acting for film and TV

Today we watched a video which highlighted many important aspects about acting for film and TV.
these include-

• shot sizes and frames- shot sizes vary massively, therefore it is important for the actors/actresses to be aware of how much space they have and what acting skills they need for each shot e.g. don't over act close-ups.
• Being in the moment- this is an important skill to have (especially in film and TV as everything is picked up) this basically means that an actor can put themselves completely in their characters shoes. This helps them to react, feel and listen more convincingly, portraying the character perfectly to the audience.
•  bad habits actors can pick up e.g. blinking constantly and unknowingly following another persons eyes. These factors can ruin a whole scene as they are picked up immediately, especially in unforgiving shots e.g. tight shots use longer lenses which are very unforgiving, there is also little space in the frame which means there is less room for errors and more focus on the actors face.
• be consistent- it is important to keep gestures, facial expressions and scenery exactly the same throughout, otherwise when the scene is edited it wll not add up.
• be prepared and rely on each other- its important to be prepared as if you are not it affects the whole shoot and can cost alot of money. As filming involves a large amount of people, everyone must respect each other, offer help and do their bit.

Film and TV acting is completely different to theatre acting, therefore its important to understand what is needed of you and what you need to learn.

Example of a television camera