Acting
What are the differences between acting for the stage
What are the differences between acting for the stage and acting for the camera?
Film acting requires a different approach than theater acting
Film acting requires a different approach than theater acting
Films are shot out of sequence
Film acting requires a different approach than theater acting
Films are shot out of sequence
- scheduled logistically
Film acting requires a different approach than theater acting
Films are shot out of sequence
- scheduled logistically
- can’t build toward a climax
Film acting requires a different approach than theater acting
Films are shot out of sequence
- scheduled logistically
- can’t build toward a climax
- get “into character” very quickly
Scenes are constructed out of shots:wide shot, medium shot, close up, etc.
Scenes are constructed out of shots:wide shot, medium shot, close up, etc.
Most films are shot with a single camera
Performances are ASSEMBLED out of the best shots
Performances are ASSEMBLED out of the best shots
Actor’s performance– in director’s hands, editor’s hands
Performances are ASSEMBLED out of the best shots
Actor’s performance-- in director’s hands, editor’s hands
editing may distort an actor’s performance
Performances are ASSEMBLED out of the best shots
Actor’s performance – in director’s hands, editor’s hands
editing may distort an actor’s performance
Film = director’s medium
Performances are ASSEMBLED out of the best shots
Actor’s performance is– in director’s hands, editor’s hands
editing may distort an actor’s performance
Film = director’s medium
Theatre = actor’s medium
Realism and Acting
Realist directors
Long shots (whole body in view)
Realism and Acting
Realist directors
Long shots (whole body in view)
Lengthy takes
Realism and Acting
Realist directors
Long shots (whole body in view)
Lengthy takes
Less editing
Formalism and Acting
Formalistic Directors
Formalism and Acting
Formalistic Directors
Convey meaning through editing
Formalism and Acting
Formalistic Directors
Convey meaning through editing
Actor’s performance is fragmented
Formalism and Acting
Formalistic Directors
Convey meaning through editing
Actor’s performance is fragmented
Many takes from a variety of camera set ups
Psycho (1960) Alfred Hitchcock
Filming took 7 days and 77 camera positions
Contains 50 cuts
the shots of the drain juxtaposed next to the eye is called a match cut
Method Acting
Method Acting
-Constantin Stanislavsky, Russian stage actor and director
Method Acting
-Constantin Stanislavsky, Russian stage actor and director
-(early 1900s) –reaction against -Theatrical Acting
Method Acting
-Constantin Stanislavsky, Russian stage actor and director
-(early 1900s) –reaction against -Theatrical Acting
- a more realistic style of acting
Method Acting
-Constantin Stanislavsky, Russian stage actor and director
-(early 1900s) –reaction against -Theatrical Acting
- a more realistic style of acting
- performances are internal
Method Acting
-Constantin Stanislavsky, Russian stage actor and director
-(early 1900s) –reaction against -Theatrical Acting
- a more realistic style of acting
- performances are internal
-actors “live” the part
Method Acting
-Constantin Stanislavsky, Russian stage actor and director
-(early 1900s) –reaction against -Theatrical Acting
- a more realistic style of acting
- performances are internal
-actors “live” the part
- actors encouraged to improvise
Subtext
Subtext is often conveyed non-verbally (through body language)
Subtext is often conveyed non-verbally (through body language) – what the characters are thinking/feeling (beyond the script)
Subtext is often conveyed non-verbally (through body language)
– what the characters are thinking/feeling (beyond the script)
Emotional Recall- exploring their subconscious to trigger real emotions
1947 - The Actor’s Studio founded in New York
1947 - The Actor’s Studio founded in New York
- based on concepts pioneered by Stanislavsky
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1947 - The Actor’s Studio founded in New York
- based on concepts pioneered by Stanislavsky
Members of The Actor’s Studio include:
1947 - The Actor’s Studio founded in New York
- based on concepts pioneered by Stanislavsky
Members of The Actor’s Studio include:
- Robert de Niro
1947 - The Actor’s Studio founded in New York
- based on concepts pioneered by Stanislavsky
Members of The Actor’s Studio include:
- Robert de Niro
- Sidney Poitier
1947 - The Actor’s Studio founded in New York
- based on concepts pioneered by Stanislavsky
Members of The Actor’s Studio include:
- Robert de Niro
- Sidney Poitier
- Marlon Brando
and many others
Drama
Drama: from the Greek for action
Drama: from the Greek for action
A mode of fiction represented in performance
Drama: from the Greek for action
A mode of fiction represented in performance
Depends on collaborative modes of production
and a collective form of reception…
The basic unit of construction
theatre = the scene
film = the shot
theater time = to the time it takes to perform
theater time = to the time it takes to perform time is often chronological in a play
theater time = to the time it takes to perform time is often chronological in a play
Film time = manipulated/flexible through editing
Common differences between plays and films:
Common differences between plays and films:
EMPHASIS:
Common differences between plays and films:
EMPHASIS:- Play = dialogue- Film = action
THEATER SPACE
- relatively fixed in a play
THEATER SPACE
- relatively fixed in a play- distance between the audience and the actors is static
THEATER SPACE
- relatively fixed in a play- distance between the audience and the actors is static
three dimensional
MOVIE SPACE
is flexible and dynamic in movies-(LS, MS, CU, etc.)
MOVIE SPACE
is flexible and dynamic in movies-(LS, MS, CU, etc.)
-Film space is two dimensional
The Audience
theater audience is more active
The Audience
theater audience is more active
movie audience is more passive
Stage to screen:
EMPHASIS:
Theater = dialogue: meaning = words
Stage to screen:
EMPHASIS:
Theater = dialogue: meaning = words
Films = action: based on photography
Stage to screen:
Story is often OPENED UP (expanded):
Stage to screen:
Story is often OPENED UP (expanded):
- more actors added
Stage to screen:
Story is often OPENED UP (expanded):
- more actors added
- more props, sets, locations
Closer was a stage play before Mike Nichol’s made a film out of it
Patrick Marber the writer and director of the play wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation
Closer was a stage play before Mike Nichol’s made a film out of it
Only four characters appear in the play
Patrick Marber the writer and director of the play wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation
Director Mike Nichols2004
Featuring
Julia Roberts
Jude Law
Natalie Portman
And
Clive Owen