Stage Acting vs. Film Acting

Although it may not appear so, stage acting is very different from film acting. Since one is a live performance and the other is not, there are certain techniques that have to be used with one rather than the other.

Theatre vs. Film is an important distinction to make as an actor. For starters when performing live theatre the performer has weeks to prepare a character while a performer who is on camera only has a few hours before they shoot a scene to prepare for the character. Live performances however; involve a live audience so the actors must get everything right on the first try because there is no time to redo it. Film actors are allowed multiple times to do something if needed. Special effects are put to better use on film than in theatre but again any and all special effects on stage must work the first time. All makeup and body language must be bigger while onstage while onscreen movements and makeup are more subtle. While film acting one must make sure that any and all movements made are within view of the camera and not below or above the view of the camera shot. Stage actors do not have to worry about this aspect since the audience is able to see the performers’ entire body. On film, when a scene is stopped and started again, it is important that it have Continuity in order to make the appearance of the scene believable.

These are just a few of the characteristics and techniques that make stage and film acting different from each other. The list could go on and on but it is interesting as a performer to learn about the different modes and methods for different types of performance.