Stand-ins aren’t called “second team” without good reason.
Stand-ins many times function as a team when setting up shots. Two or more stand-ins have to work together during second-team rehearsals to recreate a scene for the cameras.
The teamwork among stand-ins becomes clear when one stand-in’s movements in a scene depend on the movements of another stand-in. For example, if you are supposed to follow another stand-in in a walk and talk, but if the other stand-in doesn’t lead, the second-team rehearsal could be a trainwreck and make you look bad, even though you know exactly what you should do.
My Main Pet Peeve
I’d admit that one of my pet peeves about other stand-ins is not being prepared to lead in a scene what that stand-in’s actor clearly leads.
I might know everything that goes on in a scene, but if the stand-in I’m supposed to follow has no clue what’s going on in a scene, it’s a hopeless cause for me.
Second team as a whole ends up looking bad, even though the fault primarily lies on one key stand-in.
Sometimes I guard against this tragedy by checking in with the other stand-in to make sure s/he are on the same page about what should happen in second-team rehearsal.
Ultimately, though, it’s not my job to tell the stand-in how to do his/her job.
Your Pet Peeves?
Other stand-ins do things that irritate you. What are some of those things?
While some of your pet peeves may simply be personal preferences, others surely could be informative for stand-ins who don’t understand the implications of their behavior on set.
Post your pet peeves about what other stand-ins do in the comments below!
I’ve been on set a handful of times on a tv drama as a Stand-in for a major character and the other lead Stand-in will serious stand on her mark as I stand on mine and begin a stare-off, like seriously staring at my eyes without blinking and it’s like very weird and uncomfortable, this stand-in won’t break eye contact. While I understand eye contact is essential, it feels like they are doing it on purpose or think this is the way to be a good stand-in… I will begin to look at her in the eyes, but after a while, I will look past her eyes without moving my head. There’s a few other girls to do the stare-down, and me and the other guys are just as professional but I don’t see them staring and staring… What is this all about? What is right to do?
Wow, Bernard, awkward!
Your anecdote makes me wonder if the other stand-ins were maybe traumatized into maintaining eye contact with the other stand-in, or if they misunderstand the needs of the job when it comes to eye contact.
From my experience, maintaining *eyeline* is more important than *eye contact with another stand-in*. When it comes to eye contact, staring into another stand-in’s eyes for longer than a number of seconds becomes very uncomfortable, perhaps even threatening.
What I tend to do when it comes to eyeline needs for any substantial period of time is look at the place on the face I call “home.” That’s the spot between the eyes, basically where the nose meets the forehead. Looking there gives the impression of staring, without *actually* staring. You’re technically just focusing on, not the eyes, but between the eyes.
With that said, usually eyeline needs are for the stand-in who is the focus of the shot, and not so much the stand-in not in focus. For example, if the other stand-in is the focus and the camera is over your shoulder, who cares if you are staring at the other stand-in? You can sometimes look elsewhere while the other stand-in does her job.
The reverse is similar. If you’re the focus, you can look at “home” on the other stand-in, and the other stand-in probably doesn’t need to stare you down. In this case, as long as the other stand-in’s body is positioned correctly for the camera, the eyes (which likely are not on camera or not very visible) can look elsewhere.
All in all, anxiety about stand-in work and not knowing what actually is needed of stand-ins can lead stand-ins to do strange things, even for years down the line. As they come to understand what is necessary and what is not really necessary, hopefully silly, irrational behavior will fall by the wayside. With that said, hopefully more constructive behavior may emerge. That more constructive behavior may be prosocial behavior — such as being friendly on set, doing one’s job when needed to do so, and knowing when to relax a bit. Constant staring sounds somewhat antisocial or misinformed. Staring when only necessary, and just keeping aware of when maintaining eyeline is important and necessary, is more prosocial.
Of course, these comments are all speculative — I’m not on your job and only have things from your perspective!
Here are some Stand-In Central articles on the topic of eyeline:
https://standincentral.com/2011/09/28/eyeline-tips/
https://standincentral.com/2010/09/22/looking-another-stand-in-in-the-eyes/
https://standincentral.com/2021/04/28/did-you-know-they-may-be-looking-at-you/
Cheers,
Ben Hauck
Editor, Stand-In Central