Differences between stage and film acting

There are some major differences between acting on stage and acting on film, so it is important to bear these in mind and adjust any performance according to the medium.

Continuity

Acting on stage involves long stretches of being in character and remembering lots of lines and actions at the same time, whereas a film actor performs in short takes with much less to remember at a time. The disadvantage of short pieces of filming is that the actors don’t get the chance to stay with the character and develop over the course of the story; films are usually made out of order so the actors do not get the sense of a story progressing over the course of the film, which can make it harder to get into character. Techniques such as the Stanislavski method are taught in drama schools to help actors maintain a convincing character throughout a stage play.

One chance to get it right

The advantage of making films in small chunks and many takes is, of course, that the actor has many chances to get exactly the right emotions, expression and phrasing for each and every scene. Acting a part on stage has to be done right the first time; there are no chances to start again, so stage actors have to be adept at covering up mistakes and helping others on stage do the same; it is impossible to get everything spot-on every time. An ability to think on their feet is a great skill for a stage actor, although mistakes are less common on stage than on a film set, as the stage player has the chance to get into character and act out the story in the correct order. Method acting is one of the techniques used to help film actors stay in character; the actor continues to play the part in between takes allowing them to be instantly ready for filming.

Time for a close up

Acting on film allows the camera to get really close and capture the slightest expression on the actors’ faces, whereas on stage the audience are always a good distance away, so more expressive body language is required. Bold and over exaggerated movements are needed on stage to make sure that the audience can easily see the actions and understand the feelings that are being portrayed. Film actors need to use smaller, less overt expressions, as the camera can get as close as the director desires; in some of the best films just the actors eyes are used to show the emotions that they are feeling. Mime exercises are useful in helping stage actors portray emotions through body language.

Control over your performance

Despite the presence of a stage director, an actor in a theatre production has the final say about what the audience sees; they are ultimately in control of their own performance. A film actor does not have the same luxury, unless they are also part of the production team. The producer and director have the final say on which takes are used in the final film and therefore what the audience sees.

As you can see there are many differences between stage and film acting and pros and cons for each type. It tends to come down to personal choice which path an actor chooses to follow.