Acting for camera

Each section

Roles in film acting

Production process of an actor

Influential screen performers

Camera Angels

Genre

Difference in film and theatre

My character

Film acting techniques

Directing and filming.

Finished product

Roles in film acting

Director: A director is in hcarge of the creative direfction the film will go in. So the things not mentioned in the script that need to be directed they will take charge in that and make their vision of the script more of a reality by instructing the actors on what needs to be done. An example would be Steven Spielberg

Director of photography: The director of photography is in charge of picking the camera angels to portray the story in an eye catching way. Not only that but to portray the mood and emotion of the play. A camera angel can represent a person who's in the scene or maybe even someone stalking. They can show emotion through how close it is to the actor. It is the director of photography that picks which will work best for the scenes with the directors approval. Roger Deakins Is an example of a director of photography.

Make up and hair artist: The make up/hair artist is in charge of all the makeup and hair. Similarly to the costume designer they will need to look over the whole script to pull out key features such as if it states an important factor of hair or makeup. For example the script could say "they smudge their lipstick" or "they take their hair down". If these are stated they would have to work around that in their designs. They also need to think about the characters personality and likes. If a character is suppose to hate makeup yes of course they will still have the basics like foundation, concealer, contour and possibly blush and mascara but nothing dramatic so it seems like they don't have any on screen. A makeup and hair artist would be Rick Baker.

Producer: The producer oversees the whole process and makes sure it runs smoothly. They are in charge of making things happen. They work out budgets and hire the staff in most cases. They are in charge of making sure the film goes to the directors vision and makes it possible to actually move from a concept to a possibility to your screens. An example of a producer would be Kevin Feige .

Costume designer: A costume designer would go over the script first to depict what costumes are already mentioned through it and the time zones and places these characters are in. For example if its set in the 1950's they wouldn't wear modern clothes unless said otherwise. Or if the script has another character having a specific clothing item through the script you'd most likely need it unless that's cut or changed. An example of a costume designer would be Sandy Powell.

Actor: An actors job in a film is to portray the character the screen writer and director have envisioned and to do it in their own interpretation unless spoken to otherwise. Without an actor you have no show. The characters would not exist and they need to make sure they play the character correctly giving them the correct personality, mannerisms and feelings.An example of an actor would Jim Carrey.

Screen writer: The screen writer is in charge of creating a script from either their own original idea or adapting/take inspiration from a previous one. They create the story that all the other job roles will help make it come off the page and into real life for everyone to see. They are the base for the whole operation. They create the plot, world, characters and concept for the whole thing. James Cameron is an example of someone who does this.

Editor: The editors job is when everything is recorded and ready is to put everything together seamlessly. This includes sound and footage. They would need to line up and audios that need to be with the recorded footage and put the clips of footage in order. They may even choose to edit things such as brightness or other similar things. They could also play with green screenshots and add n the preferred background to replace that green screen. An example of a film editor would be Joe Walker.

Production process of an actor

Audition/casting
Table read
Blocking
Refining
Rehearsal
Final recording

Audition/casting:
The first step to any film would be the audition. You can't get into a film without proving yourself first, unless you are doing a film with friends of course. But let's say its for a film advertised needing a cast. You would most likely have to do an audition against other members of the public to see who can portray the character in the closes way to the directors vision or at least stood out the most for the right reasons. They may give you a specific section to learn or have you bring in your own monologue that you've chosen in a set genre or time period or whatever it is they ask for. You may get a recall where they will need another audition from you that would most likely be on the spot against who it is they haven't picked between yet.

Table read:
Sometimes once you have your character and so does everyone else you will all read through the script together or be expected to read it in your own time to get a feel for the piece. This would be most likely the first time youve seen the full film. It would give you a clearer picture on your character and how the xist in this world that the screen writter has created. You get to read about how they interact with the other characters and what other actors you will have scenes with.

Blocking:
Blocking is the stage where you're working with the other actors and filming crew to start working out how the scenes will actually play out. trying to put set in the correct places, working out where your marks are and a rough idea of how things will go. Its like a base plan for the real thing. It gives the director and producer the chance to change or work on ideas. Seeing what will work, what is okay but needs improving and what doesn't work at all. It gives the Actor the ability to finally see a picture of how the whole thing may play out and make them have more confidence towards the final performance.

Refining:
A lot like blocking this is setting up for a full rehearsal. This stage is where the gaps from blocking start to get filled. For example you may of had blocked in you will be stood at one point then move to another. Refining will work out how youll get there and help you understand your characters reaasoning for moving to begin with. It makes the rehearsal stage which is next move a lot smoother rather then trying to do run throughs with only rough ideas on what your'e actually suppose to be doing.

Rehearsal:
The rehearsal stage is when everything is almost done but its just putting that practice in before a final shoot. By now you should have understood the piece you're in and your characters. sometimes they expect your lines learned by now as well from the refining stage however that's not always the case and this is the section to be learning your lines in. This sometimes will feel like he real thing however its not as daunting due to it not being the final product. You may have this filmed too just to get a feel for it and for the director of photography to work out the best angels for the final product.

Final recording:
Well done! You've made it to the final stage of making this film for you though the other crew members still have stuff to do you are almost done! The actor in this stage will take all the previous rehearsals and practices into account and finally do the last performance. This should be your best take and portray the character as it should be. Some actor do change things last minute in this section but its risky. What happenes in a final take could stay in if there is a mistake as scheduals exist and not always can be broken for a re-record so lets get it spot on! Have fun acting!

Influential screen performers

Andrew Garfield

Andrew Garfield played Spider man in the film Spider man no way home and the Marc Webb series. There were a couple of things he did for this role which I shall talk about. First of all during auditions to help his nerves he imagined it like he was auditioning for a Spider-Man short film with friends rather then with the people who were going to make the decision on him. This was to help him stay focused on the actual audition piece rather than worrying about it being a serious audition. He still had that in the back of his mind to make sure it was serious but thinking if it as friends eased him.
He also uses method acting in which he behaves like the charcter on and off set while also maintaining his own personaility when needed. For example while talking to the crew if it needs his own behavior he will do so but when not needed he'd go back into the mind of the character he is playing to keep up being able to embody they character to a more personal extent. He claims to do it in private and says "It's also very private. I don't want people to see the f- pipes of my toilet. I don't want them to see how I'm making the sausage." - https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/spider-man-star-andrew-garfield-defends-method-acting/

Jack Black

In School of rock the role of Dewey Finn was given to Jack. Mike White had said that the role was made with Jack Black in mind and he was going to scrap the script if he didnt play the character. The exact quote was "Had he not wanted to do it, I probably would have thrown the script away. It was so inspired by just knowing him that I wouldn’t want to see anyone else do it." We also found out from Mike White that off stage Jack was either the life of the party or full concentrated. He says "While we were living together Jack was shooting the movie, and he had a very arduous schedule — he was in every scene and had to pump up the energy in every scene…. So when we got in there I was like, This’ll be awesome, we can have parties with all my friends from the city I haven’t seen, it’ll be so glamorous, all that kinda s—. But Jack was like, ”No parties. I gotta work. I gotta go to bed early.” [Laughs] Jack is either on or off — he’s either the life of the party or playing video games and almost in an alternate universe." This showed that Jack understood how to balance fun and a hard work methic. He understood when he could relax a bit and when he needed to focus and knuckle down on concentration or resting well to be healthy for the next recording.-https://ew.com/article/2003/10/03/why-jack-black-was-only-star-school-rock/
He was said to have played the role as if being himself which is what made it so believable as he was just being himself through the film. The directors gave him freedom to be over the top and exaggerated with his character and gave him the ability to do as he pleased to a degree through the film and gave him quite a lot of created control over his character.

Camera Angels

Medium

Usually this is a shot done from the knee up of the actor or actors and keeps them at a medium distance from the camera.

Over shoulder

This shot is done where the camera is placed just over the shoulder of another actor on set that the other actor may be talking to for example.

Birds eye

This shot is done from right above the actors. Typically filled on a drone. It can be used especially to show the scenery this character will be in.

Close up

A close up shot us usual the neck up which makes the shot up and personal to the actor usually to portray their emotions better or could be used for an internal monologue to cut other actors out the shot and it make sense.

POV (Point of view)

This view is from the view of one of the charcters. This may be used to show stalking or what a character is witnessing to make it more personal to the audience and more connected to the character.

Genre

Titanic

Main Genres: Romance and disaster

Romance: Romance as a genre is a film that s main focus is on the characters that will end up together or are together through the film. It usually focuses on their relationship growing closer.

Disaster: Disaster as a genre in film is a film which has a current or approaching disaster such as a catastrophic event that leaves our characters in a huge dilema. It may kill off characters ond could leave our main character with trauma by the end of the film.

Breakfast club

Main Genres: Comedy and Teen

Comedy: Comedy as a genre in film is when humor is carried through out. It may have problems and a good story line but it still carries humor through out and keeps it funny at the right moments for the audience.

Teen: Teen as a genre in film is when a film is directed to have an audience of teens to pre-adults (The target audience). The film will normally focus on issues that younger people may face such as school, bullying, romance or peer pressure.

Mean girls(2024)

Main Genres: Musical

Musical: Musical as a genre in film means a a film which would have music played throughout a film. Songs used to portray the story as a running theme throughout. The songs could portray the plot, emotions of the characters or maybe as a narration sort of thing.

Difference in film and theatre

Hitting your mark: In theatre you have a whole stage to do what you would like however you are confined to that spcae with the scenes changing in the same stage spcae. In film you could have a whole street as your set. However you will need to be in your spot for the camera to pick you up as the crew would like you too. For example if you are walking into set and need to stay in camera view you need to know how to hit your mark. This is when you know exactly when to stop so uyoure in the correct spot. In theatre you could move anywhere on stage and still be seen by the audience so as long as it does not mess up the scene or the other actors you may move where you like on stage.

Projection: In film you do not need to project as much. There is usually a boom mic that will pick up even the tiniest whisper which on stage wouldn't be the case. Even whispering needs to be a stage whisper where you are still being loud but the projection is louder than a normal whisper. So with film you can portray an emotion or scene a lot less dramatic and more realistic due to the mic picking up the tiniest of noises even your breath could be picked up if wanted.

Audience: When you are recording for a film you typically dont have an audience, this means if your charcater breaks the forth wall to talk to the audience such as kids shows or films you usually will only talk towards the camera as if its a real person. You may also not break the forth wall and youll need to avoid looking at the camera to not break the realism in the film. However on stage you do have an audience in which your character oculd interact with real people nad have real responses. You may also avoid listening to them for example clapping if your stage play is realistic so both have pros and cons.

My character

Film acting techniques

Emotion memory: Emotion memory is a Stanislavsky technique where if you need to portray an emotion in which the audience is to believe it real you think of an event that made you feel that emotion. As you imagine how you felt in that moment you start being able to show it truthfully to yourself so if you believe it the audience will too.
Method acting: Method acting is a more modernised version of emotion memory to a more extreme degree and is mainly done in America. The actor would be their character on and off set and make choices and decisions as if their character. This can become unhealthy if not managed for yourself and others around you especially if you play a character who's moral compass is broken or twisted.
Hot seating: Hot seating is another Stanislavsky technique in which you would do an in character exercise in which you would be asked questions and you answer as if your character. It helps you understand the character to a more personal level and find out things about them that aren't necessarily in the given text/script.
Focus games: A game to help gain focus before filming would not only heighten the moods of everyone but it would help improve your focus for the day. It is a good way to also bond with the other actors you will be working with and create a nice working environment where you are having fun but also head on to work.