Acting today

In contrast to the 1930s through the 1960s, when actors’ contracts were evaluated every six months and this was the deciding factor as to whether they would stay in the role or be fired, acting today allows for a free agent who can negotiate their pay, contract one film at a time, and use their name. Additionally, during this time, actors were required to change their names and public personas, were not permitted to negotiate their pay, and were only permitted to work for the contracted studio for the duration of the contract. Why is the relationship between the actor and the camera so important in making and looking at movies?

Movie actors come nearer to the audience and appear larger than stage actors appear due to the relationship that the actors have with the cameras. The camera angle, movement, close-ups, cinematic techniques, and composition make this possible.

How did the coming of sound influence movie acting and actors?

The coming of sound forced actors to adjust their movement during recording, and this created the need for dialogue coaches to assist actors to master their languages and find their voices.

What is the difference between movie stars and movie actors? Why do some critics emphasize that movie stars are a commodity created by the movie industry?

A movie star has an outstanding talent, exceptional looks, set of mannerism, distinctive voice and a unique energy that is portrayed on the screen. By contrast, movie actors use voice movement and gestures to convey their character to the camera.

Movie stars are a commodity created by the movie industry, and this is through publicity, movies, commentary, critics, and promotion. Movie stars do not produce themselves but through the help of the movie industry that puts a lot of labor in making them.

What factors influence the casting of actors in a movie?

Movie budget and expected revenues, actor’s reputation and popularity, actor’s chemistry with other actors and actor’s experiences on stage or screen.

How are naturalistic and non-naturalistic movie acting differently?

In naturalistic movie acting, actors recreate human behavior for the camera. In addition, actor character, thinking, speaking and moving is similar, as people would off screen. On the contrary, non-naturalistic movie acting involves exaggerated, excessive, and strange effects that are beyond human capabilities. Horror films are a good example of non-naturalistic movie acting.

What is improvisational acting?

This is acting that is done without preparation or studying that involves rehearsing of a script. It involves collaboration and it adds a sense of the liveliness of art.

How do framing, composition, lighting, and the long take affect the acting in a movie?

They help to reveal the relationships that are need in order for the acting to be successful.

Given the range of techniques available to movie actors, why do we say that their most basic skill understands how to reveal themselves to the camera during the close-up?

This is because the role of the actor is greatest in close up. In addition, the camera brings more intimacy and naturalism between the audience and the actors, which is impossible on stage.

What do you regard as the most important criteria in analyzing acting?

Ability of an actor to act like the character one is playing naturally, the ability of an actor to convey the thought process of the character, ability of an actor to create characterization revealing emotions and expressing thoughts without distracting the details and the unity of the entire act.

Chapter 8

What is the basic building block of film editing? What is film editing’s fundamental tool?

A shot is the basic building block of film editing. The films editing’s fundamental tool is the cut.

What are the film editor’s principal creative and technical responsibilities?

The principal responsibilities are creation of a relationship between the shots, knowing which shots to make use of and when to use them and creating a rhythm of the entire film.

What is continuity editing? What does it contribute to a movie?

It is the careful timing of cuts or changes in camera angles to create a consistent and seamless film. It helps to make the film much smoother and allow it to flow.

What is the purpose of the 180-degree system? How does it work?

It helps to preserve the continuity within a scene. It is an imaginary line, in which the camera does not cross over, to preserve screen direction. By establishing a clear sense of space within the scene, it offers the viewer a consistent smooth flow of the scene.

What is discontinuity editing? Given the dominance of continuity editing in mainstream filmmaking, what role does discontinuity editing usually play?

It is when the filmmaker and the editor deliberately manipulate shots making the film less coherent and smooth. It helps to place emphasis on the meaning and the editing of the film.

Name and describe the various types of match cuts.

Match on action cut-shows the viewer the continuation of a character movement through the camera space without showing the entire action

Graphic match cut- the similarity between both shots is in the form and shape of what the viewer can see.

Eye line match cut-a shot of a person looking off screen in one direction and the second shot, which is the person that is the object of that gaze within the first shot.

How does the match cut differ from and compare to parallel editing?

The match cut is where two shots in a row are directly related to each other, whether an object or the character is shown. Parallel editing is the cutting together of two or more actions that occur simultaneously in different locations.

What is a jump cut? What is the typical effect of a jump cut on a viewer?

A jump cut is an abrupt transition between scenes. The typical effect of a jump cut is that it affects the pacing and rhythm causing the scenes to convey different meanings.

Given the magnitude of the editor’s overall responsibility during the postproduction stage of filmmaking, why is it considered desirable, if not essential, that the editor also collaborates during the preproduction phase?

Because they must understand the director vision and the meaning of the film. Moreover, editors need to ensure that shot captured by camera operators and cinematographer are suitable enough for editing together.