or so) they likely used a fake chest, rather than CGI/SFX for this scene.
        – TylerH
        Nov 5 at 20:07










      • Funny you say that. I watched this movie again at the weekend and the first thing I thought of was a fake chest - it just seemed the easiest (and cheapest) way of doing this. I mean, it worked for John Hurt all those years ago...
        – Snow
        Nov 6 at 6:21








      7




      7




      Wow, only now seeing this still frame in tandem with the topic at hand did I just realize (despite having seen that movie a dozen times or so) they likely used a fake chest, rather than CGI/SFX for this scene.
      – TylerH
      Nov 5 at 20:07




      Wow, only now seeing this still frame in tandem with the topic at hand did I just realize (despite having seen that movie a dozen times or so) they likely used a fake chest, rather than CGI/SFX for this scene.
      – TylerH
      Nov 5 at 20:07












      Funny you say that. I watched this movie again at the weekend and the first thing I thought of was a fake chest - it just seemed the easiest (and cheapest) way of doing this. I mean, it worked for John Hurt all those years ago...
      – Snow
      Nov 6 at 6:21




      Funny you say that. I watched this movie again at the weekend and the first thing I thought of was a fake chest - it just seemed the easiest (and cheapest) way of doing this. I mean, it worked for John Hurt all those years ago...
      – Snow
      Nov 6 at 6:21










      up vote
      11
      down vote













      Here is what a professional actor says in an answer to a related question on Quora:




      I am an accomplished actor and have had to do scenes where I have
      died, the first thing to do is to prepare for the shot, the director
      will tell just how long the camera will be focused on you. Before the
      shot you will be taken to the makeup department to be made up to look
      like you are dead if this to be a scene that you are in a coffin at a
      funeral.



      As an example when I did an episode of a murder show on ID
      Discovery and played a murdered victim where the camera would be
      focused on me for a period of time, when the director was ready for the
      shot he would ask for a hand signal when I was ready in which I would
      take a deep breadth and then hold it and hold my position. The director
      would the take the shot and film for about 40 to 45 seconds and then
      cut. In some cases the editor can also cheat a shot using a still
      image of you in position and your still image is matted into the scene
      where other actors are moving but you are not.



      Another
      thing is done with some actors when their death involves the eyes
      to be opened and since you are not really dead your eyes will
      sometimes blink while some actors can hold this for a few seconds,
      what’s done then is that the rest of the shot is live but the editor
      creates a still of only your face and then mattes it back on to your
      face. There are many things that can be done in post
      production to accomplish this effect to make it look as real as
      possible.







      share|improve this answer























      • Re the last sentence: In post, you can even make an actor not blink for a whole movie (even if their character is alive - sort of)
        – Hagen von Eitzen
        Nov 7 at 21:39















      up vote
      11
      down vote













      Here is what a professional actor says in an answer to a related question on Quora:




      I am an accomplished actor and have had to do scenes where I have
      died, the first thing to do is to prepare for the shot, the director
      will tell just how long the camera will be focused on you. Before the
      shot you will be taken to the makeup department to be made up to look
      like you are dead if this to be a scene that you are in a coffin at a
      funeral.



      As an example when I did an episode of a murder show on ID
      Discovery and played a murdered victim where the camera would be
      focused on me for a period of time, when the director was ready for the
      shot he would ask for a hand signal when I was ready in which I would
      take a deep breadth and then hold it and hold my position. The director
      would the take the shot and film for about 40 to 45 seconds and then
      cut. In some cases the editor can also cheat a shot using a still
      image of you in position and your still image is matted into the scene
      where other actors are moving but you are not.



      Another
      thing is done with some actors when their death involves the eyes
      to be opened and since you are not really dead your eyes will
      sometimes blink while some actors can hold this for a few seconds,
      what’s done then is that the rest of the shot is live but the editor
      creates a still of only your face and then mattes it back on to your
      face. There are many things that can be done in post
      production to accomplish this effect to make it look as real as
      possible.







      share|improve this answer























      • Re the last sentence: In post, you can even make an actor not blink for a whole movie (even if their character is alive - sort of)
        – Hagen von Eitzen
        Nov 7 at 21:39













      up vote
      11
      down vote










      up vote
      11
      down vote









      Here is what a professional actor says in an answer to a related question on Quora:




      I am an accomplished actor and have had to do scenes where I have
      died, the first thing to do is to prepare for the shot, the director
      will tell just how long the camera will be focused on you. Before the
      shot you will be taken to the makeup department to be made up to look
      like you are dead if this to be a scene that you are in a coffin at a
      funeral.



      As an example when I did an episode of a murder show on ID
      Discovery and played a murdered victim where the camera would be
      focused on me for a period of time, when the director was ready for the
      shot he would ask for a hand signal when I was ready in which I would
      take a deep breadth and then hold it and hold my position. The director
      would the take the shot and film for about 40 to 45 seconds and then
      cut. In some cases the editor can also cheat a shot using a still
      image of you in position and your still image is matted into the scene
      where other actors are moving but you are not.



      Another
      thing is done with some actors when their death involves the eyes
      to be opened and since you are not really dead your eyes will
      sometimes blink while some actors can hold this for a few seconds,
      what’s done then is that the rest of the shot is live but the editor
      creates a still of only your face and then mattes it back on to your
      face. There are many things that can be done in post
      production to accomplish this effect to make it look as real as
      possible.







      share|improve this answer














      Here is what a professional actor says in an answer to a related question on Quora:




      I am an accomplished actor and have had to do scenes where I have
      died, the first thing to do is to prepare for the shot, the director
      will tell just how long the camera will be focused on you. Before the
      shot you will be taken to the makeup department to be made up to look
      like you are dead if this to be a scene that you are in a coffin at a
      funeral.



      As an example when I did an episode of a murder show on ID
      Discovery and played a murdered victim where the camera would be
      focused on me for a period of time, when the director was ready for the
      shot he would ask for a hand signal when I was ready in which I would
      take a deep breadth and then hold it and hold my position. The director
      would the take the shot and film for about 40 to 45 seconds and then
      cut. In some cases the editor can also cheat a shot using a still
      image of you in position and your still image is matted into the scene
      where other actors are moving but you are not.



      Another
      thing is done with some actors when their death involves the eyes
      to be opened and since you are not really dead your eyes will
      sometimes blink while some actors can hold this for a few seconds,
      what’s done then is that the rest of the shot is live but the editor
      creates a still of only your face and then mattes it back on to your
      face. There are many things that can be done in post
      production to accomplish this effect to make it look as real as
      possible.








      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited 7 hours ago









      wallyk

      4,17122546




      4,17122546










      answered Nov 5 at 15:21







      user67306



















      • Re the last sentence: In post, you can even make an actor not blink for a whole movie (even if their character is alive - sort of)
        – Hagen von Eitzen
        Nov 7 at 21:39


















      • Re the last sentence: In post, you can even make an actor not blink for a whole movie (even if their character is alive - sort of)
        – Hagen von Eitzen
        Nov 7 at 21:39
















      Re the last sentence: In post, you can even make an actor not blink for a whole movie (even if their character is alive - sort of)
      – Hagen von Eitzen
      Nov 7 at 21:39




      Re the last sentence: In post, you can even make an actor not blink for a whole movie (even if their character is alive - sort of)
      – Hagen von Eitzen
      Nov 7 at 21:39










      up vote
      7
      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

























        up vote
        7
        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























          up vote
          7
          down vote










          up vote
          7
          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












          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












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Nov 3 at 6:56









          A J

          38.6k15206220




          38.6k15206220






















              up vote
              5
              down vote













              They are simply holding their breath.



              In addition to what was said, with a little bit of training* you can hold your breath 3 minutes. There is hardly a take over 20 seconds in today's movies, so it is very easy.



              *Training: during the day, whenever you are bored, like waiting in line, watching TV, or sitting on the bus, just hold your breath. Start with 20 or 30 seconds, and add 5 seconds when it's easy or every day. After three weeks, you'll easily manage 3 to 5 minutes (unless you're chain-smoking or have health issues).






              share|improve this answer










              New contributor




              Aganju is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.














              • 1




                True, but I don't see how it answers the question.
                – Duckisaduckisaduck
                Nov 4 at 20:30










              • free divers can hold it for 10mins+ while swimming, so 3mins is easily achievable with a bit of practice.
                – RozzA
                Nov 5 at 9:33






              • 2




                Note it's considerably harder to hold your breath whilst breathed out, as opposed to in. You don't have the lungful of oxygen in reserve & the rise in carbon dioxide is more concentrated.
                – Tetsujin
                Nov 5 at 9:46










              • @RozzA Keep in mind that free divers exploit the mammalian breathing reflex - that requires cold water in your face. It's much easier to hold your breath in cold water, and it gets even easier as you gain depth and pressure. Indeed, one of the reasons why you shouldn't free-dive unattended is that you might not be able to swim up again - as you rise and the pressure drops, you can easily lose consciousness, drop again, pressure increases, you regain consciousness... This can happen even in a public pool, and is one of the things lifeguards are trained to look for.
                – Luaan
                Nov 7 at 9:38















              up vote
              5
              down vote













              They are simply holding their breath.



              In addition to what was said, with a little bit of training* you can hold your breath 3 minutes. There is hardly a take over 20 seconds in today's movies, so it is very easy.



              *Training: during the day, whenever you are bored, like waiting in line, watching TV, or sitting on the bus, just hold your breath. Start with 20 or 30 seconds, and add 5 seconds when it's easy or every day. After three weeks, you'll easily manage 3 to 5 minutes (unless you're chain-smoking or have health issues).






              share|improve this answer










              New contributor




              Aganju is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.














              • 1




                True, but I don't see how it answers the question.
                – Duckisaduckisaduck
                Nov 4 at 20:30










              • free divers can hold it for 10mins+ while swimming, so 3mins is easily achievable with a bit of practice.
                – RozzA
                Nov 5 at 9:33






              • 2




                Note it's considerably harder to hold your breath whilst breathed out, as opposed to in. You don't have the lungful of oxygen in reserve & the rise in carbon dioxide is more concentrated.
                – Tetsujin
                Nov 5 at 9:46










              • @RozzA Keep in mind that free divers exploit the mammalian breathing reflex - that requires cold water in your face. It's much easier to hold your breath in cold water, and it gets even easier as you gain depth and pressure. Indeed, one of the reasons why you shouldn't free-dive unattended is that you might not be able to swim up again - as you rise and the pressure drops, you can easily lose consciousness, drop again, pressure increases, you regain consciousness... This can happen even in a public pool, and is one of the things lifeguards are trained to look for.
                – Luaan
                Nov 7 at 9:38













              up vote
              5
              down vote










              up vote
              5
              down vote









              They are simply holding their breath.



              In addition to what was said, with a little bit of training* you can hold your breath 3 minutes. There is hardly a take over 20 seconds in today's movies, so it is very easy.



              *Training: during the day, whenever you are bored, like waiting in line, watching TV, or sitting on the bus, just hold your breath. Start with 20 or 30 seconds, and add 5 seconds when it's easy or every day. After three weeks, you'll easily manage 3 to 5 minutes (unless you're chain-smoking or have health issues).






              share|improve this answer










              New contributor




              Aganju is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.









              They are simply holding their breath.



              In addition to what was said, with a little bit of training* you can hold your breath 3 minutes. There is hardly a take over 20 seconds in today's movies, so it is very easy.



              *Training: during the day, whenever you are bored, like waiting in line, watching TV, or sitting on the bus, just hold your breath. Start with 20 or 30 seconds, and add 5 seconds when it's easy or every day. After three weeks, you'll easily manage 3 to 5 minutes (unless you're chain-smoking or have health issues).







              share|improve this answer










              New contributor




              Aganju is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.









              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer








              edited Nov 6 at 17:09









              Solomon Ucko

              1032




              1032






              New contributor




              Aganju is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.









              answered Nov 4 at 18:34









              Aganju

              1595




              1595




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              New contributor





              Aganju is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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              • 1




                True, but I don't see how it answers the question.
                – Duckisaduckisaduck
                Nov 4 at 20:30










              • free divers can hold it for 10mins+ while swimming, so 3mins is easily achievable with a bit of practice.
                – RozzA
                Nov 5 at 9:33






              • 2




                Note it's considerably harder to hold your breath whilst breathed out, as opposed to in. You don't have the lungful of oxygen in reserve & the rise in carbon dioxide is more concentrated.
                – Tetsujin
                Nov 5 at 9:46










              • @RozzA Keep in mind that free divers exploit the mammalian breathing reflex - that requires cold water in your face. It's much easier to hold your breath in cold water, and it gets even easier as you gain depth and pressure. Indeed, one of the reasons why you shouldn't free-dive unattended is that you might not be able to swim up again - as you rise and the pressure drops, you can easily lose consciousness, drop again, pressure increases, you regain consciousness... This can happen even in a public pool, and is one of the things lifeguards are trained to look for.
                – Luaan
                Nov 7 at 9:38














              • 1




                True, but I don't see how it answers the question.
                – Duckisaduckisaduck
                Nov 4 at 20:30










              • free divers can hold it for 10mins+ while swimming, so 3mins is easily achievable with a bit of practice.
                – RozzA
                Nov 5 at 9:33






              • 2




                Note it's considerably harder to hold your breath whilst breathed out, as opposed to in. You don't have the lungful of oxygen in reserve & the rise in carbon dioxide is more concentrated.
                – Tetsujin
                Nov 5 at 9:46










              • @RozzA Keep in mind that free divers exploit the mammalian breathing reflex - that requires cold water in your face. It's much easier to hold your breath in cold water, and it gets even easier as you gain depth and pressure. Indeed, one of the reasons why you shouldn't free-dive unattended is that you might not be able to swim up again - as you rise and the pressure drops, you can easily lose consciousness, drop again, pressure increases, you regain consciousness... This can happen even in a public pool, and is one of the things lifeguards are trained to look for.
                – Luaan
                Nov 7 at 9:38








              1




              1




              True, but I don't see how it answers the question.
              – Duckisaduckisaduck
              Nov 4 at 20:30




              True, but I don't see how it answers the question.
              – Duckisaduckisaduck
              Nov 4 at 20:30












              free divers can hold it for 10mins+ while swimming, so 3mins is easily achievable with a bit of practice.
              – RozzA
              Nov 5 at 9:33




              free divers can hold it for 10mins+ while swimming, so 3mins is easily achievable with a bit of practice.
              – RozzA
              Nov 5 at 9:33




              2




              2




              Note it's considerably harder to hold your breath whilst breathed out, as opposed to in. You don't have the lungful of oxygen in reserve & the rise in carbon dioxide is more concentrated.
              – Tetsujin
              Nov 5 at 9:46




              Note it's considerably harder to hold your breath whilst breathed out, as opposed to in. You don't have the lungful of oxygen in reserve & the rise in carbon dioxide is more concentrated.
              – Tetsujin
              Nov 5 at 9:46












              @RozzA Keep in mind that free divers exploit the mammalian breathing reflex - that requires cold water in your face. It's much easier to hold your breath in cold water, and it gets even easier as you gain depth and pressure. Indeed, one of the reasons why you shouldn't free-dive unattended is that you might not be able to swim up again - as you rise and the pressure drops, you can easily lose consciousness, drop again, pressure increases, you regain consciousness... This can happen even in a public pool, and is one of the things lifeguards are trained to look for.
              – Luaan
              Nov 7 at 9:38




              @RozzA Keep in mind that free divers exploit the mammalian breathing reflex - that requires cold water in your face. It's much easier to hold your breath in cold water, and it gets even easier as you gain depth and pressure. Indeed, one of the reasons why you shouldn't free-dive unattended is that you might not be able to swim up again - as you rise and the pressure drops, you can easily lose consciousness, drop again, pressure increases, you regain consciousness... This can happen even in a public pool, and is one of the things lifeguards are trained to look for.
              – Luaan
              Nov 7 at 9:38










              up vote
              4
              down vote













              This has been adressed in an answer to this related question on Quora:




              In a movie, or single camera TV show, the shot never lingers long enough on the “dead” actor to give away the fact that they are faking it. By cutting away at the right time, the audience doesn’t have enough time to study the “corpse”.



              Also, you will see that the DP frames the shot as a medium close up on the actor, instead of holding a wide master which would show the chest movement.
              That being said, when playing dead, the best technique would be to take a deep breath in before “Action” and then slowly let your air out of your lungs (through the nose) during the shot. This will keep you still and your chest won’t be rising and falling. This is the same technique you use when you swim underwater.



              One thing that you cannot control is the pulsating cartorid artery on the side of your neck. That pulse comes from your heartbeat. Sometimes you can see it in close ups of “dead” actors. With CG VFX though, the filmmakers can digitally fix that.



              If you’re cast on a show where you are going to play dead, make sure that you avoid the coffee at craft service. The caffeine will make it very hard for you to relax, and your neck will be throbbing away, making it difficult to pull off the shot. Many actors get cast to play murder victims in procedural dramas, so these are some good techniques to keep in mind.







              share|improve this answer










              New contributor




              Mateen Ahmed is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.






















                up vote
                4
                down vote













                This has been adressed in an answer to this related question on Quora:




                In a movie, or single camera TV show, the shot never lingers long enough on the “dead” actor to give away the fact that they are faking it. By cutting away at the right time, the audience doesn’t have enough time to study the “corpse”.



                Also, you will see that the DP frames the shot as a medium close up on the actor, instead of holding a wide master which would show the chest movement.
                That being said, when playing dead, the best technique would be to take a deep breath in before “Action” and then slowly let your air out of your lungs (through the nose) during the shot. This will keep you still and your chest won’t be rising and falling. This is the same technique you use when you swim underwater.



                One thing that you cannot control is the pulsating cartorid artery on the side of your neck. That pulse comes from your heartbeat. Sometimes you can see it in close ups of “dead” actors. With CG VFX though, the filmmakers can digitally fix that.



                If you’re cast on a show where you are going to play dead, make sure that you avoid the coffee at craft service. The caffeine will make it very hard for you to relax, and your neck will be throbbing away, making it difficult to pull off the shot. Many actors get cast to play murder victims in procedural dramas, so these are some good techniques to keep in mind.







                share|improve this answer










                New contributor




                Mateen Ahmed is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.




















                  up vote
                  4
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  4
                  down vote









                  This has been adressed in an answer to this related question on Quora:




                  In a movie, or single camera TV show, the shot never lingers long enough on the “dead” actor to give away the fact that they are faking it. By cutting away at the right time, the audience doesn’t have enough time to study the “corpse”.



                  Also, you will see that the DP frames the shot as a medium close up on the actor, instead of holding a wide master which would show the chest movement.
                  That being said, when playing dead, the best technique would be to take a deep breath in before “Action” and then slowly let your air out of your lungs (through the nose) during the shot. This will keep you still and your chest won’t be rising and falling. This is the same technique you use when you swim underwater.



                  One thing that you cannot control is the pulsating cartorid artery on the side of your neck. That pulse comes from your heartbeat. Sometimes you can see it in close ups of “dead” actors. With CG VFX though, the filmmakers can digitally fix that.



                  If you’re cast on a show where you are going to play dead, make sure that you avoid the coffee at craft service. The caffeine will make it very hard for you to relax, and your neck will be throbbing away, making it difficult to pull off the shot. Many actors get cast to play murder victims in procedural dramas, so these are some good techniques to keep in mind.







                  share|improve this answer










                  New contributor




                  Mateen Ahmed is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  This has been adressed in an answer to this related question on Quora:




                  In a movie, or single camera TV show, the shot never lingers long enough on the “dead” actor to give away the fact that they are faking it. By cutting away at the right time, the audience doesn’t have enough time to study the “corpse”.



                  Also, you will see that the DP frames the shot as a medium close up on the actor, instead of holding a wide master which would show the chest movement.
                  That being said, when playing dead, the best technique would be to take a deep breath in before “Action” and then slowly let your air out of your lungs (through the nose) during the shot. This will keep you still and your chest won’t be rising and falling. This is the same technique you use when you swim underwater.



                  One thing that you cannot control is the pulsating cartorid artery on the side of your neck. That pulse comes from your heartbeat. Sometimes you can see it in close ups of “dead” actors. With CG VFX though, the filmmakers can digitally fix that.



                  If you’re cast on a show where you are going to play dead, make sure that you avoid the coffee at craft service. The caffeine will make it very hard for you to relax, and your neck will be throbbing away, making it difficult to pull off the shot. Many actors get cast to play murder victims in procedural dramas, so these are some good techniques to keep in mind.








                  share|improve this answer










                  New contributor




                  Mateen Ahmed is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited Nov 5 at 16:43









                  Napoleon Wilson

                  40.7k33253492




                  40.7k33253492






                  New contributor




                  Mateen Ahmed is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  answered Nov 5 at 12:15









                  Mateen Ahmed

                  373




                  373




                  New contributor




                  Mateen Ahmed is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.





                  New contributor





                  Mateen Ahmed is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






                  Mateen Ahmed is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.















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