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19. Acting: Camera vs Stage

Camera vs Stage:

It is important to note that good acting training is good acting training. A strong foundation applies to either medium; stage or screen. In both cases, actors are blocked and marked, with choreographed crosses and movements. That is where the similarities begin and end.

Acting on stage requires larger gestures, emoting and projecting of your voice. This makes it easy for the audience to follow your performance.

Acting on camera requires a much smaller amount of movement, outward emoting and projection. When you’re working for TV and film it is important to develop a relationship with the technical aspects of the medium. Reason being, performing for cameras while surrounded by staff and equipment is an entirely different environment. 

Working in front of a camera also means having an awareness of shot composition, It’s such a different dynamic than working on a stage. The scaling between the two mediums is totally different. It can be unsettling to have a camera (many cameras) pointed directly at you, if you’re not used to it! That’s why we train to actors to love the camera!