The close-up says everything, it's then that an actor's learned, rehearsed behavior becomes most obvious to an audience and chips away, unconsciously, at its experience of reality. In a close-up, the audience is only inches away, and your face becomes the stage.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Brando argues close-ups reveal rehearsed behavior, breaking the illusion of reality.
- In plain terms
- Close-ups show acting tricks and ruin the feeling of reality.
- What can you take from it?
- Subtlety matters in performance.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What makes an actor believable?
- How does the camera change performance?
Another view
Close-ups are essential for storytelling in film.
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