crying techniques?

[paul]

Ok, the most obvious way for a actor to cry would be to make him/her sad. But what when someone can't force/simulate it naturally? Are there ways or techniques to simulate it artificially? To be more precise; I am talking about (rolling) tears.

Thanks,

Paul

[Evan Kubota]

A pipette full of saline solution... have the actor tilt their head back, fill the eye sockets with plenty of 'tears,' and then have them look down.

[johnnhud]

Hmmm, eyedrops come to mind, of course you could always just pluck a few nose hairs with a pair of tweesers....that always makes me tear up.

[MovieStuff]

Have them imagine sending $3000 by Western Union to an unknown European ebay seller.

roger

[Nigel]

1) You can hire me. I don't have a lower tearduct in my left eye. Hence, I am always crying.

2) Toothpaste. Somewhere along the line someone said that it works but I can't confirm this.

Good Luck

[mattias]

toothpaste probably works because it contains menthol, like *tear sticks*, which is what you'll want. available from theater make-up stores.

/matt

[Bolex Collector]

Think of a cat dying. (or dog, if you're a dog person)
You'd have to be some sort of emotionless monster to resist tears at the thought of that!

Seriously though, if your talent can't cry on demand, I think the most common artificial method is eyedrops or glycerin 'tears' applied to the cheeks. Have an assistant apply them quickly, after rolling on the shot, and then start the edit right after that.

If you need to film tears actually forming, but still need an artificial means. Have the talent chew on one of these:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorset_Naga_pepper

A little Vick's vaporub might work, when applied directly underneath the eyes, to one side of the nose or to the side of the eyes -- depending on how your subject is framed, though, it may be difficult to conceal the greasy appearance.

Moviestuff's tip works for me though! :lol:

[paul]

Thanks for the tips guys. didn't expect so many answers so soon. I ordered a tear stick on line all ready.

th nks

(my god am I creative!)

[Actor]

...if your talent can't cry on demand...

Few actors can "cry on demand." You need time to get into character. Which is precisely what you don't have on a film shoot. I can cry on stage but not on film. Unfortunately, on stage the audience is so far away they can't see the tears.

[ropbo]

Is it common for people to use music to help an actor reach an emotional state ? To help him/her cry, for example ?

[lastcoyote]

Is it common for people to use music to help an actor reach an emotional state ? To help him/her cry, for example ?

I am shooting a short and the actress keep herself sad by music and when the camera roll... she cried and couldn't stop...

But I'm also thinking if it works if I ask her to go chopping raw onion when we setting the light. By the time the camera roll... she must be crying with red nose... worth to try isn't it?

[keagan]

I'm reading a book called Cronenberg on Cronenberg, and in there he admits to slapping his leading lady repeatedly in the face before each take (She begged him to do it) to make her cry! they eventually had to stop because the makup artist couldn't cover up the bruises that were forming.

Not that i'm suggesting this... 8O

Keagan

[paul]

I'm reading a book called Cronenberg on Cronenberg, and in there he admits to slapping his leading lady repeatedly in the face before each take (She begged him to do it) to make her cry! they eventually had to stop because the makup artist couldn't cover up the bruises that were forming.

Not that i'm suggesting this... 8O

Keagan

that's heavy! I read somewhere that someone mistook a 'tear stick' for a whip..

[AMAT0R]

The best way to force an actor to cry is to give him some fresh onion nearby his eyes

[mattias]

some actors i've worked with like to lock themselves in a dark room for a while, some like to be held hard and yelled at, some i'm sure like to masturbate or have a quickie since orgasms make you very emotional. ;-) ask them. it's their job.

/matt