In my
cinema masterclasses worldwide, the pertinent question is, what is the hallmark
of a great actor. Honestly speaking, it is the connect an actor or a model has
with the audience or the reader (print); over a period of time, though, I realized in cinema or in print, it is the eyes and the look really that strike a connection with the audience. 'The
look' doesn't mean that you have to look 'prim n propah' or extra gorgeous or
extra beautiful with dollops of make-up; you are not there to sell a product,
you are there to make the audience identify with the character that you portray, that is you; but how many actors or models, in particular, can achieve it? Hence the myth: 'models make bad actors'! From my experience, I feel the
reason is, any model is more concerned with their look and how they look onscreen, without delving into the dynamics of their character, it is for this that their acting is shallow and they fail to connect with the audiences.
It is not
their fault, since they come from modeling and today we don't have very many
directors with 'time' that have the patience to explain the in's and out's of the character to actors. Most of the AD's too are bereft of the knowledge of the craft of cinema, cinema is more of emotions than being technically savvy!
Anyways,
the genius of an actor is, to act with eyes; bring in the required emotions.
Only a handful of actors can do it, but those who can - leave an indelible
impression and are most often superstars in cinema.
A film
that I would like to specially mention here is, a South Korean film, The Isle. Both
the lead actors, particularly the female lead, Suh Jung was first rate. The film had
very few dialogues and the director, Kim Ki-duk, ensured Suh acted with her
eyes! Eyes do speak.
