Wanna To Be A Movie Star? 5 Difference Between Film Acting And Theatre Acting

Sougata Dutta
23 September, 2022
2 mins ago

Choosing acting as a profession is not very easy in a country like India. So, it is ideal to know the basic difference between film and theatre.

Who doesn’t dream of being a film star? Almost everyone does. But, between dreaming and making that dream come true, there's a huge gap. Choosing acting as a profession is not very easy in a country like India. Thousands of aspirants reach Mumbai every year to become stars or successful actors, and only few of them get that scope to establish themselves. The competition is way harder than going for a regular job.

So, definitely it is hard, but never impossible, especially if someone has some experience in theatres. However, there are some technical differences between film acting and theatre acting. And those differences must be identified and addressed properly to be a successful actor.

Some basic differences between them are:

Distance with the audience

Now, in the era of smartphones, there 's almost no distance between the screen and the eyes of the audience. And, most of the expressions and movements come with close shots, usually. Moreover, film cameras of recent times provide extreme clarity, so everything can be seen very clearly. On the other hand, in theatre, there is a physical gap between the performers and the audience.

Expression

As most of the expressions captured in a film are usually taken as close shots, expressions can be observed minutely by the audience. So, it should be as realistic as possible. There should be no dramatic exaggeration, nor any lack of real feel

On the other hand, in theatre, expression needs to be dramatic and bold so that even the last row audience can get the performer's expression.

Voice

In film, voices are usually taken separately which is called dubbing. Live voice is usually taken in only a few experimental films. So, the voice should also be realistic and there should be no dramatic approach or unnecessary loudness.

But, in theatre, the voice should be loud and the modulation should be dramatic so that it can provide a mood to the audience.

Body movement

In theatre, body movements need to be bold so that it can be seen even from far away. But, in a film, it should be very natural and very much measured.

Characterisation

Characterisation in a film is the most vital part, as the actor needs to make it real. The actor should get into the character, so that the audiences identify him by the character, not by his name. Otherwise, an actor won't be able to come out with a real vibe. In theatre, the characterisation is short lived.