There’s a video going around Facebook right now that seems to come from a Brazilian TV show. The setup: at a bus stop is an ad for Child’s Play. Then, an actor dressed as Chucky (either a child or a little person) emerges from behind the poster. Panic ensues. Video: - YouTube
Another prank went around a few years ago, involving a little girl (definitely a child, not a little person) suddenly appears as a ghost in a darkened elevator. Video: - YouTube
Here’s the thing: I love a good prank when I see one, but people react differently to terror. Fleeing in terror is one thing, assaulting someone who surprises you is another. And when it’s a child, the stakes are too high to even consider, in my opinion.
Any Brazilian Dopers want to weigh in on this phenomenon? My questions are: does the Brazilian TV viewing public really think this is OK? Does the Brazilian government really think this is OK? And finally, have any actors in these prank shows ever been assaulted by a prankee?
A lot of people in that movie didn’t realize they were in a movie until they were told. the film crew used hidden cameras and such for a lot of scenes.
2 more words:
Candid Camera.
While benign by todays standards a lot of the stunts were a bit out there for the 40’s and 50’s.
Obviously enough people like this stuff or it wouldn’t air. And who cares what a government thinks? They’re pranks. And Brazil has over 200 million people. the chances of anyone being a victim is almost zero.
I’m familiar with prank shows - I’ve watched my share. But the videos posted above show people being placed at risk of actual harm, no matter how remote the risk. I assure you that no TV producer in the country is going to put a child at risk - the SAG would be on it like white on rice.
There was “Scare Tatics” on sci-fi that was hosted by Shannon Doherty.
In one prank, a driver (who is in on the prank) picks up a hitchhiker. The “hitchhiker” was supposed to be a serial killer. One of the passengers that the prank was intended for, freaked out, and started to wail on the prankster.
Dude got about 6 or 7 good hits in before they could stop him.
The Screen Actors Guild has no control over reality show performers. Now, if the child were a stunt performer, there might be some jurisdiction, but then it wouldn’t really be a “risk.”