Drama Film vs. on stage

Film vs stage A lot of people feel that the main difference between film and stage is that stage is “live” and film is not There are several key differences between the two

Time Time in plays (for the most part) is linear... ie it goes from the beginning to the end Time in movies can stop, be rewound, can include flashbacks, even go backwards

Time cont. Name one movie we have discussed where time is one of the main elements of the plot Flashbacks are often used in film for exposition Name one movie we have watched that had a flashback

Space Space in live theatre takes place on a singular stage... while the set can change and the notes can tell you where it takes place, it requires the audience to suspend disbelief Space in film can literally be anywhere.

Space cont. Proximity to the audience and to the eye are major differences between the two Live theatre is at a fixed distance, but is three dimensional and the actors can interact with the audience Film allows different camera angles and zooms, but loses audience interaction

The Auteur Theory The Auteur Theory, made popular in 1950s France, stresses the role of the director Basically, whoever controls the mise en scene (the medium of the story) is the author of the movie

Auteur Theory cont. This relegated writers, cinematographers, actors, editors, etc to being basically “technical assistants.” Before this, Hollywood emphasized the stars rather than the directors. Now many directors share equal billing with the stars.

Setting and decor While on stage, the audience misses much of the details of a set; in film, directors can place as much or as little nuance into a set... as well as much symbolism The film director can choose to shoot on location or in a studio

Costumes and makeup Costumes are essential for the director to tell the story For the most part, in period films, the costumes fit the time period, but subtle parts come to be symbolic In modern stories, costumes are often bought off the shelf

Costumes cont. Costumes represent another language in film: Period- What era does the film take place... is the costume appropriate Class- What class does the costume imply?

Costumes cont.

Sex- Does the costume emphasize the the sexuality of the actor or negate it? Age- Is the costume appropriate for the age of the actor? Silhouette- Is the costume form-fitting or baggy?

Costumes cont.

Fabric- Is the fabric coarse, sturdy, plain, or delicate Accessories- Does the costume have jewelry, hats, canes, etc. What kind of shoes? Color- What does the color symbolize?

Costumes cont.

Body exposure- The more skin, the more erotic the intention of the costume Function- Is the costume meant of leisure or work? Beauty or utility? Body attitude- How the actor wears the costume is important

Costumes cont.

Image- What is the overall impression?