2. MICRO ELEMENTS OF FILM : Part 5
Performance
WHAT IS PERFORMANCE?
When we talk about performance we are looking at the physical expression, vocal delivery and interaction
between performers. This also includes looking at staging and choreography where relevant. A key
question we need to look at is : what specific meanings do stars bring with them to the roles they play?
PHYSICAL EXPRESSION
A key part of the star is his/her performance. Figure movement and expression within the mise-en-scene is
another way in which actors ‘signify’ – convey or express meaning.
The way a character moves, sits or stands can transmit information about feelings
and attitudes. The aimless wandering through the streets of New York of Travis
Bickle in Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver, for example, is symptomatic of his state of
mind. He feels alienated and isolated and this is translated into his purposeless
walking.
Case Study
The Terminator films, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, rely heavily on both his
physical stature and an exaggerated figure expression for which the actor himself
has become famous.
A common criticism levelled at Arnold Schwarzenegger is that he can’t act. Look at
the following scene from Terminator 2 and analyse how meaning is created by
Schwarzeneggers’ physical expression.
What information do we learn about his character and his function in the narrative
of the film?
Remember though, this is an extreme example of the use of figure expression and other performances in
different films may be much more simple or subtle, indicating moods like happiness, worry or confusion.
VOCAL DELIVERY
The way an actor uses their voice can also create meaning in a scene for a spectator. Think about the pitch
and tone of the voice – how does it tell us something about the way a character is feeling at a given
moment? What accent does the character have – what associations do we make based on this? Does their
vocal delivery change throughout the film – why might this be?
INTERACTION BETWEEN PERFORMERS
The body language and movement of actors can generate meaning for the spectator, but the way actors
interact with other performers on screen will also give us information about the relationships that exist
between the characters.
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Some stars are considered more believable, more ‘real’, and are more likely to be appreciated for their
acting skills as their on-screen roles have more depth. Robert De Niro researches the background of his

3. character, seeks real-life models for the character he portrays and attempts to transform himself physically
into the role he is playing.
In Raging Bull (1980), for example, he gained a great deal of weight in order to physically personify and
ageing out-of-shape boxer, as well as turning in a savage performance as the same boxer in his fighting
prime.
TASK 3 : Look at the following series of stills from some of De Niro’s films and discuss how the actor has
changed his physical appearance to enhance the realism of the roles he plays. What meanings are
generated for the audience through using this technique?
PERFORMANCE AND PREDICTABILITY
A role is created for a star or a star is put into a particular role. Eventually, the star becomes associated
with a particular type of role (e.g. James Bond and Sean Connery / Roger Moore / Pierce Brosnan). These
recurring elements lend a measure of predictability to the film and go some way to fulfilling the audience’s
expectations.
TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
 Impersonation : this type of performance is usually associated with the theatre. The actor
constructs a role using her/his imagination and specific skills and is judged on how successfully they
submerge their ‘real’ personality by the number and scope of roles they adopt, and how far they
are acknowledged as being psychologically realistic.
 Personification : Hollywood more often utilizes this type of acting/performance. The actor plays a
role that matches his/her physical appearance, what Richard Dyer refers to as a ‘perfect fit’, and
success is judged not by what s/he does, but rather by what s/he ‘is’ (identity).
 ‘The Method’ : seeks to break down the distinction between the actor and the role and is a more
extreme and advanced form of personification whereby the actor physically embodies the role in
appearance, gesture and movement.
But does the star generate meaning through acting ability (i.e. voice and body) alone? One way of testing
this is through what has been called the commutation test : this works by imagining swapping one actor
for another in a particular role to see if this makes any difference for the spectator. Any changes point to
what is unique about one actor compared with another.
STAGING & CHOREOGRAPHY : BLOCKING

4. Blocking is a term, which you will need to be aware of in your discussions about character. If a character is
partially hidden from view by a wall or a tree or another character, he/she is ‘blocked’. If the viewer is
unable to see what a character is doing, a response of concern or fear may result. Imagine you are
watching a horror film and the actions of the killer are obscured from view; your imagination creates the
worst reading of that character’s actions.
SUMMARY
What an actor does within a shot obviously contributes significantly to the meanings produced. The way an
actor moves could indicate confidence, uncertainty, panic, friendliness. The actor’s facial expressions may
show fear, anger, happiness, sadness. In addition to these examples of body language or non-verbal
communication, and to the clear differences in the speech patterns of different actors, a performance may
have a particular effect because of what the actor has previously done in other films. Actors may be
identified with certain types of characters, and actors with celebrity status can bring connotations to a film
that emanate not only from previous films but also from their lives outside the films. When we see
Madonna in a film, is it possible to ignore her previous roles and what we know of her personally life.