# You get to fix one of your pet peeves about shows and movies... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2016, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460 "2016-07-21T02:06:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460/1 "2016-07-21T02:06:01Z")
Here’s the deal: thanks to a fantastic stroke of good luck, you are going to change careers. And your mission will be to remedy **one minor thing** that drives you nuts about TV shows and movies. Pick carefully, you can’t change your mind once you decide what you’ll repair. To give you an example of the type of problem you can fix: I myself will be a consultant whose sole duty is to work with props people to help them fix an issue that really bugs me: the size discrepancy between human infant actors and prop stand-ins. I understand perfectly well why they use dolls - wee actors are extremely limited on how much time they can be on set - and there’s no good reason to burn through screen time when they’re just holding the baby, but there’s no excuse for using a doll that’s 1/2 the size of the real baby. Under my direction the prop dolls will be of an appropriate size to match the young actors so it’s far less obvious when the adult actors are holding a fake baby. Given that the doll’s face is rarely if ever seen, we don’t need expensive dolls, just ones much closer to the real babies’ sizes. What will you be fixing? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460/2 "2016-07-21T02:08:31Z")
For TV: get rid of all laugh tracks. I can’t stand them. They detract from the actual show and insult my intelligence, or sense of humour. Or something. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460/3 "2016-07-21T02:12:11Z")
This might be a bit out of scope to what you had in mind, but i would be the ultimate arbiter of what was crap and rejected and what goes out to the world. I’m sure I would quickly be fired or the studio would go bankrupt. ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460/4 "2016-07-21T02:16:54Z")
I will make sure there’s some #%$@\*& liquid in to-go cups of coffee, so they have some weight to them. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460/5 "2016-07-21T02:19:05Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > This might be a bit out of scope to what you had in mind, but i would be the ultimate arbiter of what was crap and rejected and what goes out to the world. > > I’m sure I would quickly be fired or the studio would go bankrupt. Unfortunately, this isn’t a minor pet peeve. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460/6 "2016-07-21T02:19:36Z")
Roles must be played by actors who really are the age of their characters. No more “youthful” looking 30 year old actors playing high school students!!! ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460/7 "2016-07-21T02:21:19Z")
Stop it with all the cats meowing and all the dogs barking and all the horses whinnying. Yes, we know it’s a cat. We don’t have to hear it meow. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460/8 "2016-07-21T02:28:46Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Unfortunately, this isn’t a minor pet peeve. Yeah, alright. I’ll dial it back some… I would either eliminate Wilhelm Screams, or require ALL screams to be Wilhelmses. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460/9 "2016-07-21T02:36:13Z")
On swashbuckler-type shows, swords will NOT go “Shhhhhwiiiiing” when you pull them out of their LEATHER SCABBARD! ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460/10 "2016-07-21T02:40:28Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > I would either eliminate Wilhelm Screams, or require ALL screams to be Wilhelmses. I’d like to retire the “hawk scream”…but I don’t know what sound effect could really take it’s place. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460/11 "2016-07-21T02:54:26Z")
I want to get rid of characters who do not understand the priority of safety first when reuniting with loved ones in the middle of a dangerous combat zone or zombie attack. You got reunited with your loved one(s?) Great! How about _ **getting to a place of safety first** _, rather than having a 3-minute long hug and kiss and let’s-talk-about-our-prior-misunderstandings conversation when standing in the midst of flying bullets and zombies and monsters??? ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460/12 "2016-07-21T02:55:26Z")
I’d like to see phone users wait at least 15 - 20 seconds before someone answers. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460/13 "2016-07-21T05:00:21Z")
When you’re showing someone playing a musical instrument, hire someone who actually knows how to play it, even if the actual sound has to be dubbed. If you’ve never played the instrument, there’s no way to make it look convincing. And enough already with the fucking venetian blind shadows on walls, regardless of the time of day or direction of the window. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460/14 "2016-07-21T08:04:35Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > When you’re showing someone playing a musical instrument, hire someone who actually knows how to play it, even if the actual sound has to be dubbed. If you’ve never played the instrument, there’s no way to make it look convincing. > > And enough already with the fucking venetian blind shadows on walls, regardless of the time of day or direction of the window. In a similar vein, if people are playing a game, (poker, chess, football whatever), make sure that the film i)knows the rules of the game, and if the players are for some reason playing outside the rules make it explicit in some way and ii) the players play the game with the level of skill that the narrative is implying they have. No quality chess player will be surprised by an immediate checkmate, good poker players don’t go all in on intermediate hands and potting a few simple balls does not make you a pool god. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460/15 "2016-07-21T08:16:58Z")
you will have full systems that at least will look like their hooked up and sound effects will be taken from a real game on that system No more kids holding a x box 360 controller with a ps2 box that’s running some free/public domain flash game while using the sound effects from Atari pac man … ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460/16 "2016-07-21T09:04:04Z")
No more [walk and talk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walk_and_talk) scenes. ---
**Author:** ![Uniqueorn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uniqueorn/32/2807_2.png) [@Uniqueorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniqueorn)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460/17 "2016-07-21T09:24:54Z")
I would ensure that actors in movies would only be allowed to be in one movie per year and TV actors in maybe 3 shows during their lifetime. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460/18 "2016-07-21T09:46:32Z")
Breaking the rules of the OP here, but I thought of another one I’d do instead. Don’t hire 2 people with very similar faces, hair styling and build for the same movie and dress them similarly. Make one of them dye their hair, cut it differently or have them have different clothing styles. I don’t want to spend the first hour of the film thinking “wait isn’t that the guy who…” ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460/19 "2016-07-21T09:57:20Z")
Medieval & Viking-period show casts will wear actual period clothing and armour designs, including some fucking colour. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460/20 "2016-07-21T10:01:50Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > On swashbuckler-type shows, swords will NOT go “Shhhhhwiiiiing” when you pull them out of their LEATHER SCABBARD! Leather scabbards _usually_ have a metal throat - they do, indeed, go _schwing_ when you pull them out fast. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-get-to-fix-one-of-your-pet-peeves-about-shows-and-movies/760460.md?page=2)