Are You Stupid: Gaming in the Movies

You don’t have to be the best gamer. You just have to have style and flair, something that will entertain and translate well on camera. Producers are holding online auditions for a couple of gamers that fit the bill. These gamers will be required to sub for the actual stars in the production who don’t often possess the necessary skills to pull off convincing gaming moves.

“We’re seeing more gaming featured in movies and TV,” says Ferd Dishnip. “It’s a phenomenon that is gaining more ground as the gaming generation ages. As a result we have a responsibility to portray them as realistically and authentically as possible. If a scene calls for Will Smith or Regis Philbin to sit down and play Call of Duty, it would be an absolute disaster. We need people off-camera to play these games for these stars. It’s a great job for the right people. Once they join the actors union, they’ve got a high-paying job for life. Not to mention all the fringe benefits of parties, fast cars, and hanging with the stars,” Dishnip adds.

Movies and TV shows often feature stand-ins, including stunt doubles and body doubles. It’s too risky for stars to do their own stunts since they are often not trained in such disciplines, and an injury could halt production for weeks or months. Other stand-ins are used for close ups of hands or feet and other body parts which may not look so good on the star. The gamer’s role would be unique, kind of a cross between a stuntman and body double. Most times the gamer would play off to the side, but sometimes the gamer’s hands or the back of his head may be filmed. There’s plenty of extra money to appear on camera, so gamers will welcome the opportunity.

But Dishnip warns there is a dark side to this seemingly glamorous world. After pondering his statement, with a long interim of awkward but thoughtful silence, Dishnip said it would be best if he didn’t reveal anything specific at this point. He did mutter something about the murdering of American Idol contestants.