Film and Television Acting, 2nd Edition

 

9

The Close-up

 

 

 

Of all the techniques mentioned earlier, the close-up is the only one that is unique to film and television. I don’t know who said, “the camera never lies,” but whoever said it was almost right. I say “almost,” because it is possible to fool the camera. Many politicians will attest to that (in private). But actors would be wise to believe the phrase. Because the close-up shot can be the most important tool, it can also be the most damaging.

From an article in the New York Times by Diane Ackerman:

There is a code of basic facial expressions that all humans share—happiness, anger, fear, surprise, disgust. Spontaneous, automatic, the face forms words before the mind can think them. We often rely on facial semaphore to tell ...