9781422287057

13

Acting on Stage and Screen

Actors need to remember to “play to the back row.” That back row can be 100 feet from the stage! And those in the audience have to be able to hear and see what is happening onstage. Sometimes actors use microphones so those in the back can hear. But most of the time, those onstage must project their voices loudly enough to be heard by every- one in the theater. Actions onstage have to be obvious enough they can be seen by those in the back. Actors exaggerate their motions, so they can be seen far away. But there is a fine line between exaggerating enough and ex- aggerating too much. Practice and study give actors the tools they need to provide the audience with a good theater experience. LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION! Acting on screen covers a lot of territory. There are opportunities to work on big-screen films and television programs. And like working in the theater, there are chances to work on dramas, musicals, comedies, and other genres. Acting on the Screen When considering a career in acting, many people automatically think of the big screen. What actor wouldn’t want to see his image magnified to an almost unbelievable size? And then there are the fame and fortune that come with starring in a blockbuster film! Here’s a reality check, though: most films are not blockbuster hits. And most actors don’t make a lot of money. Some have second jobs to make ends meet between film gigs. For many years, actors who appeared in film wouldn’t consider act- ing on television, even if they were unable to find film or stage roles. Some movie contracts actually forbade movie actors from appearing on television if they wanted to. For a lot of actors, appearing on television was considered beneath their abilities.