h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Can they not get actors to scream when filming? Surely it'd be easier to record the scream with the rest of the dialogue isntead of spending ages recording a silent scream and then digging round the sfx library for the "perfect scream"?

Well, they do a lot of sound stuff in post production - there are people called foley editors who add in door slams and footsteps and things, simply because it's easier than getting the microphone in the right place.

Besides, what are you going to do when your lead actor screams like a girl?

Even if your lead actor *is* a girl?

I can see that you don't want an actor falling over a mic or getting it in shot for footsteps or something. But I always thought that actors should be pretty good at doing all their own vocals works. Singing I get being dubbed but only if done well. But a scream....

Hang on, new idea - retakes!

Voices are delicate things, and giving highpitched, blood curdling screams for ten takes is sure to leave you hoarse, possibly even without your voice.

OK, I don't really know, to be honest. But there must be a good reason.

There muist be some logic behind it, but I'm finding it just a tad bit hard to see.