Because many letterbox broadcasts are simulcast in high-def 16:9 on a different channel. And/or the broadcasters know that some TV's let you zoom in on a letterboxed image. In both cases the broadcasters want their bugs on the screen.

The worse problem occurs with many network sports events here in the US. The high-def camera operators frame the shots so that the 4:3 square contains all the action. When simulcast on standard def channels, they just slice off the sides so 16:9 becomes 4:3. So even the bugs and the score HUDs have to fit within the 4:3 square that's in the middle of the screen. So not only do you have the problem of the camera man not taking advantage of the wider 16:9 frame to show you a nice well-framed shot of the action for the high def audiences, you also have the station bugs and the scoreboards covering up that action.

If only the stations could deliberately add the bugs and scoreboards separately on their high-def outputs and their standard-def outputs. But for some reason, they don't. They just get lazy and cheap and compose the shot once, with all elements in place, then slice of the sides and downconvert.



Because those fake blasters were actually pretty loud cap guns, firing small loud explosive charges to make the little puffs of smoke and to give the actors something to react to. Poor Carrie was probably just not used to it, and blinked with (or in anticipation of) each loud noise.