🧑🏾‍🎤Intro to Acting Unit 11 – Camera Acting: Adapting to the Medium

What's Camera Acting?

• Refers to the specific techniques actors use when performing in front of a camera for film or television
• Requires adapting stage acting skills to the unique demands of the camera medium
• Involves understanding how to work with the camera as a scene partner
• Necessitates awareness of technical aspects such as camera angles, shot sizes, and editing
• Demands a more subtle, naturalistic style of acting compared to stage performances
• Challenges actors to convey emotions and thoughts through small, nuanced expressions and gestures
• Requires actors to maintain consistency in performance across multiple takes and camera setups

Key Differences: Stage vs. Screen

• Stage acting involves projecting to a live audience, while screen acting is more intimate and subtle
• Screen acting requires awareness of camera placement and framing, while stage acting focuses on playing to the entire audience
• Film and television often use close-ups, demanding greater subtlety in facial expressions and emotional portrayal
• Screen acting involves shorter, fragmented scenes that are later edited together, while stage acting unfolds in real-time
• Film and television allow for multiple takes, while stage performances are typically one continuous take
• Screen acting often involves working with microphones and dealing with technical constraints, while stage acting relies on vocal projection
• Stage acting requires exaggerated gestures and movements to convey meaning to a distant audience, while screen acting favors more naturalistic, restrained movements

Getting Comfy with the Camera

• Develop a friendly relationship with the camera, treating it as a scene partner rather than an inanimate object
• Practice maintaining eye contact with the camera lens to create a connection with the audience
• Become familiar with common camera angles (close-up, medium shot, wide shot) and how they affect performance
• Learn to trust the camera to capture subtle expressions and emotions without the need for exaggeration
• Experiment with different levels of energy and intensity to find the right balance for the camera
• Embrace the intimacy of the camera and allow yourself to be vulnerable in your performances
• Work on being present and fully engaged in the moment, even when the camera isn't directly on you

Mastering Subtle Expressions

• Learn to convey emotions through small changes in facial expressions, such as a slight raise of an eyebrow or a flicker of a smile
• Practice controlling micro-expressions to reveal a character's inner thoughts and feelings
• Develop a range of subtle emotional expressions that can be used in different scenes and contexts
• Use the eyes to communicate a character's emotional state, as the camera often focuses on the eyes in close-ups
• Experiment with different levels of intensity in your expressions to create nuance and depth in your performances
• Study real-life human behavior and incorporate natural, subtle expressions into your acting
• Remember that less is often more when it comes to facial expressions on camera

Nailing the Close-Up

• Understand that close-ups are used to capture intimate, emotional moments and reveal a character's inner world
• Practice maintaining a neutral, relaxed face while still conveying emotion through the eyes and small facial movements
• Learn to trust the camera to pick up on subtle expressions and resist the urge to overact in close-ups
• Use your eyes to convey emotion and connect with the audience, as the eyes are often the focal point in close-ups
• Be mindful of your breathing and use it to create a sense of emotional authenticity in close-up shots
• Experiment with different levels of intensity and vulnerability in your close-up performances
• Work on being fully present and engaged in the moment, allowing your genuine emotions to shine through in close-ups

Working with Scene Partners On-Screen

• Develop a strong rapport with your scene partners to create a sense of authenticity and chemistry on-screen
• Practice active listening and reacting to your scene partners' performances, even when the camera isn't on you
• Use eye contact and subtle physical cues to communicate with your scene partners and create a sense of connection
• Be mindful of your scene partners' movements and positioning to ensure that you're both in the frame and not blocking each other
• Adapt your performance to complement your scene partners' acting choices and create a cohesive, believable scene
• Trust your scene partners and allow yourself to be vulnerable and authentic in your interactions with them
• Communicate openly with your scene partners between takes to discuss character choices, blocking, and emotional beats

Adapting to Different Shot Types

• Understand the common shot types used in film and television (wide shot, medium shot, close-up, etc.) and how they affect your performance
• Adjust your acting style and intensity to match the emotional and narrative requirements of each shot type
• Use your body language and movements differently in wide shots compared to close-ups to convey character and emotion effectively
• Be aware of your positioning and blocking in relation to the camera and your scene partners in different shot types
• Practice transitioning smoothly between different shot types and maintaining consistency in your performance across multiple setups
• Collaborate with the director and cinematographer to understand their vision for each shot and adapt your performance accordingly
• Study how different shot types are used in film and television to create meaning and emotional impact, and incorporate this knowledge into your acting choices

Dealing with Multiple Takes

• Understand that multiple takes are a normal part of the film and television production process and are used to capture different performances, angles, and technical requirements
• Maintain consistency in your performance across multiple takes, while also being open to trying new approaches and taking direction
• Use each take as an opportunity to explore different nuances and choices in your performance, while still staying true to the core of your character
• Be patient and focused during the repetition of multiple takes, maintaining your energy and concentration throughout the process
• Communicate with the director and your scene partners between takes to discuss any changes or adjustments that need to be made
• Embrace the opportunity to refine and perfect your performance through multiple takes, using each one as a chance to deepen your understanding of the character and scene
• Develop mental and physical strategies for managing the demands of multiple takes, such as relaxation techniques, staying hydrated, and conserving energy between setups