Quote:
Originally Posted by Abe008
Is it standard to hold your breath when someone goes under water in a movie to see if it's doable?
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Standard.
I'll tell you a story about a test I once did.
We were a bunch of guys who were supposed to do the test, and we were all gathered in the Locker Room. One by one they took us out to the swimming pool. I was number ten or eleven to go in. From the swimming pool all we heard was swearing and yelling. "Can't you see he's drowning?! Keep his head up!" followed by desperate gasps for air. We thought it was war-zone out there, and were scared ****less. As people get in they all just shake their head and looks miserable.
So it's my turn, and I walk into the swimming pool area. There's a 2-3 guys by the side of the pool holding a doll and I see there's two divers in the water. There's also a doctor with a defibrillator (heart starter) sitting in the middle on the long side. "So, you ready? A good swimmer I assume?", one of the guys ask me. I've done this kind test a few times before and it always goes very well. "I'm ok", I answer. He gives me a brief smile before he hands me a weight-belt. "Put this on. The doll is getting one as well".
My first thought is "WAT?" These test aren't that hard without the extra weight, but with extra weight they are near impossible. That explains the doctor with the defibrillator.
They throw the doll into the pool, and I dive after it. On my way down I recall thinking how this wont ever work. Then I tell myself "what the hell are you doing? What kinda mindset is that?" and decide I'll give it my very best. I locate the doll and start swimming upwards. It's ****ing impossible. The weight is too much, but I won't give up. I give it my best kicks and keep going at it. I start getting cramps in my lungs, and not much later my vision starts to blur. Something tells me I need air, but I cant stop thinking about how this is has to be doable somehow. After 1m49s (instructors told me later this was a very good time) I go to the surface for air.
"Are you alive?", is the first thing the instructor yells at me as I gasp for air. I respond with a mere "Yes". "If that doll was a real person it's gonna die and you're gonna live without really trying. You havent even passed out yet!". I go back to the bottom and locate the doll. This is when I realize there's no way I can get that doll straight up, but the pool is made so that one end is quite shallow. I grab the doll and start swimming towards that end. Not before long I can stand on my feet in the pool, and I head towards the side.
Test passed.