TV and film acting

" Theatre acting is an operation with a scalpel, movie acting is an operation with a laser' (Michael Kane)
Throughout unit 7, I have focused my reading and research on the differences between TV and Film acting to Stage acting. What makes film different from stage? The above quote by Michael Kane is illuminating and informative when it comes to thinking about acting for TV and Film. He is highlighting the very stark difference in theatre acting and acting for tv and film. Film is very technical and is about creating an illusion of reality across two disciplines.

In the first few workshops with Joe it became clear there was alot more to think about when acting for TV and Film and alot more factors to take into consideration when going into a scene. We discussed 'mining the text' and how this can help you to get to grips with a characters basic traits and personality. This is particularly important when doing stand alone scenes, where you may not have alot of information about the character or their journey as whole. When we were looking at the script for 'Powers', we only had the information that surfaced during the scene. Using effective script mining, however it was easier to pick out traits and clues as to what happened before this scene and what happens next. Getting to know the given circumstances in the scene and knowing the basic facts that are given about your character in stage directions means you can give a more informed performance when auditioning.
Brian De palma talks about the importance of knowing what happens before and after the scene you are working on as alot of the time it can be hard for an actor to know where you are in the characters journey, as unlike theatre, you will rarely film in chronological order. It is therefore important that you know where you are in the story. (De Palma) This also reminded me of Stanislavsky's work on the given circumstances and the psychological processes behind acting. In film acting the psychological process is the same, you still need to get in the head of the character you are portraying.

In 'Heat' (1995) Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino create a really intense scene which shows an immense attention to detail. every pause, thought and eye movement is executed with precision  they remain completely in control of what they are doing in front of the camera and are not trying to be too truthful. The thing that is interesting in this scene is the way in which Pacino and DeNiro drive the scene forward dispite the obstacles that come their way. The more you watch the scene the more you realise how technical it is. Every facial gesture, move of eyes etc is a character choice. This is important to remember because the camera can see you thinking as well as the character you are portraying.
"If you want to be more truthful and intense on screen, think more thoughts-because less is not more" (ref page 151) here is also an important comparison to be made between authenticity on stage and on film. Authenticity on film is not the responsibility of one person but incorporates the skills of the director, actor, editor etc - It is a highly technical process and incorporates interdisciplinary techniques but does not always feel more authentic for the actor. It is more about creating truthfulness for the viewer, it is more authentic to the audience.

The use of the eyes in film acting is also important. It can portray status and every movement becomes a character choice. You should be aware of all movements of the eyes because unless you keep them specific your eyes can look silly on screen. The relationship between camera and actor is very expressive and it is this collaboration of interdisciplinary techniques that make film acting special. The placement of the camera for example can completely change the tone or intention of the scene in a way you could not do in the theatre. Camera placement can alter the relationships on screen and change viewer perspectives.