UNIT 1: ACTING FOR CAMERA

SCRIPT

V.O: Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen and welcome to the 2018 Gloscar Awards. This
evenings events will run a little differently to our original programming as we delve deeper
into the production process and the roles of the men and women that make these
incredible films possible…

Let’s begin with our first award of the night, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and the
nominees are…

Charlie Stephens, The Kray Twins

Mathew Cooper, Conspiracy

Joshua Izzett, The Inbetweeners 2

Sam Brotherwood, The Stanley Parable

And the winner is…. Joshua Izzett, The Inbetweeners 2

Our next award celebrates the sheer talent that is involved when creating Make-up and
Special Effects. Key Make-up Artists are usually responsible for planning designs for the cast
members, including cosmetic make up, as well as prosthetics or facial or body hair
application, However, they may work with a Make-up Designer to achieve the desired look.
They work closely with the Director and analyse the script to see what type of make-up is
required. Something that a make-up artist will have to factor in is the element of continuity.
Each scene has to look the same every time it is shot. If they decide to re-shoot a specific
scene then the make-up artist is responsible for recreating the exact look from the previous
shoot. They are also in charge of checking if the cast members have any allergies, or
sensitive skin, that may be affected by certain products. It is their job to patch test the
cosmetics, adhesives or chemicals being used, in order to ensure that the cast members are
safe and will not have a reaction. They may also be in charge of purchasing specific make-up
products for the production.

The make-up artist or artists are usually employed during pre-production and production
and would rarely be needed in post. They will usually remain on set throughout the shooting
day, so that they can touch up or remove make up from cast members when necessary.
Prosthetic make-up artists may also be employed to work with animatronics or creature
creation, depending on the needs of the production. Screen make-up is vastly different to
that of stage makeup, as it needs to look natural. Due to the fact that the camera is so close
to the action, the makeup does not need to be too bold or garish. However, in the theatre,
the makeup needs to be clear enough so that it is visible from a distance, there may also be
more bright colours involved to ensure that the actors face pops onstage.
And the nominees are…

Terminal Psychosis

Night of the Undead

Conspiracy

Frenemies

And the winner is… Night of the Undead

Our next category is Best Documentary Feature. And the nominees are…

How to Prepare as an Actor

Student Life

The Hunter

The Top 100 Musicals of All Time

And the winner is… The Hunter

Our next award is presented to the film with the best sound. Sound is important for adding
atmosphere and dimension to a film. Dialogue is usually recorded during the filming
process, using a boom mic to pick up the sound. However, sometimes the audio quality may
be interrupted or affected by background noise, resulting in the dialogue sounding unclean.
In the event of this happening an ADR or Automated Dialogue Replacement can be recorded
in post and dubbed over the existing footage. This also works if the Director wanted to add
narration or dialogue that was not recorded during the filming process.

Sound effects can be recorded both during or after the filming process. As well as using an
existing sound effect from a pre-existing library, some Directors may want to create their
own sound effects for the production. These will be made with the help of a Foley Artist. A
Foley artist creates sounds using their body, or objects in their possession, for example, the
mammoth’s footsteps in Ice Age were made by dropping a log into a pit of mud. If a Foley
artist is not required, then it will be the job of the Sound Effect Editors and Sound designers
to find pre-existing sound and add it to the film during post production.

A Director may also want to use music composition within their film. This can be split into
two categories, score and source. An original score for a production will be composed and
recorded, adding ambiance to a scene or sequence. Source music is the music you are
hearing on and off screen, for example a stereo or television.
The differences between sound in theatre than in film production is that the sound happens
live and is produced at the same time as the visuals onstage. Whereas, within film, sound
can be added during filming or in post-production and the majority of sound recorded
would not be considered live.

And the nominees are…

Frenemies

Psycho

Scream

Area 52

And the winner is… Scream

The next category is for best film location. The location of a film is essential for setting the
story and creating visual aesthetics that coincide with the action. A Location Scout will be
employed to find locations that are perfect for the film, which will be done during pre-
production. They will be joined by several departments and senior crew members, as they
consider if the location selected is feasible for the production. The location doesn’t
necessarily have to conform to popular trends within the film industry, for example; a crime
thriller doesn’t need to be shot in a major city. However, it is essential for location scouts to
look for specific locations that can complement the film, while also allowing the director and
crew flexibility.

And the nominees are…

Delirium

Conspiracy

The Pact

Shrubs

And the winner is… The Pact

The next award is for best actress in a supporting role. And the nominees are…

Anoushka Howells, Conspiracy

Philippa Kerswill, The Pact

Emily Poole, Dragons Den

And the winner is… Charlene Luke, Ballet Shoes

Our next award is for best film and tv editing. The role of the editor or editors is pretty self-
explanatory. It is their job to edit all the raw footage into the final version of the film. The
editing process takes part during post production and it is the film editors job to cut up the
existing footage and put it back together in a coherent and creative manner. Each frame is
as important as the last, and the editing process determines the pace and structure of the
final film.

And the nominees are…

Tell Tale Heart

Witch

Conspiracy

He follows

And the winner is… Conspiracy

The next award is for the best cinematography in a film. Cinematography is notably an
essential part of the film making process. It is about the use of visuals within a film that
interlink with the narrative, while creating an emotional experience from the audience’s
perspective. To create good cinematography, you will need to consider the following
elements, including; camera movement, camera placement, composition, focus and lighting.
The cinematographer will share their vison with a digital imaging technician, who will ensure
that they source the correct equipment to fulfil this specification. It is less about making the
shots look professional, and more about telling a story through the visuals on screen.

The Cinematographer, who is sometimes referred to as the director of photography, is

And the nominees are…

Imperfect

Student Life
Frenemies

In Pursuit of Happiness

And the winner is… Imperfect

Our next award is given to the film with the best storyboard. A storyboard is essentially a
complete breakdown of the film, shot by shot. The storyboard will potentially include brief
notes that describe the shot in more detail and make it easier to follow the visual
instructions. The process allows you to distil your creative ideas into a more coherent
version, helping you to understand the context and storyline of the film in more detail. A
storyboard will be made during pre-production but is an essential part of the production
process. A film is not always shot in chronological order, so for example, some ending
scenes may be shot before the beginning of the film. Having a storyboard means that you do
not have to worry about what the next scene is going to look like, or if it will correlate with
the previous scene that may have been filmed weeks prior. As long as you follow the useful
thumbnails and notes within the storyboard, you will be able to create a film that adheres to
the Director’s and Cinematographer’s vision, no matter the shooting schedule.

And the nominees are…

Conspiracy

Frenemies

Dragons Den

The Pact

And the winner is… Dragon’s Den

The next award is for best Lighting Design. The lighting in a film is an essential part for
creating atmosphere and mood. Lighting Design in film production could be considered
more natural than theatre, as theatre uses a wide variety of bright colours and gobo’s
during shows. Although some scenes in films use natural lighting to add a more realistic
touch, it is not uncommon to use coloured lighting in scenes, to show mood or for
symbolisation, similar to how lighting is used in theatre. The colour spectrum picked up by
the camera is usually different to the colours we see with our naked eye. Therefore, it is
important for lighting designers to factor in this limitation when creating their vision. It may
be as simple as adjusting the intensity or brightness of the lighting being used, to ensure
that the camera is picking up the same colour spectrum that the designer has specified.

And the nominees are…

In Pursuit of Happiness

The Fox Cub

Night Stalker

And the winner is… Road to Nowhere

Our next award goes to the film with the best health and safety practices. Health and safety
is one of the most important elements that film makers need to consider during production.
Some films can have high risk scenes or locations that need to be monitored in order to
prevent injuries. Health and Safety in any workplace is required and employers need to have
a management system put in place in order to control potential risks. Due to the fact that a
large proportion of the people employed on a film set are considered freelance or are part
of an independent company, it is not always clear who would be classified as the employer.
In most cases this responsibility will be the role of the producer or production company. The
legal duty of the employer cannot be delegated, and it is their full responsibility to ensure
that the work environment they have created is safe for their employees.

Similar to theatrical production, film productions create risk assessments, as they are an
essential tool to ensure that all possible hazards have been accounted for and that these
risks have been controlled or eliminated to prevent accidents. The health and safety
practices used during the production will need to be reviewed several times throughout, to
ensure that the processes put in place are still working effectively.

And the nominees are…

Frenemies

Area 52

Conspiracy

Terminal Psychosis

And the winner is … Area 52

The next award is to celebrate the creativity and hard work that goes into directing a film.
The Director essentially has control over the majority of aspects that affect the film,
including some technical elements. Similar to a theatre director, a film director will read
through the script and make decisions about where they want actors to stand, where and
how they move and how they want their lines to be delivered. They may also be in charge of
ensuring that an actor understands the character they are playing, by giving them specific
motivations that may affect their movement or emotions during a scene. During post
production, the director will get the final say on how they want each of the shots to look
and how they are edited together. They will work closely with the cinematographer and
discuss their visions, but the decision is theirs to make.

The director will usually be in charge of most of the budget during a film. They need to
practically and effectively ensure that they can make the film work, while sticking to their
budget. However, the storyline of the film and the creativity, should not be massively
affected by the budget if the film has an imaginative and competent director. The director
will be present throughout the entire filming process, from pre-production to post and will
ensure that the end result adheres to their aesthetical and technical specifications.

And the nominees are…

Philippa Kerswill

Charlene Luke

Natalie Murfitt

Anoushka Howells

And the winner is… Anoushka Howells

Our next award is for best actor is a leading role

And the nominees are…

Alex Brown, The Inbetweeners 2

Charlie Stephens, Dragons Den

Kain Brennend, The Pact

TJ Skinner, Conspiracy

And the winner is… Charlie Stephens, Dragons Den

The next award is for best actress in a leading role. I am going to take this opportunity to
explain some of the fundamental skills necessary when acting for camera and the main
differences between stage and screen. Acting for camera is usually about creating realism as
a character. In most films the characterisation can be considered naturalistic, as it is more
about recreating real life on the screen. Not all films will follow this convention, but quite a
lot of films feel it imperative to have a slight amount of realism, in order to connect with the
audience. Screen acting is more about the subtle emotions and facial expressions, whereas
theatre acting may be more exaggerated, in order to ensure that the entire audience can
connect with the character.

Another key difference is the use of vocal projection. Onstage, an actor will need to project
their voice, so that it can reach the back of the auditorium. whereas a film actor does not
need to project, as they are so close to the camera. The boom mic will usually pick up the
most sensitive of sound, so an actor can speak in their normal voice and still be heard
perfectly on screen. Similarly, a film actor will not need to use big gestures to exaggerate
their character or emotions, whereas, it is more imperative that a theatrical actor makes
their gestures more prominent, again to ensure that the audience can see and understand
the characters intent. Both disciplines are incredibly difficult, but screen acting may be
considered more mentally challenging due to the way a film is shot.

As the shoot will not take place in chronological order, an actor might have to perform their
death scene before any other scene in the film. This can be challenging as the actor needs to
ensure that they have a vast knowledge of the character and their journey throughout the
film, so that they can easily create a coherent character, no matter which scene they start
with. Some shots take several tries before the director considers that they are perfect, and
they can move on to the next. Meaning that a screen actor may need to repeat the same
line, over and over, while still showing the same emotion in every take. It is a difficult skill to
be able to jump in and out of character, like what is required from a film actor. There will
also be long periods of time where an actor will be on set and will not be needed or used. A
film actor will need to prepare themselves mentally so that they are ready to fully become
their character when they are called to the shoot.

And the nominees are…

Emily Poole, Conspiracy

Anoushka Howells, Scream

Natalie Murfitt, Imperfect

Philippa Kerswill, In Life and Death

And the winner is… Philippa Kerswill, In Life and Death

And the final award of the night is presented to the best picture of the year. And the
nominees are…

Dragons Den

The Pact

Conspiracy
Frenemies

And the winner is…

Conspiracy

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for joining us this evening. I hope you enjoyed delving
deeper into the more technical aspects of film production. The next award ceremony will
return to its original programming, but until then, thank you and good night.

REFERENCE LIST

MAKE UP AND SPECIAL EFFECTS

http://getinmedia.com/careers/key-makeup-artist
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/3746_prosthetics_artist
https://ourpastimes.com/what-is-the-difference-between-stage-television-makeup-
12264422.html

SOUND

https://movingimageeducation.org/create-films/post-production/sound-and-music
https://www.mpse.org/what-is-audio-post-production

LOCATION

https://medium.com/@hdbuttercupvenues/importance-of-location-scouting-in-film-
making-cd85f53cef37
https://reeldealfilmschool.wordpress.com/2014/06/19/location-scouting/

FILM/TV EDITING

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2017/9/15/filmediting/
http://www.elementsofcinema.com/editing/EDITING.html

CINEMATOGRAPHY

https://www.format.com/magazine/news/photography/what-is-cinematography
http://www.elementsofcinema.com/cinematography/cinematography-basics/

STORYBOARD
https://www.animatron.com/blog/what-is-a-storyboard/

LIGHTING DESIGN

http://www.masterworkslighting.com/lighting-for-filmandtelevision.htm

HEALTH AND SAFETY

http://www.hse.gov.uk/entertainment/theatre-tv/film.htm

DIRECTING

https://www.sokanu.com/careers/film-director/
http://www.elementsofcinema.com/directing/DIRECTING.html