EYE LINE The eyes are an important tool for any actor as it’s the eyes that will help tell the story.
WHY?
“The eyes are the windows to the soul” and for acting this is true because it is through the eyes that we see your thoughts, we see your feelings and we see what you’re going through. But without your eyes, we can’t connect. We can’t empathise. So allow us to see your eyes.
DON’T!
- don’t look down - there’s no money or food on the floor (a joke my teachers use to tell me 🤣)
- don’t close your eyes - that’s being a selfish actor. Let us in.
HOW? Imagine a floating donut (the ones you use in the swimming pool) around the camera’s lens. As long as you’re looking at any point around that donut, you can ensure your eyes can be seen. When you’re finding a thought - pick a place on the donut. Looking in the distance - pick a place on the donut. Multiple eye lines - pick a place on the donut.
CHEATING TOWARDS CAMERA
When working on camera, your audience is the camera, so you have to be careful you don’t go too side on and become profile, otherwise we can’t see you, your face or your eyes.
Think about your headshots and how you’ve cheated yourself to camera - same thing. Even though your reader is just next to it, you have to be AWARE of where the camera is and allow it to see you.
WHY?
It is so we can see you, your face, your eyes (as discussed above) and your body language. Body language is approx 55-65% communication so we need to see how you’re deliberating your thoughts, not only verbally, but facially and through your body and we can’t do that if you’re turned to the side or even worse, behind.
HOW? 1. Look at the readers eye closest to camera. This is an easy way to cheat to camera and also a technique used on set. 2. Pretend there’s a magnet on your nose and it’s attracted to the camera. That slight tilt or pull may be enough for us to see your eyes. 3. If you’re a stage actor and you naturally use movement as part of your communication style, keep your body open to camera, to your audience, so you know that you’ll always be seen.
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