 When filming a scene in which Brian (Sean Astin (qv)) is being  abused by his mother (Patty Duke (qv)), Astin found it very hard  to cry, instead he would laugh hysterically as it reminded him of  situations their family had been in. This was until his mother  (Patty Duke is Seans mother) took him aside and told him, "Look, I  took a chance on you. What do you think youre doing? This is my  career, this is my life... These people are counting on me. Theyre  counting on you." Astin promptly burst into tears and Duke signaled  for the cameras to keep rolling so that they could complete the  scene.