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Theatre Arts for Advanced Secondary Schools

Differences between acting for film and television
No matter what type of acting, actors in film and television drama fulfil the same
goal; to connect with their audience and make them believe in the characters they
are portraying. Though performing techniques for screen media are almost the
same, there are fundamental differences as follows:
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(a) Performance duration and continuity: The nature of television drama is
episodic and actors typically work in episodic content. This means scenes
in which a character played are not necessarily shot or filmed all together
but rather spread over multiple shooting days ranging from months to
years. The actors should, therefore, maintain character and emotional
continuity. This is quite different from film acting where shooting of
scenes is done in chronological order, allowing actors to be consistent
with emotion.

(b) Character development and arcs: Though characters should undergo
some changes throughout the story, the changes do differ between film and
television drama, whereas actors in television drama series are provided
with more time for them to grow. Normally, the ample time available
for television actors provides opportunities to explore their roles episode
by episode throughout seasons. This is very different from that of film
where the timeframe is usually short and thus it requires actors to convey
characters depth and transformation within a limited runtime.

(c) Intimacy and proximity to the camera: The nearness to the camera is a
factor that distinguishes film and television acting. In film, the camera
can capture close-up and tighter shots. In this case, the camera exposes
actors’ facial expressions and gestures in a more detailed and pronounced
way. In television, there is common use of multi-camera setups which
necessitates actors to adapt their performances to the demands of such
setups.

(d) Pace and energy: Pace and energy in television acting are often quicker
and higher due to the time constraints of episodic storytelling. This
requires actors to deliver their performances with a sense of immediacy
and heightened energy to engage the audience. In contrast, film acting
performances are controlled to allow freedom to explore slower pacing
and quieter moments.

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