Character & Performance

     Melodramas require a great deal of character performance, as they enable the audience to experience both the characters' emotional depth and their personal conflicts. My research has examined using subtler means than just dialogue, such as actors using subtle facial expressions, body language, and timing to create an authentic emotional response. One example I found to be highly effective was Barry Jenkins' film Moonlight; the performances he gets out of his actors allow the target audience to relate to Chiron and feel his emotional vulnerability and growth through subtle movements as well as the more dramatic moments, Understanding the many ways that actors hold emotional weight will be useful when planning my own piece and thinking about how I want my cast members to perform.

Moonlight (2016)

    In Moonlight, facial expressions become storytellers. The layered performances show how the acting choices of each actor change as Chiron develops throughout the film, which provides a deeper level of empathy and connection for viewers. This film also reminded me that in melodramas, performance is considered a form of storytelling; characters' expressions and interactions between each other help to influence viewers' feelings about the story in some cases more than the actual content of the plot.

Moonlight: Forgiveness (iii)

    By conducting this research, I was provided with a foundation to explore potential emotional qualities and beats that will help inform my choices for my brief. I am not currently planning; however, I have discovered what skills I will be looking for in my actors and their ability to express themselves in performance as I begin planning.