Stage actors worry they’ll be “too big” on camera. Often their solution is give small, whispered, lifeless performances lacking feeling, intention and point of view. That’s the exact opposite of every great film performance I’ve ever seen. Great performances come in all shapes and sizes. What they have in common is that they are all intensely human and humanity can be loud, obnoxious, aggressive, dance on the ceiling happy, heartbreakingly funny or shamelessly stupid. The camera handles larger than life-sized performances beautifully – as long as they’re genuine.
Acting is acting in both mediums. The moment to moment work is the same. You must know where you come from, who you are physically and emotionally, what your specific, personal relationships are to the people you encounter and talk about, what your dream is and what you are willing to do to get it, etc.
The differences are technical. Knowing the parameters of the size of frame you’re working in is just like adjusting your physicality to the size of the house you’re playing in live theatre. You don’t work 100 seat house like you would a 3,000 seat house and you don’t work a close-up like you’re in a long shot. Oscar-winning actor, Michael Caine, describes it this way: “Working in theatre is like doing surgery with a scalpel. Working in film is like surgery with a laser.” On camera you only have to say “I love you” to the person right in front of you and they shouldn’t hear you in the back row. That would be weird. It’s just you and your scene partner in the room and nothing else exists.
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Work with a video camera to see what you look like in a close up, medium and long shot. These are the new “houses” you’ll be playing to on set. Are you simply listening and responding, letting your scene partner’s words affect you, or are you just “acting” like you are? Identify your physical habits. Are you a blinker? An eyebrow raiser? Are these appropriate to what you’re playing? Do they strengthen or weaken you? Michael Chekhov said “An actor has to burn inside with an outer ease.” It’s perfect advice for acting on camera. Please don’t leave your heart and your passion at the door when you step on set.
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Let me know your thoughts and questions down below… I’d love to hear from you!
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All my best,
Philip
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Philip Hernandez is a respected acting teacher and singing coach in NYC. He is also the only actor in Broadway history to play both Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert in Les Miserables. He created principal roles in Broadway’s Kiss of the Spiderwoman and Paul Simon’s The Capeman. You may also know him from his many television appearances: The Blacklist, Gotham, Blue Bloods, The Path, Bull, Nurse Jackie, Elementary, Person of Interest, Law and Order, Hostages and Damages to name a few. For information about acting lessons CLICK HERE or singing lessons CLICK HERE.
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It’s even less that a black box. There is no audience. It’s a one on one conversation with your scene partner(s). There’s no need to play to even the first row. Just listen, feel and respond.
Blinking, head bobbing, eyebrow raising, etc. are unconscious gestures we make in life that are magnified on camera, pulling the viewer’s focus from where we want it to be. Work with a camera to identify unnecessary gestures and simply work to eliminate them. Actors must be aware and in control of their physical life in the medium they’re working in.
Thanks for reading and for writing!
Thanks, Philip. This makes sense. I’m very new to film, all my training has been theatre centered. . I’ve been told, “That’s great!, if you’re on stage”. And when I deliberately”pulled back” , to me it seemed lifeless. “Refocusing” might be a better understanding; playing to an intimate house instead of the opera house. A black box instead of the Paris Opera.
You said, “Are you a blinker?”. What is this? I believe that I am one. What can be done about this?
Thanks again, Philip.
Thanks Trevor!
Philip, I LOVE what you had to say about the difference between theater and film…it echo’s the most poignant words I’ve ever heard, “the only difference between film and theater, is how far away your audience is…that’s acting!”
Wonderful! Thanks for reading.
I’ll never forget the differences. That’s an on point quote.
I understand the analogy.