# Lateral Thinking Puzzles - third time is best! **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [July 18, 2023, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214 "2023-07-18T13:39:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 150
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2981 "2025-03-17T00:01:44Z")
> [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Not a photograph. Motion capture? Like Andy Serkis? ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2982 "2025-03-17T00:08:15Z")
**Yes, this has to do with a video game. No motion capture, though.** Think simpler. _Much_ simpler. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2983 "2025-03-17T00:17:54Z")
> [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > **Yes, this has to do with a video game. No motion capture, though.** It’s Mario and why the developers gave him overalls. Small storage space gave them little options on making Mario clearly visible, so overalls was a way of kind of making human-like without much detail. ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2984 "2025-03-17T00:28:09Z")
**It’s-a-he! Mario! And that’s exactly why.** He also has a hat to avoid animating hair, and a mustache to outline his nose and avoid drawing a mouth. Early video game graphic designers had to get creative like that. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2025, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2985 "2025-03-27T15:37:18Z")
**A movie’s assistant director was set to direct only one scene in the movie. The pressing concern was the limp, lifeless performance they were getting from the cast in the scene. The assistant director came in, made one surprising suggestion, and that suggestion got the cast to perform perfectly.** **This one scene ended up making the entire director’s career, by the way.** **Can you explain what he did?** ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2025, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2986 "2025-03-27T15:37:43Z")
_Note: Not a guessing game about big directors. You could guess around and eventually figure out who the director is, but that really isn’t the point of this. This is a true story, but focus on the what and how of what happened, please._ ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2025, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2987 "2025-03-27T15:45:39Z")
Complete guess - the cast had to perform angry or frustrated people. The assistant director got them really angry by banning them from having breakfast and lunch. Their genuine hunger improved their performance. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2025, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2988 "2025-03-27T16:11:02Z")
Was this cast human? ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2989 "2025-03-27T17:12:39Z")
Was the cast playing the roles of dead people? Was the cast playing the roles of undead - zombies, or the like? ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2025, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2990 "2025-03-27T17:35:18Z")
Did suggestion involve provoking a real emotional reaction in the actors? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2025, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2991 "2025-03-27T17:49:35Z")
Does it matter what type of scene it was? Like, did the suggestion turn a fight scene into something dynamic and interesting, but it would’ve probably fallen flat as advice if the actors had been portraying quippy comedy or tender lovemaking? ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2025, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2992 "2025-03-27T17:53:10Z")
Is the genre of the movie relevant? Were the performance problems confined to just that one scene? If so, did it have something to do with the nature of the scene? (WAGs: did the scene require them to react to something not actually there, like a CGI-generated monster or something? Did it involve convincingly simulating a physical activity, like a dance or athletic feat?) Were any / all of the cast members children? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2993 "2025-03-27T17:54:44Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Complete guess - the cast had to perform angry or frustrated people. The assistant director got them really angry by banning them from having breakfast and lunch. Their genuine hunger improved their performance. No. > [@dirtball](#): > > Was this cast human? No > [@SunUp](#): > > Was the cast playing the roles of dead people? > Was the cast playing the roles of undead - zombies, or the like? No > [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Did suggestion involve provoking a real emotional reaction in the actors? No > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Does it matter what type of scene it was? Like, did the suggestion turn a fight scene into something dynamic and interesting, but it would’ve probably fallen flat as advice if the actors had been portraying quippy comedy or tender lovemaking? I’d say yes it matters, but no to the rest of your q’s. > [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Is the genre of the movie relevant? I think it would help get the answer. > [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Were the performance problems confined to just that one scene? If so, did it have something to do with the nature of the scene? Yes to both. > [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Were any / all of the cast members children? No. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2025, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2994 "2025-03-27T18:18:55Z")
So, the cast members in question were not human. Were they any type of living creature? If so, were they all the same species? Was a human included in the scene? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2025, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2995 "2025-03-27T18:21:41Z")
Were the cast members puppets? Were they animatronic? Were they computer-generated models? Were they stop-motion models? Were they hand-drawn animations? Was the assistant director someone whose primary day-to-day job was moviemaking in some form? Did the assistant director usually work with human actors? Did the assistant director usually work with whatever-the-cast-was? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2025, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2996 "2025-03-27T18:50:08Z")
Sitting out this one as I know the answer. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2025, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2997 "2025-03-27T18:58:14Z")
was the ‘cast’ a single entity or multiple? Is/was the cast living organisms? is it relevant that the suggestion came from the ‘assistant director?’ Was the suggestion directed at the cast, or was the suggestion something for the movie crew? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2025, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2998 "2025-03-27T19:29:29Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > So, the cast members in question were not human. Were they any type of living creature? YES > If so, were they all the same species? YES > Was a human included in the scene? NO…not really > [@Chronos](#): > > Were the cast members puppets? > Were they animatronic? > Were they computer-generated models? > Were they stop-motion models? > Were they hand-drawn animations? > Was the assistant director someone whose primary day-to-day job was moviemaking in some form? > Did the assistant director usually work with human actors? > Did the assistant director usually work with whatever-the-cast-was? **No to puppets, animatronics, cg models, stop-motion, or hand drawn animations.** **Yes, he was in the movie-making industry.** **I do not know at that point, if he worked with human actors a lot, but yeah, I would say yes.** **No, he did NOT normally work with whatever-the-cast was.** ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2025, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2999 "2025-03-27T19:30:43Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Sitting out this one as I know the answer. Thank you, don’t hint! > [@Sigene](#): > > was the ‘cast’ a single entity or multiple? > Is/was the cast living organisms? > is it relevant that the suggestion came from the ‘assistant director?’ > Was the suggestion directed at the cast, or was the suggestion something for the movie crew? Multiple Entities Living Organisms Nah, just that this one little moment lead to that assistant director becoming a full director. It involved the cast, but was a suggestion for the movie crew. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2025, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3000 "2025-03-27T19:34:06Z")
Were the cast birds? Mammals? Reptiles? Amphibians? Fish? Invertebrates? Did the suggestion involve food? Did it involve something the “cast” would regard as a threat? Did it involve the playing of sounds? Were the “cast” depicting normal members of their own species? Abnormal members? Some other species? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=149) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=151)