Do Actors Experience Genuine Emotions While Acting in Emotional Scenes for Film?

The question of whether actors experience genuine emotions while performing in emotional scenes has long been a topic of debate. While it is true that actors strive to immerse themselves in their characters and convey the desired emotional states, the reality is often more nuanced.

Understanding the On-Set Experience

Actors on set are very much aware of their surroundings and the technical aspects of their performance, including camera angles, microphone positioning, and the need to deliver the lines clearly and authentically. However, this awareness does not necessarily mean they are fully immersed in the emotions of their characters. Instead, actors train to recognize and harness the physical indicators of emotions that arise spontaneously during the performance.

The Role of Physical Indicators in Acting

Actors are trained to recognize the physical evidence of emotions in their body. For instance, in a scene where a character is experiencing grief or anger, the actor may notice their hands sweating or their heart racing. These physical reactions, rather than genuine emotions, are what help to bring authenticity to their performance. Let#39;s take the example of a close-up scene where the screenplay calls for the actor to cry:

I may not be thinking, I should cry now, as that would never work naturally. I may not be thinking, Show the camera how sad I am, as that would look phony. Instead, I might be focusing on the reactions and behavior of the other character in the scene, such as my husband. By concentrating on why he is calm during a crisis and standing with his hands on his hips, I may realize how desperately I need him to come and hold me. As I begin to slice the sandwich, I may notice that my hands are sweaty and shaking. This physical frustration serves as a catalyst for the tears to come. Am I genuinely sad or frustrated? No, but the feelings of frustration seem vivid in my body.

For the audience, they may see sadness reflected in the story at that moment, driven by the words in the screenplay and the director's and editor's pacing, background music, etc. As an actor, I am more focused on the physical reactions and the feelings they represent, allowing them to take over my body.

Revisiting Emotional Reactions in Multiple Takes

Often, a scene may require multiple takes from various angles. To keep the performance fresh, actors let different thoughts and images into their minds each time. For example, in a subsequent take, I may imagine my husband hugging another woman, causing a knot of fear in my gut. This fear, recognized in my body, leads to the tears coming. Does the audience know I am feeling fear? Probably not. They are more likely to see sadness, which is the intended emotion to engage the audience in the story.

The director does not explicitly tell me to feel fear; it is my job, as a trained actor, to invent these imaginative images that lead to physical reactions. The director's role is to present these images to the audience in a way that captures their emotional engagement with the story.

Conclusion

While actors may not experience true genuine emotions in the same way that characters do, they do experience physical indicators of emotions. This allows them to create authentic and moving performances that resonate with the audience. The trained actor's ability to recognize and work with these physical indicators is what distinguishes the art of acting and contributes to the emotional depth of a film.