CHAPTER 6 “ACTING” overview and essay guidelines
ACTING: “doing duty temporarily (as a character); performing by action” (p. 257)
INTRODUCTION QUOTE: “In the cinema the actor must think and let his
thoughts work upon his face. The objective nature of the medium will do the rest.
A theatrical performance requires magnification; a cinema performance requires
an inner life.” –Charles Dullin, Sage and Film Actor (p. 255)
“Essentially, film acting can be broken into four different categories:
1. EXTRAS: These actors are used primarily to provide a sense of a
crowd—as in “a cast of thousands.” Players of this type are used as
camera material like a landscape or a set.
2. NONPROFESSIONAL PERFORMERS: These are amateur players who
are chosen not because of their acting ability, which can be negligible, but
because of their authentic appearance—they look right for a given part.
3. TRAINED PROFESSIONALS: These stage and screen performers are
capable of playing a variety of roles in a variety of styles. The majority of
actors fall into this category.
4. STARS: These are famous performers who are widely recognized by the
public. Their drawing power is one of the main attractions of a film or
stage play. The “star system” was developed and has been dominated by
the American cinema, though it’s hardly unique to movies. Virtually all the
performing arts—opera, dance, live theater, television, concert music—
have exploited the box-office popularity of a charismatic performer.” (p.
256)
STAGE vs. SCREEN ACTING: “the differences between stage and screen acting
are largely determined by the differences in space and time in each medium—the
stage actor tends to dominate the stage, while in movies the director is the artist
and the actor has less of an opportunity to create” (p. 257)
SHOTS: “acting in the cinema is almost totally dependent on the filmmaker’s
approach to the story materials, using various takes and shots to convey
characterization [acting]; the more formalistic director the less likely he or she is
to value the actor’s contribution” (p. 261)
STYLES OF ACTING: “acting styles differ radically, depending on period, genre,
tone, national origins, and directorial emphasis; such considerations are the
principal means by which acting styles are classified (hence, expressionistic vs.
realistic)” (p. 286)
ASSIGNMENT (due OCT 26)
Apply some of these principals to either the acting in “Annie Hall” or “Dog Day
Afternoon.” You might also want to address the virtues of film acting vs. stage
acting. Compose a 1-2 page response with specific details supporting acting.