Subtle Acting in Film

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The Past and Present of Subtle Acting

Subtle acting started making a trend around when the sound era became apparent in the film industry in the mid to late 1920s. Due to the actors being able to use their words and sounds to help tell the audience how they are feeling, they no longer needed to rely solely on their dramatic performances.

Not only did the adding of sound in film support the subtle actin movement, but the rise of better technology in cameras did as well. Throughout the years of film, cinema cameras and lenses have gotten clearer and more eye-like. This allows a closer, clearer angle on actors, thus promotes a more subtle performance.

Although actors have become more subtle with their acting over the years, there is still conversation surrounding the idea that that particular style of acting can be overlooked . While internal acting can be more appreciated because it seems more life-like and natural, external acting is more understood and outwardly seen by the majority. Because of this, actors are awarded more for their outward, large replication of expression rather than the quieter moments where they cannot express with their words how they feel but how they act in facial expressions

Microexpressions

Acting has shifted into two categories: theatrical acting and acting for camera. Although both styles are performative, acting for camera requires less exaggeration that still conveys a feeling, both big and small. The way that movie actors are able to show their emotions to audience members without telling them right out is through small expressions called microexpressions.

Microexpressions are miniscule facial expressions that can occur in split seconds as it is an involuntary emotional leakage that exposes the true emotions of a person .

There are seven universal microexpessions that are:

Disgust

Anger

Fear

Sadness

Happiness

Surprise

Contempt

In every day-to-day life, people have these microexpressions. It is a natural, characteristic that is innate in human social interactions. Because of this, seeing microexpressions used by actors in a film can create a sense of realness for the audience and breaks the barrier that is between perception of reality and a screen. The replication or the creation of a microexpression from nothing can require simultaneous expression and repression of emotion. This is a balancing act for the actor, thus is challenging. Too big of a microexpression and they may be seen as overacting, drawing the audience out of it as it is seen as unrealistic. To small of a microexpression and it goes unnoticed or becomes unclear with the audience.

Although it is a challenge for the actor, the use of subtle, minor expressions such as the twitch of an eye, a gasp of air, or a quiver in the voice can really create a character or scene. Within film, it is the small details that create the real-life experience for the audience.

Films That Showcase Subtle Acting

Babylon (Damien Chazelle, 2022)

First Cow (Kelly Reichardt, 2019)

Asteroid City (Wes Anderson, 2023)

The Grand Budapest Hotel (Wes Anderson, 2014)